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As I just posted in another thread, all my CDs are ripped in uncompressed FLAC because of metadata. I'm not a big Apple supporter, notwithstanding that I use an iPad Mini for JRemote.

"Relax, it's only hi-fi. There's never been a hi-fi emergency." - Roy Hall

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - William Bruce Cameron

 

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All my non-SACD rips and all my non-DSD downloads are in AIFF right now, so I've made the choice already. I have plenty of space and storage is growing ever cheaper, so no need for compressed formats; and of the two non-compressed PCM formats, AIFF is by far friendlier regarding metadata, which you've got to have to organize a library of any size at all.

One never knows, do one? - Fats Waller

The fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. - Einstein

Computer, Audirvana -> optical Ethernet to Fitlet3 -> Fibbr Alpha Optical USB -> iFi NEO iDSD DAC -> Apollon Audio 1ET400A Mini (Purifi based) -> Vandersteen 3A Signature.

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Also, once you rip to one, you can convert to any of the other lossless formats without ... wait for it ... loss of information.

There is no loss of information, just the possibility of additional low level wideband noise/EMI due to all the additional processing involved due to imperfect computers. If this is all so cut and dried, why are so many members paying a great deal more for aftermarket Linear PSUs, both internal and external ? It would appear that you don't believe there is such a thing as Software induced "Jitter" either.

 

How a Digital Audio file sounds, or a Digital Video file looks, is governed to a large extent by the Power Supply area. All that Identical Checksums gives is the possibility of REGENERATING the file to close to that of the original file.

PROFILE UPDATED 13-11-2020

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I have plenty of space and storage is growing ever cheaper, so no need for compressed formats; and of the two non-compressed PCM formats, AIFF is by far friendlier regarding metadata, which you've got to have to organize a library of any size at all.

 

I assume you are referring to WAV as the other (of two) uncompressed formats. As indicated in my previous post above, there is also an uncompressed version of FLAC which is just as friendly as AIFF for metadata.

"Relax, it's only hi-fi. There's never been a hi-fi emergency." - Roy Hall

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." - William Bruce Cameron

 

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I am non-denominational. I rip and playback in Flac, purchase in WAV, use iPods in ALAC, and Zunes in WMA. I need to streamline.

QNAP TS453Pro w/QLMS->Netgear Switch->Netgear RAX43 Router->Ethernet (50 ft)->Netgear switch->SBTouch ->SABAJ A10d->Linn Majik-IL (preamp)->Linn 2250->Linn Keilidh; Control Points: iPeng (iPad Air & iPhone); Also: Rega P3-24 w/ DV 10x5; OPPO 103; PC Playback: Foobar2000 & JRiver; Portable: iPhone 12 ProMax & Radio Paradise or NAS streaming; Sony NWZ ZX2 w/ PHA-3; SMSL IQ, Fiio Q5, iFi Nano iDSD BL; Garage: Edifier S1000DB Active Speakers  

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There is no loss of information, just the possibility of additional low level wideband noise/EMI due to all the additional processing involved due to imperfect computers.

 

I have never encountered this with any of my Apple computers. Perhaps they are just more perfect than the Windows boxes that you use. :)

Sometimes it's like someone took a knife, baby
Edgy and dull and cut a six inch valley
Through the middle of my skull

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Hi jmstreithorst,

 

I've chosen .aif, the same format in which I record, mix (when I'm mixing) and master.

This is a raw PCM format with full metadata capability too.

 

This is also the format that I have standardized on.

Sometimes it's like someone took a knife, baby
Edgy and dull and cut a six inch valley
Through the middle of my skull

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I assume you are referring to WAV as the other (of two) uncompressed formats. As indicated in my previous post above, there is also an uncompressed version of FLAC which is just as friendly as AIFF for metadata.

 

Yep, hadn't thought of it, and hadn't seen your post, which it appears arrived while I was composing mine.

One never knows, do one? - Fats Waller

The fairest thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science. - Einstein

Computer, Audirvana -> optical Ethernet to Fitlet3 -> Fibbr Alpha Optical USB -> iFi NEO iDSD DAC -> Apollon Audio 1ET400A Mini (Purifi based) -> Vandersteen 3A Signature.

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I have never encountered this with any of my Apple computers. Perhaps they are just more perfect than the Windows boxes that you use. :)

 

Dream on !

If they are so perfect, why do Alex C and John Swenson feel there is an advantage in not only powering Mac Minis with an external well regulated Linear PSU, even obtaining a further advantage by the use of a special sensor lead at the PC end of the cable,(Kelvin Sensing) as well as filtering the on board PWM controlled supply for fans ? As I stated previously, very few off the shelf computers, whether Mac or Windows are fully optimised for Audio.

 

http://www.ti.com/lit/an/snva585/snva585.pdf

 

How a Digital Audio file sounds, or a Digital Video file looks, is governed to a large extent by the Power Supply area. All that Identical Checksums gives is the possibility of REGENERATING the file to close to that of the original file.

PROFILE UPDATED 13-11-2020

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Dream on !

If they are so perfect, why do Alex C and John Swenson feel there is an advantage in not only powering Mac Minis with an external well regulated Linear PSU, even obtaining a further advantage by the use of a special sensor lead at the PC end of the cable, as well as filtering the on board PWM controlled supply for fans ? As I stated previously, very few off the shelf computers, whether Mac or Windows are fully optimised for Audio.

 

I said "more perfect", not perfect. :)

Sometimes it's like someone took a knife, baby
Edgy and dull and cut a six inch valley
Through the middle of my skull

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I said "more perfect", not perfect. :)

 

If little Macs are so perfect , why do they make big Macs ?

 

How a Digital Audio file sounds, or a Digital Video file looks, is governed to a large extent by the Power Supply area. All that Identical Checksums gives is the possibility of REGENERATING the file to close to that of the original file.

PROFILE UPDATED 13-11-2020

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If little Macs are so perfect , why do they make big Macs ?

 

For big jobs like special effects and video editing. It's not all about audio you know...

Sometimes it's like someone took a knife, baby
Edgy and dull and cut a six inch valley
Through the middle of my skull

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I redid my library early on from ALAC to AIFF for a reason that turned out to be totally unnecessary. I'm to far along the road to do anything else now and I am satisfied with the quality of sound and support for metadata. However I cannot hear a difference between ALAC and AIFF and if I was starting out I would probably recommend ALAC. This is totally from a Mac point of view as I have never been a windows user since I ventured into computer audio.

"A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open."
Frank Zappa
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For big jobs like special effects and video editing. It's not all about audio you know...

 

There are far more commercial video editing software programs available for Windows PCs than there are for Macs, or for that matter, Audio software programs, and specialised PC cards too.

This kind of discussion is pointless, and often comes down to whether you live in the USA, Europe or elsewhere, as to what your preferences are likely to be.

 

How a Digital Audio file sounds, or a Digital Video file looks, is governed to a large extent by the Power Supply area. All that Identical Checksums gives is the possibility of REGENERATING the file to close to that of the original file.

PROFILE UPDATED 13-11-2020

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There are far more commercial video editing software programs available for Windows PCs than there are for Macs, or for that matter, Audio software programs, and specialised PC cards too.

 

It is not a matter of how many programs are available, it is matter of what is actually used in industry and this is usually Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro on a Mac. Most creative professionals would rather slash their wrists than use a Windows box.

 

But enough of trying to convince someone who has never owned or even used a Mac.

Sometimes it's like someone took a knife, baby
Edgy and dull and cut a six inch valley
Through the middle of my skull

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AIFF, used to do ALAC but space no longer an issue and I like the idea of less processing of non-compressed file (not that I could tell the difference in a double blind test)

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Deleted

 

How a Digital Audio file sounds, or a Digital Video file looks, is governed to a large extent by the Power Supply area. All that Identical Checksums gives is the possibility of REGENERATING the file to close to that of the original file.

PROFILE UPDATED 13-11-2020

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