[codec] CUE Sheet Image Utility Codec

[fjodor]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

Because, as you said earlier, this one feature (the CUE Sheet Image implementation) kept you from purchasing, which is ignoring the two main purposes of dBpoweramp Music Converter which are Audio CD ripping/tagging and audio file format conversion.

Clearly, if archiving/restoring is your sole software requirement and you have no need for ripping/tagging and audio file conversion software, then dBpoweramp is not for you and you are not cutting off your nose to spite your face.

I think you're missing the point. What a lot of people want to do is:

1. Rip and archive their CD:s to single file FLAC + CUE sheet with HTOA support, so that the CDs can be restored to their exact original format if desired.
2. Be able to add a lot of metadata to the ripped FLAC files.

Currently dbPowerAmp is not able to achieve 1). EAC does 1), but is not as good on 2).

Since it's a very basic requirement for anyone serious about archiving their CD collection, I find it very strange why this functionality has not been added to dBPowerAmp, despite lots of users requesting it for several years.

The only reasonable explanations for why 1) has not been added to dBPowerAmp yet are that either Spoon isn't capable of developing the functionality, or he intentionally doesn't want to do it for some reason he does not want to disclose.

Either way, I think it sucks. Because dBPowerAmp is so close to being the perfect tool for ripping CDs. It just fails miserably at the finish line due to one crucial feature that is missing.

[Tinkerer]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

Being in a subforum titled "Test upcoming releases" i would have assumed that at some point, though looking unlikely atm, this codec would be improved upon and get a final release. Obviously there are people who are still waiting for this to happen.

In my case i haven't really wanted to start ripping my 2000+ cd collection without being able to store it the way I want to.
That is my main reason for not investing in this software yet.
I guess some day I will have to make the choice of changing my preference for storage format and buy dBpoweramp anyway or seek out alternatives.

Maybe it would be best to have this codecs future decided on so to not keep peoples hopes up?
The codec has been in development for over 6 years now after all.

[mville]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

I never said it wasn't good software but if archiving is one of your main uses how is that cutting off your nose to spite your face?

Because, as you said earlier, this one feature (the CUE Sheet Image implementation) kept you from purchasing, which is ignoring the two main purposes of dBpoweramp Music Converter which are Audio CD ripping/tagging and audio file format conversion.

Clearly, if archiving/restoring is your sole software requirement and you have no need for ripping/tagging and audio file conversion software, then dBpoweramp is not for you and you are not cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[jhferry]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

I never said it wasn't good software but if archiving is one of your main uses how is that cutting off your nose to spite your face?

[mville]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

This one feature has kept me from purchasing. It's not laughable.

The feature rich software that Illustrate offers is extremely good value. But if you'd rather do without, then that is your decision. But cutting off your nose to spite your face, IMO, IS laughable.

[jhferry]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

The main purpose of dBpoweramp is to rip audio CDs to a digital file format and convert to other formats. In the world of digital audio, the evidence suggests that people (and record labels) are moving away from the Audio CD format, so the idea of writing CDs and the need for cue sheets etc. is not a requirement for most users.

To suggest that users are being steered away dBpoweramp because the feature that you would like is not supported, is laughable.

This one feature has kept me from purchasing. It's not laughable.

[fjodor]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

I am also a perfectionist. With dBpoweramp (and AccurateRip), once I have perfectly ripped flac files (backed up, of course) I don't see any advantages in writing these files back to CD.

Without accurate HTOA support when ripping, the rip is not identical to the original. Neither when listening to it, nor if trying to restore the original CD by burning it from the rip.

So if you want an exact rip, not supporting HTOA is simply not acceptable.

[mville]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

mville, it's true that the Audio CD format is losing importance.
But for many decades before the CD was the predominant audio storage medium.
And to really replace a CD a perfectionist (and all real music lovers are perfectionists) has to be sure that it's a 1:1 copy.

I am also a perfectionist. With dBpoweramp (and AccurateRip), once I have perfectly ripped flac files (backed up, of course) I don't see any advantages in writing these files back to CD.

[marcaurel]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

mville, it's true that the Audio CD format is losing importance.
But for many decades before the CD was the predominant audio storage medium.
And to really replace a CD a perfectionist (and all real music lovers are perfectionists) has to be sure that it's a 1:1 copy.

Unfortunately dBpoweramp is no open source, and there isn't an open source equivalant to this software as well, and so we're dependent on what King Spoon considers worthy to be implemented.
Otherwise I would have integrated a patch long ago.

I WANT PERFECTION in reading in a medium!
And I WANT PERFECTION in absolute symmetry of the resulting digital data so that I can dump my CDs after reading in!

[mville]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

It's rare, but not that rare.

Also, I think people want to be able to trust that they always can do a perfect restore of the CD rip. Even if only 1-5% of the CDs have HTOA, that is enough to cause uncertainty about whether all their CDs really can be restored perfectly from dBPowerAmp rips. That uncertainty is enough to steer a lot of people away from using dBPowerAmp I'm afraid.

The main purpose of dBpoweramp is to rip audio CDs to a digital file format and convert to other formats. In the world of digital audio, the evidence suggests that people (and record labels) are moving away from the Audio CD format, so the idea of writing CDs and the need for cue sheets etc. is not a requirement for most users.

To suggest that users are being steered away dBpoweramp because the feature that you would like is not supported, is laughable.

[fjodor]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

HTOA is quite rare, hence why there is no urgency in implementing this.

It's rare, but not that rare.

Also, I think people want to be able to trust that they always can do a perfect restore of the CD rip. Even if only 1-5% of the CDs have HTOA, that is enough to cause uncertainty about whether all their CDs really can be restored perfectly from dBPowerAmp rips. That uncertainty is enough to steer a lot of people away from using dBPowerAmp I'm afraid.

So if there is no huge technical difficulty in adding HTOA support, I think it would be very much appreciated if you could do that.

[marcaurel]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

I gave up hoping long ago.
after so many years one must simply accept that King Spoon is not willing to implement this ever.

[Spoon]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

HTOA is quite rare, hence why there is no urgency in implementing this.

[fjodor]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

Hi Spoon,

People on this forum has been asking for this for ages: Can dBPowerAmp please support ripping to single FLAC + CUE sheet, with gap detection and Hidden Track One Audio (HTOA). Basically, people want to be able to always perfectly reproduce a CD from a rip based on single FLAC files, just like is possible with e.g. EAC.

Most of it is already in place as I understand it, which is great. But can you please let us know why the final pieces have not been put into place? Is there some kind of technical difficulty? Or has it just not been prioritized for some reason? Is it on the TODO-list, and in that case roughly when do you think it can be done?

I think the dbPowerAmp users will be really interesting in knowing the background of this. So if you please can elaborate and share some details, it would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[Spoon]

Re: [CUE Sheet Image] Utility Codec

Sorry it is not.