FLAC to Apple Lossless: Quick Question on tagging and encoding settings

[bluefin]

I'm having problems converting my FLAC files to Apple lossless.
I can convert using m4a (FAAC CLI) codec, but what encoding setting should I use to get lossless conversion? I have looked but its not to clear :(

I'm using the m4a (FAAC CLI) codec, but when I convert to m4a I'm losing all tag info, the preserve ID tag is checked. Should I be using the iTunes converter with the m4a (FAAC CLI) codec just installed? I want to use the files in iTunes/iPod

If it matters, the FLAC files were converted using the Josh Coalson add-on to Winamp, which creats Vorbis tags I believe. I had not heard of dbpower at the time. I would gladly hear a recommendation for the type of tag to convert to. Under configuration > ID tages I have no option for m4a

dbp v11.5 on WinXP Pro

[LtData]

Re: FLAC to Apple Lossless: Quick Question on tagging and encoding settings

You should be using the iTunes encoder to encode to Apple Lossless (ALAC). You also do have to have the FAAC CLI codec in order for tags to be copied over. Of course, you also need the FLAC codec to decode your files.

There is only one type of tags for m4a, I believe.

[bluefin]

Re: FLAC to Apple Lossless: Quick Question on tagging and encoding settings

Thanks alot for your help, I have used the Apple Lossless codec and that is converting the FLAC files to the "same file name.m4a" of the right size, but it is not converting the tags. So when I import the files into the iTunes they are named/tagged as ~dcim.
How do I copy the tags over, or how do I use the FAAC CLI codec in order for tags to be copied over?

Incidentally when I use dMC file selector to look at the files I have converted to .m4a, the program can't see this type of file. So I presume there is another codec I am missing

[LtData]

Re: FLAC to Apple Lossless: Quick Question on tagging and encoding settings

You need the top codec (452KB) here (http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-mp4.htm) in order to decode .m4a files and to copy the tags over. The tag copying process is automatic as long as "Preserve tags" is checked.

[bluefin]

Re: FLAC to Apple Lossless: Quick Question on tagging and encoding settings

LtData, thanks for helping. I have just done a clean install of v11.5 with the FLAC, m4a (452kb), iTunes (206kb) and just in case, the AAC (537kb) codecs.
Then, using file selector, I have tryed converting the .flac files using the Apple loseless option. I have ticked the box to preserve the id tags. The files are still being converted into "same_name_as_the_original.m4a" but all the files are only readable by iTunes as files called ~dcim. So I can't use the files....

[xoas]

Re: FLAC to Apple Lossless: Quick Question on tagging and encoding settings

You might want to try the Apple Lossless beta encoder (from the Beta section of the forum here: http://forum.dbpoweramp.com/showthread.php?t=10154) to see if that will handle your tags any better.

Have you tried converting files ripped and tagged with other programs or codecs to see if this is a general problem, or a problem confined to Flac in general, or a problem confined to Flac vorbis tags created by your WinAmp add-on?

Best wishes,
Bill

[LtData]

Re: FLAC to Apple Lossless: Quick Question on tagging and encoding settings

xoas: it appears the beta ALAC encoder doesn't make tags iTunes can read. Apparently, ALAC files use a different tagging method than normal m4a files >:(

[bluefin]

Re: FLAC to Apple Lossless: Quick Question on tagging and encoding settings

Thanks for the answers. I needed the files converted for a project today and I will be travelling this week.So I will not be able to have another go until next week. I've used version 10 of dbA extensively for other files in other codecs but never .flacs. I upgraded to v11.5 for this set of files.
The FLAC add on to Wimamp is robust, it was programmed by the current flac guardians. I will have another go when I get back as I like the ease of use of dbpowerAMP, but from reading the problems redphyve had with flac files and creating these ~dcim files, I wonder if there is a more serious problem ?
Thanks again for your time