FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

[MegaBit]

Greetings, everybody.

This is my second post regarding this subject.
I have already posted two follow-ups - on the thread called FLAC Problem - which don't seem to appear anywhere!?
Maybe they didn't reached the site, so, once more, I'm hoping someone can help me... :cry:

I'm using «dBpoweramp R 14.4» with an old «Fujitsu-Siemens s7100» (Intel T-2500 2.0GHz/4GB of RAM) with Win XP Prof SP3, and already posted the "Secure Extraction Log" of one of the CDs in the thread 'FLAC Problem'.
I'm doing a "RIP to MultiEncoder" with «FLAC», «WAV AsSource» and «WAV 320kbps~48KHz» as the chosen formats.

With all the discs I've ripped sofar - for "«dBpoweramp» fine tuning & future routine procedures" - I'm stumbling upon the same problem:
No error reported, but while on the (critical) listening test (of the FLAC file) there are songs with small missing parts/bits of sound, ie, audible drop-outs or issues; it affects one to three tracks a disc.
Strangely enough (or not, you tell me...), both other (WAVs) files do not present any problem!
The same (problem) happens if I just convert only to «FLAC» (using single encoder).

By now, I've already changed settings, drives - purchased the (here) most recommended one - but still no cigar, even with the most conservative/high quality/slow settings!
I also followed Spoon's suggestion, and installed the Calculate Audio CRC codec, then converted both the FLAC and WAVs files to this 'encoder', after which the same conversion CRC number shows, implying the same audio content and likely an issue with the used player - the same utilized to record - not reading FLAC correctly might be happening...
However, the very same system and CDs are converter to «FLAC» flawlessly with «JRiver Media Center 18.0.212»... :confused:

Please help - I'm having a hard time believing there's nothing wrong with my purchased «dBpoweramp R 14.4» - and just don't know what to do any more! :headbang:


TIA,
Warm regards,
MegaBit

[garym]

Re: FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

this sounds like a player problem rather than a file problem. Have you tried to play these FLAC files on different players and/or on a different computer? There is certainly no bug in dbpa 14.4 (I rip lots of CDs to FLAC with no playback problems). This said, if you think that your particular download of the problem is somehow corrupted, just download and install the program again (on top of the existing install). But this is not likely the problem. I'd first exclude the player being the problem by doing some additional testing across players/computers.

[MegaBit]

Re: FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

this sounds like a player problem rather than a file problem. Have you tried to play these FLAC files on different players and/or on a different computer? There is certainly no bug in dbpa 14.4 (I rip lots of CDs to FLAC with no playback problems). This said, if you think that your particular download of the problem is somehow corrupted, just download and install the program again (on top of the existing install). But this is not likely the problem. I'd first exclude the player being the problem by doing some additional testing across players/computers.

Thank you - so much - for your prompt help and suggestion!

Immediately after opening the thread, I've thought about that last excluding/additional test, although I'm still trying to understand/"digest" how the same system is unable to (correctly) read whatever it created/wrote - without errors - just some moments before... :o
Already working on it, ie, finding a friend that can test it for me - I want to exclude all my system (hardware, software, etc.) from the equation... :D

Will report back, asap - Nevertheless, other help/clues are welcomed!

Warm regards,
MegaBit

[Spoon]

Re: FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

What is the player you are using?

[MegaBit]

Re: FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

What is the player you are using?

Thank you for your concern about this matter! :D

As "players" - both read/write and fed by the same (WinXP) driver - I'm using:

1 - Matshita DVD-RAM UJ-841
or, lately
2 - Matshita DVD-RAM UJ-85JS

(I already found a friend who can test these (defective/problematic ?) FLAC files in a total different system; he also uses «dBpoweramp» as his main ripper, thus meaning, we can change files and further test!)


Cheers,
MegaBit

[Spoon]

Re: FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

Sorry I meant which music player, the software or hardware which plays the flac files.

[MegaBit]

Re: FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

Sorry I meant which music player, the software or hardware which plays the flac files.

Thank you - very much - for your answer.

...And your are - as another poster also suggested - quite right about being a "Hard/Soft Player" problem! :D

In fact, the "problematic" FLAC files played with no problem on my friends system and on mine, this time now, using the «JRiver Media Player» as the "Player".
As a long time user of «VLC Media Player», it never crossed my mind that both 2.0.6 and 2.0.8 versions would be the cause of the trouble that drove me insane for quite a while, specially when the FLAC files created by the «JRiver Media Player» played without problem through that long time (trusted) player - the «VLC»! :headbang:

I feel quite embarrassed, by now... :o

Well- Problem solved, finally - Thank you both for all the help!
Guess, I can start ripping all my CDs to the chosen/elected (audiophile) formats&settings with my favourite (dBpoweramp) program! :D


Warm regards,
MegaBit

[garym]

Re: FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

Yep, I've seen several reports of various issues/limitations for AUDIO with VLC. You should consider foobar2000 as a windows based player. Is is very configurable. A bit of a learning curve, but once there, a great program.

[MegaBit]

Re: FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

Yep, I've seen several reports of various issues/limitations for AUDIO with VLC. You should consider foobar2000 as a windows based player. Is is very configurable. A bit of a learning curve, but once there, a great program.

Thank you for the help and suggestion.

I will give «foobar2000» a try.
I was already considering keeping the «JRiver Media Center»... Any thing against it?


TIA,
Warm regards,
MegaBit

[garym]

Re: FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

Thank you for the help and suggestion.

I will give «foobar2000» a try.
I was already considering keeping the «JRiver Media Center»... Any thing against it?


TIA,
Warm regards,
MegaBit

Everything I've read about JRiver has been positive. I suspect this is a very good option for both playing and library management. You can try foobar2000 as well (that is, try both!). I use it for computer playback, and I recommend using the "facets" component along with it. (p.s., I use VLC myself, but only for certain VIDEO).

[Porcus]

Re: FLAC Problem - 2 (continued)

Yeah, it is a shame that VLC does not support gapless playback. It is pretty good for movie formats, but not for audio tracks - and because of its (otherwise well-deserved) reputation, people think the gapless issue is an error elsewhere.