Downloading FLAC or WAV music tracks

[struth]

Anything I rip or download I make 3 copies min. In case of he'd failure. Once had 2 go in a week

[ReggieB]

Music files I've downloaded and stored locally may legally still be leased, but they'd have to come and take them off me. With a streaming service, they can just switch them off.

And another thing: I can be reasonably sure that the files I've downloaded - being in an open format (I favour FLAC) - will always be playable by my equipment. Whereas if a streaming service decides to change the format of the stuff it streams - or the format of the stream itself - that could render the equipment I used to listen to the feed obsolete at a stroke.

[Pieoftheday]

Music files I've downloaded and stored locally may legally still be leased, but they'd have to come and take them off me. With a streaming service, they can just switch them off.

And another thing: I can be reasonably sure that the files I've downloaded - being in an open format (I favour FLAC) - will always be playable by my equipment. Whereas if a streaming service decides to change the format of the stuff it streams - or the format of the stream itself - that could render the equipment I used to listen to the feed obsolete at a stroke.

Though I've never streamed myself, you make a good point about possibly having to change your gear if the format changes. I did start ripping in WAV but now FLAC, I personally couldn't tell any difference,I'm not trying to start a debate on that btw

[ReggieB]

I would hope that the main difference between WAV and FLAC is the files size. FLAC files can be compressed, so they are smaller but still deliver good quality audio. Also FLAC file support metadata where as WAV don't (or don't support it as well/easily)

[Light Dependant Resistor]

But wider still, Flac is designed specifically for audio, is non-proprietary, is unencumbered by patents, has an open-source reference implementation, and has a well documented format.

Cheers / Chris

[ReggieB]

But wider still, Flac is designed specifically for audio, is non-proprietary, is unencumbered by patents, has an open-source reference implementation, and has a well documented format.

[Clive197]

Having just spent 3 months with Tidal, I think it is overpriced and over hyped. SQ was poorer than my own CD rips. It was however useful for finding new music that has previously passed me by, but at the end of the day I didn't like the fact that I didn't own anything and was subject to somebody else's whims in supply.

[WAD62]

I would hope that the main difference between WAV and FLAC is the files size. FLAC files can be compressed, so they are smaller but still deliver good quality audio. Also FLAC file support metadata where as WAV don't (or don't support it as well/easily)

FLAC is basically a lossless compression format for WAV, one can select the compression level, but it's advisable to keep it at 5...the best compromise for compression, and ease of transcoding at playback.

One can convert from FLAC to WAV and back again, infinitely, and still have exactly the same data...

My MDAC has some 'Bit Perfect' test WAV files 16/44.1 and 24/96, I've converted these to FLAC on my NAS, and can play the back via LMS/SBTouch into the MDAC. On both occasions the bit perfect test is passed...so proof, if proof were needed...

[Magna Audio]

Having just spent 3 months with Tidal, I think it is overpriced and over hyped. SQ was poorer than my own CD rips. It was however useful for finding new music that has previously passed me by, but at the end of the day I didn't like the fact that I didn't own anything and was subject to somebody else's whims in supply.

Agree, that and no compatibility with my android tablet to control the damn thing on my pc-server - unless you go for more subs and Roon!
How big a hole is than in their "it's for Hifi lovers" is that!!!

Having become used to Jriver / Gizmo and Spotify's smart setup, Tidal was useless.
Trial sub duly cancelled.
Loads of folk have been telling them this for ages, falls on deaf ears..

[Magna Audio]

The wife's fallen in love with a track by Nell Brysen called The Olive Tree off her new album Bloom. I thought if she was going to pay for it then CD quality beats MP3 by a long way.

Good album that. I'm listening to it with the missus