Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: FLAC - good or bad?

  1. #1
    Senior Member BCNZ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    In the back of a 50 kW AM broadcast transmitter
    Posts
    1,697
    Thanks
    235
    Thanked 292 Times in 190 Posts
    Rep Power
    304
    Reputation
    2546

    Default FLAC - good or bad?

    I've just downloaded an album that's been compressed using FLAC, and then recovered the original .wav files using a FLAC tool.

    They seem to sound Ok, and the file sizes look right.

    What are people's opinions of this system?



Look Here ->
  • #2
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Location, Location
    Posts
    4,054
    Thanks
    1,170
    Thanked 930 Times in 532 Posts
    Rep Power
    418
    Reputation
    4290

    Default

    I'm not too sure.... so i should probably not post (or research it - one of the two)

    I am not sure why people share FLAC albums, as there massive. I assume and perhaps incorrectly that with this you can use the files in audio mixers and higher tech stuff

    bugger it, quick google

    might have a look @

    looks like I'm wrong, again, I always assumed if I had a studio, and had the FLAC file(s), then I could do all sorts of things with the files.

    I have always been put off by the file size personally.
    If you feed ducks at a pond, chances are your bound to feed a goose or two without even knowing it.

  • #3
    Senior Member Globe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Lost In The Matrix.
    Posts
    908
    Thanks
    66
    Thanked 273 Times in 128 Posts
    Rep Power
    255
    Reputation
    1399

    Default

    It's all about the compression, FLAC claims lossless, (therefore the file size) whereas mp3 and the like are very lossy, not that the average cloth ear twit could tell anyway, but put it on a decent sound system and there it is.


    @ z1gg33, Dogs in space works great mate, thanks.

  • #4
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    56
    Thanks
    36
    Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts
    Rep Power
    200
    Reputation
    58

    Default

    Once you go FLAC, you never go back. The increased file size is well worth it for the increased sound quality. I started to realise how shit MP3 files sounded when I started listening to FLACs.

    Even if you don't listen to FLACs, it's good to back up your CD's with and perhaps burn copies for the car like I do.

    Hard drive space is cheap, so why not?

  • #5
    Premium Member rob916's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Bargara, Queensland.
    Age
    52
    Posts
    1,573
    Thanks
    49
    Thanked 75 Times in 36 Posts
    Rep Power
    250
    Reputation
    248

    Default

    FLAC As good as it gets.
    Put some headphones on or a good set of studio monitors and listen to the shit mp3's (even320kb) then flac.
    What happens if I press alt + F4?

  • #6
    Senior Member

    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Location, Location
    Posts
    4,054
    Thanks
    1,170
    Thanked 930 Times in 532 Posts
    Rep Power
    418
    Reputation
    4290

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Globe View Post
    It's all about the compression, FLAC claims lossless, (therefore the file size) whereas mp3 and the like are very lossy, not that the average cloth ear twit could tell anyway, but put it on a decent sound system and there it is.


    @ z1gg33, Dogs in space works great mate, thanks.
    cool, was the picture quality ok?
    If you feed ducks at a pond, chances are your bound to feed a goose or two without even knowing it.

  • #7
    Senior Member BCNZ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    In the back of a 50 kW AM broadcast transmitter
    Posts
    1,697
    Thanks
    235
    Thanked 292 Times in 190 Posts
    Rep Power
    304
    Reputation
    2546

    Default

    Ok team - thank you for all your comments.

    Yup, I'm listening to a couple of .wav files (recovered from flac files) at the moment through a set of AKG K141 Studio Monitor headphones - and while I can sense some kind of processing (not sure what but it isn't like mp3), they sound on the whole, quite good.

    The problem is I CAN tell an mp3, just by listening. It gets a little harder when the bit rate rises - for example some 320 kb/s mp3s are difficult to tell from a wav file - but certainly with the lower rates of 192, 160 and 128 I can detect them almost immediately.
    They do weird things to my ears It is of course the phase shifting that does it.

    File sizes are of no consequence to me. In the industry I work in, all music is full size, uncompressed, and file servers are 500 Gigs minimum. With terabyte drives out now, it's not a problem.
    What I am concerned about is quality. If wav files that have been recovered from FLACs are as good as the original wav, then I am sold.

  • #8
    Senior Member Globe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Lost In The Matrix.
    Posts
    908
    Thanks
    66
    Thanked 273 Times in 128 Posts
    Rep Power
    255
    Reputation
    1399

    Default

    Eventually it will all be wav/pcm files, faster internet and larger hard drives will eventually kill mp3.

  • #9
    Senior Member Globe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Lost In The Matrix.
    Posts
    908
    Thanks
    66
    Thanked 273 Times in 128 Posts
    Rep Power
    255
    Reputation
    1399

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by z1gg33 View Post
    cool, was the picture quality ok?
    Interesting you can hear processing on FLAC there Studio 1, like you say I can only notice it on songs that are low bitrate, a slight whooshing sound from side to side. Maybe I should listen harder.

    @ z1gg33: Better than my old VHS thats for sure.

  • #10
    Premium Member rob916's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Bargara, Queensland.
    Age
    52
    Posts
    1,573
    Thanks
    49
    Thanked 75 Times in 36 Posts
    Rep Power
    250
    Reputation
    248

    Default

    Did you actually convert the FLAC file yourself?
    Have you heard the original source?
    Some CD mastering is not so good.
    Maybe look at the spectrum of the source and then of a FLAC file.
    I am sure there are other good codecs about.
    What happens if I press alt + F4?

  • #11
    Senior Member BCNZ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    In the back of a 50 kW AM broadcast transmitter
    Posts
    1,697
    Thanks
    235
    Thanked 292 Times in 190 Posts
    Rep Power
    304
    Reputation
    2546

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Globe View Post
    Interesting you can hear processing on FLAC there Studio 1
    I might have to re-evaluate that. I thought I was hearing something with the wave files that I'd converted back from FLAC but I may be mistaken.
    A problem I have is I suffer from hyperacusis. It basically means I have ultra-sensitive hearing - which has its uses, but can also fool me sometimes.

    Quote Originally Posted by rob916 View Post
    Did you actually convert the FLAC file yourself?
    Have you heard the original source?
    Some CD mastering is not so good.
    Maybe look at the spectrum of the source and then of a FLAC file.
    I am sure there are other good codecs about.
    No, the FLAC files I have were downloaded. I agree that some CD mastering is terrible.
    It's not that I want to use FLAC, it's that the material I am looking for just happens to be available with this encoding, and it leaves mp3 for dead, so I am going with it.
    I'd prefer to have native wave files, but people are still averse to uploading large files onto the net.

  • #12
    Senior Member Globe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Lost In The Matrix.
    Posts
    908
    Thanks
    66
    Thanked 273 Times in 128 Posts
    Rep Power
    255
    Reputation
    1399

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Studio1 View Post
    it leaves mp3 for dead,
    ....and right there is your answer. Especially if the material you need is available in the higher quality.


    Quote Originally Posted by Studio1 View Post
    but people are still averse to uploading large files onto the net.
    Not in certain circles.

  • #13
    Premium Member rob916's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Bargara, Queensland.
    Age
    52
    Posts
    1,573
    Thanks
    49
    Thanked 75 Times in 36 Posts
    Rep Power
    250
    Reputation
    248

    Default

    I listen to lots of electronic music, all of it as available in 320Kb, so I live with that as the file sizes are not so bad.
    What happens if I press alt + F4?

  • Similar Threads

    1. A Few Movies (Some good some not so good)
      By z1gg33 in forum Movie and Music Discussion/Review
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 29-05-09, 07:08 PM
    2. Is this a Good Buy?
      By metallima in forum GPS
      Replies: 96
      Last Post: 23-04-09, 03:46 PM
    3. Dealings with 3ix.org?? Any good??
      By samsty1 in forum Web Site Design & Development
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 19-12-08, 01:14 PM
    4. Any Good?
      By AussieAnt in forum Newbie Satellite
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 10-09-08, 03:11 PM
    5. 2.26b what's it good for?
      By typan in forum Satellite TV General
      Replies: 3
      Last Post: 27-08-08, 09:44 AM

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •