UkPhil Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 13 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said: Yes. It's a great selling point for the MQA team. "We have people delivering a single file for all platforms, just like we promised." It's exactly what MQA did by starting with HiFi companies to stack their deck before bringing their pitch to larger companies. "We have the most discerning audiophile companies onboard." Yes a sonically crippled file with no keys to get in unless you pay the organ grinder Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 1 hour ago, KeenObserver said: The FLAC container is a lossless system. The MQA file inside is lossy. And corrupts the original music, no matter what Bob says. I hope we are not seeing a resurgence of the MQA BS. My hip boots are in storage. I think there’s a big push Warner’s loading 16/44.1 MQA versions on Tidal and taking off the red book version so giving users no option, it looks like controlled streaming is alive and well and people with non MQA DAC have a limping along damaged file Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 We all best keep an eye on PCM streaming sites you may start getting MQA replacements for CD quality by stealth Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 17, 2020 Share Posted November 17, 2020 Just what the record companies would like 2 tiers lossy MP3 and errr lossy MQA so they can lock away the master Crown Jewels back in the cupboard The Computer Audiophile 1 Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 It seem Hi Res Audio are also getting a little tired of MQA too The Computer Audiophile 1 Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 9 minutes ago, FredericV said: MQA does not allow any QA: You could run mqadec as written by @mansrand use it with an obtained .so file form a well known early MQA adopter (if you have the skills) and then analyze the output of that decoder. This tool reads an MQA encoded flac/wav file and decodes it to a PCM file. Then you can run any audio tools on those files. But since this is reverse engineering, such tool cannot be sold or licensed. MQA does not release tools to decode MQA files, so there is no way to analyze the output of an MQA decoded file, except intercept the PCM in the OS or record the analog output of a DAC, or for those devices which expose the first unfold via SPDIF or HDMI, capture that digital signal and analyze it. For a format that claims to be end-to-end, why then: 1. do we only have one MQA enabled ADC (some mytek ADC) 2. why are there no tools to verify the content of the MQA decoder output? The fact that there is only one ADC should be the smoking gun My main concern is that the likes of Warners start shipping non PCM files to PCM streaming companies as FLAC containers "MQA by stealth" Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 32 minutes ago, oneway23 said: What used to be the original masters of Bowie's albums (the ones at 16/44) for example, now have the MQA logo , as well...Is this a new development? Unless this is a temporary mistake from within Roon, many original masters are seemingly quickly disappearing. By "MQA standards" it now much improved version allegedly, unfortunately you are losing the ability to choose yourself on the Tidal platform now Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 26 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said: Tidal app says it's the MQA version of Space Oddity, I've selected HiFi in the settings, Tidal app says HiFi when playing, but it's sending me MQA as evidenced on the DAC I'm using that now says MQA. Wow, it's MP3 or MQA. Ouch. Thanks to all who assisted in removing our freedom of choice. This is shocking news Chris, just as people thought years ago is now happening 🙄 Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said: OMG, it just dawned on me. The 16/44.1 MQA version of Space Oddity is MQA CD. Oh boy. It's even worse than I thought. MQA CD is an abomination of engineering. 13 bit lossless 🙄 MikeyFresh 1 Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 So in less than a week we have had : 1, MQA batch conversion of 1000’s of albums loaded into Tidal via Warner’s which consists of 44.1khz files 2, Some replacing existing true lossless CD files this is without any warning to users . 3, Users playlists and albums from Tidal on third party software applications eg Roon messed around with. 4, The possibility of future supplied FLAC containers to other sites could be holding the same file Digigeddon has been rebooted, MP3 Mk2 has not gone away, let’s hope it the last chance attempt and it doesn’t get any further than the boundary walls of Tidal MikeyFresh 1 Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 And the media spin starts Another misleading article with regards to hi res :-( https://www.whathifi.com/news/tidal-expands-and-improves-its-masters-mqa-offering-which-is-now-discounted-by-95?fbclid=IwAR1dBJzNPLKcibRuoJOJYbx-3_WXQwH47o6cByIxuCEW1rlfiafh9kiT5rk Link to comment
Popular Post UkPhil Posted November 19, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 19, 2020 1 hour ago, FredericV said: They probably do not understand this plot: If the claim was true, please show me one studio which uses MQA as an archival format, as it would satisfy the claim that MQA "stores original studio master recordings" ... And we get this reply to a similar question on social media oneway23 and MikeyFresh 1 1 Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 6 minutes ago, sphinxsix said: The only counterattack strategy may be getting as loud as MQA clan but with telling the truth about the format and even that IMO wouldn't guarantee a success since most music 'enthusiasts' simply don't care. And the MQA clan obviously does. I haven't been following the mainstream audio magazines but it would be interesting to see where they stand now.. Record labels / magazines and most mainstream media, and a lot of DAC manufacturers have bought into MQA over the last four years it will be a tough nut to crack now, they only need one of the lossy companies to jump and it could be game over MP3 Mk2 will reign over us Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 1 hour ago, asdf1000 said: I'm noticing a lot more MQA CD new music these days... sigh Yes MQA has infected the Hifi tier big style in the last week, Tidals goal will be all MQA over coming months no doubt Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said: Not right now. The communications I’ve received lately were in confidence. Stuff will come out. I’ll be able to post some in due time. I hate doing this but I keep my word with everyone. The manufacturers reading this can have confidence I won’t say a word until it’s appropriate. I shudder to think 😢 Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 11 minutes ago, KeenObserver said: On the 12th Forbes reported that millions of new MQA tracks were coming to Tidal. That's incredible! MQA and Warner must have spent the last 20 or 30 years in the studio authenticating and remastering all those tracks! They have been doing for quite a while by all accounts I saw some post by Ken Forsythe on a thread in MQA fan site Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 20, 2020 Share Posted November 20, 2020 6 minutes ago, KeenObserver said: Do you think every one of those tracks was "authenticated" and carefully mastered, or do you think they were dumped into a hopper and out came the MQA sausage? Bob Stuart goes in front of a camera an tells about the careful MQA authentication process. How cynical do you have to be to do that? He is just a used car salesman selling a 30 year old piece of crap and telling you it's a Rolls Royce. This catalogue of music must have been batch converted, most of these files MQA highlights them as green they are not authenticated at source so the transfers are just reworked 16/44.1, why would hide these files behind a proprietary wall if you didn’t have another motive to do so, this is not about bettering sound for the consumer. Link to comment
Popular Post UkPhil Posted November 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 20, 2020 4 minutes ago, KeenObserver said: So these are actually 13 bit crap? Based on how they dissect the file to add the proprietary data they must be losing dynamic range to fit it in. MQA’s states they ensure sound is preserved up-to 17 / 48 this clearly cannot be true with these conversions MikeyFresh and Currawong 1 1 Link to comment
Popular Post UkPhil Posted November 20, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 20, 2020 26 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said: Think about all the recordings being made in 2020 and 2021 while distanced. Multiple studios, home studios, etc... It’s comical that MQA tries to say it’s fixing ADC issues when multiple ADCs are used within each track. And let’s be honest after 4 years were are the professional MQA ADC’s in the Industry, None to my knowledge other than Mytek an early backer of MQA. You would think there would be a rush to de blur recorded music as part of the recording process if it was deemed that important The Computer Audiophile, MikeyFresh and sphinxsix 3 Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 An indication showing the amount of 44.1 albums available for streaming on Tidal after the Warner plug in Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 Just now, WAM said: I sincerely hope you are wrong, but I am afraid you are right.. What Warner’s and MQA have just done this week is probably just the tip of the iceberg, no doubt Universals CD back catalogue will be next for the sausage machine. MikeyFresh 1 Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 21, 2020 Share Posted November 21, 2020 3 minutes ago, Mayfair said: Seems so, if past is prologue. https://www.stereophile.com/content/universal-music-group-goes-mqa Yeah all shareholders with a vested interest in MQA, the only quiet one on the block has been Sony with little or no action in adding to Tidals roster. Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 32 minutes ago, asdf1000 said: Interesting.... if I connect the dots.... you said something big is happening soon and we know the major labels are shareholders in MQA Ltd... Then MQA is about to go beyond Tidal's tiny market share to something larger... 😐 Well if it does go mainstream it will more than likely be difficult to stop, and the PCM FLAC container delivery companies may find they will get pushed into the sidelines or worse have to accept MQA on their platforms. At worst CD could also become infected in the mainstream, the water has already been tested in Japan, although a minority market against global manufacturing I am sure the change could be quick. God forbid we get MQA master cut vinyl too Link to comment
Popular Post UkPhil Posted November 22, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted November 22, 2020 This advert is getting less relevant by the day “lossless” ? botrytis and The Computer Audiophile 2 Link to comment
UkPhil Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 43 minutes ago, mevdinc said: What a shame. It is becoming clear that it wasn't at all what the artists intended, it was more like what the music companies intended/planned. Well done to all those who saw this from day one and argued against the intentions and possible negative results of the MQA format in this very topic. It’s probably gonna get worse too Link to comment
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