Can I make a case for AIFF files in the Audio Torrent Forum?

[GRC]

From my analogue sources, I can make what Alesis calls a 'CD24' on the Masterlink ML9600 - a CD with 24-bit, 96kHz files, stored in AIFF format.

The seeding policy for audio requires that the files be flac, shn or ape. I tried Audacity to convert AIFF to FLAC, but failed. From my point of view, it would be so much easier to merely upload the AIFF files......

Other than the policy, is there any reason why AIFFs couldn't be torrented?

[pawel]

Originally Posted by GRC

Other than the policy, is there any reason why AIFFs couldn't be torrented?

size

[direwolf-pgh]

some banter on this 'CD24' format
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/...howtopic=22395

http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/1999/ML9600.html

AIFF is to Apple as WAV is to PC ..that product seems more a computer reading/writing standard data file CD's

hook your PC up to your stereo with a $100 sound card & play all the 96/24 files you wish
-cause once you burn a 'CD24' disc..its not playing back in any other device other than a computer.

http://www.nextag.com/ALESIS-MasterL...09/prices-html.. $800 - pass.

[paddington]

AIFF = uncompressed digital audio like WAV. If there are some new flavors, it is still not ubiquitous, like FLAC.

Also, most people can't do anything with it. You could upload it, but hardly anyone would get anything out of it. Especially at 24bit, it's going to be rather useless since everyone's devices (CD players, iPods, etc) play 16bit audio.

Yes, there are exceptions, no they aren't common. The goal here is for as many people as possible to be able to enjoy the things that are offered here and FLAC>WAV>BURN or FLAC>WAV>MP3 is what nearly everyone can do, with either MACs or with PCs.

I don't really have an objection to AIFF files being shared here, personally, but I think the torrent would need to state exactly what they are and what has to be done to burn to a CD to play in a common player - as that is our standard end-game goal, here. I think you'll find that most people won't go through the trouble to convert it to something they can use.

All you need to convert .aiff to FLAC in Windows is Foobar2000 and FLAC v1.2.0 or newer (which can be found in TLH).

Uninstall Foobar2000 and TLH, then install the latest versions of Foobar2000 and Trader's Little Helper.
http://www.foobar2000.org/
http://tlh.easytree.org/

Drag your .aiff files into Foobar2000, select all, then right click > convert > convert to > FLAC (you can adjust the level with the '...' button > save. Done! The first time you do this Foobar may ask you for the location of the flac.exe file, it's usually in C:\Program Files > Trader's Little Helper > CmdlineApps.

I just tested it. I had a 24/96 FLAC file > dragged into Foobar2000 > converted to .aiff. Then I dragged the .aiff into Foobar2000 > converted back to FLAC > saved to a different location. The FLAC fingerprints matched!

The only thing is, if you do a lot of transfers @ 24/96, it's going to eat up a LOT of CD-Rs and burning time. Stereo 24/96 is 34.56 MB/minute, or a little more than 20 minutes of audio per CD-R. One hour show= minimum 3 CD-Rs, likely 4 depending on song tracking.

Another option: you could get a bit accurate sound card, like an M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 or something, and Soundforge or the free prog CD-Wave (audio editing software to record the signal), and digitally transfer from the Alesis to your comp via a coax cable, and save on media costs and burning time, and still use the AD converters of the Alesis for analog transfers.

[pawel]

You forgot to mention DVD-A, lol

[GRC]

Originally Posted by pawel

You forgot to mention DVD-A, lol

Who forgot?

[GRC]

Originally Posted by pawel

size

...and the comparative size between a 24-bit 96kHz AIFF and a FLAC derived from it would be....?

Regards, Graham

[paddington]

.. about the same as the comparative size between a 24-bit 96kHz WAV file and a FLAC derived from it.

We don't allow WAV because they are too big. They must be FLAC'd. Some people can make use of both WAVs & AIFF files for burning to disc. Most can't and need the PCM audio data to have the WAV headers to work with their software.

What is your chief reason for wanting to distribute PCM audio data with AIFF headers instead of WAV headers, when more people can make use of the WAV format?

[GRC]

Originally Posted by direwolf-pgh

some banter on this 'CD24' format
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/...howtopic=22395

http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/1999/ML9600.html

AIFF is to Apple as WAV is to PC ..that product seems more a computer reading/writing standard data file CD's

hook your PC up to your stereo with a $100 sound card & play all the 96/24 files you wish
-cause once you burn a 'CD24' disc..its not playing back in any other device other than a computer.

http://www.nextag.com/ALESIS-MasterL...09/prices-html.. $800 - pass.

They'll play back on the Masterlink as well as a computer.

The reason I ask is that some people are asking me in PMs for 24-bit copies of some of my torrents - so they apparently have a use for them, whatever it might be.

800 bucks for a Masterlink in the US equates to about 400 UK pounds - which in my book is a BARGAIN - I paid 699 UK pounds for mine a couple of years ago. If I could get one over here for that money I'd buy another in a heartbeat.

It's not about ME 'hooking the PC up to the stereo' and playing the 24-bits here, as I can just plug the Masterlink into the stereo and play them on that - it's about how to get them to other people who are asking for them; I can make 16-bit, 44.1kHz torrents easily, but Audacity doesn't want to co-operate with making 24-bit flacs, and ideally I'd like to shortcut the process and get the AIFFs direct to the people who ask for them.

At the end of the day, I could burn the CD24s and mail them out, but if I can do it more efficiently by torrenting them................

Regards, Graham

[GRC]

Originally Posted by roomful

The only thing is, if you do a lot of transfers @ 24/96, it's going to eat up a LOT of CD-Rs and burning time. Stereo 24/96 is 34.56 MB/minute, or a little more than 20 minutes of audio per CD-R. One hour show= minimum 3 CD-Rs, likely 4 depending on song tracking.

Another option: you could get a bit accurate sound card, like an M-Audio Audiophile 24/96 or something, and Soundforge or the free prog CD-Wave (audio editing software to record the signal), and digitally transfer from the Alesis to your comp via a coax cable, and save on media costs and burning time, and still use the AD converters of the Alesis for analog transfers.

Tell me about it - I archived a few shows to 24-bit a while back, and it was EATING CDs.

If I'm going to make a 24-bit transfer for torrenting, I'll want to keep an archive copy for myself, and that means burning it to CD to put on the shelf.

Regards, Graham

[paddington]

Originally Posted by GRC

I can make 16-bit, 44.1kHz torrents easily, but Audacity doesn't want to co-operate with making 24-bit flacs, and ideally I'd like to shortcut the process and get the AIFFs direct to the people who ask for them.

At the end of the day, I could burn the CD24s and mail them out, but if I can do it more efficiently by torrenting them................

Regards, Graham

We allow for 24bit audio in Flac files. Why not try FLAC fontend to encode them and, do that to distribute, so more people can benefit?

[GRC]

Originally Posted by jameskg

What is your chief reason for wanting to distribute PCM audio data with AIFF headers instead of WAV headers, when more people can make use of the WAV format?

Some folks are asking for them, and I'm looking for a way to supply them. The most direct way seemed to be to get the AIFF file to them, since that's what comes directly out of the Masterlink, and which is written to the CD24.

Regards, Graham

Originally Posted by GRC

Tell me about it - I archived a few shows to 24-bit a while back, and it was EATING CDs.

If I'm going to make a 24-bit transfer for torrenting, I'll want to keep an archive copy for myself, and that means burning it to CD to put on the shelf.

Regards, Graham

You could still archive them to disc using the bolded method. Transfer > track > compress to FLAC & write text file > torrent & archive. I use DVD+R so I can fit lots of shows on one disc in FLAC format. It's much more efficient than burning data CD-Rs. A lot less time spent burning, and all the shows are losslessly compressed.

Archiving uncompressed WAVs or AIFFs to CD-R is about the most inefficient way to archive IMO, no offense.