Windows 8

[Cliphead]

Best idea. CDs can be ripped (for free and legally) at better quality than MP3 (e.g. FLAC or Apple Lossless) so worth having as a baseline for anything that emerges to replace MP3.

Why rip to any compressed format lossless or otherwise? Storage is cheap, don't compromise.

[d000hg]

Windows 8 is too difficult for me. I want something that just works, like Linux.

Good one.

[d000hg]

Why rip to any compressed format lossless or otherwise? Storage is cheap, don't compromise.

It may be cheap but it's inconvenient when it gets full and you have to upgrade or get extra ones.

You don't store video uncompressed...

[Cliphead]

It may be cheap but it's inconvenient when it gets full and you have to upgrade or get extra ones.

You don't store video uncompressed...

Video and audio are two different things obviously, if you want quality audio then store uncompressed or get to be an old fart and not be able to tell the difference.

[eek]

It may be cheap but it's inconvenient when it gets full and you have to upgrade or get extra ones.

You don't store video uncompressed...

Yes but my ears are better than my eyes. Oh and if your server is running anything decent (like unraid) adding more hard disk space simply requires buying a bigger disk or three.

[PAH]

if you want quality audio then store uncompressed

I was under the impression that uncompressed and lossless compression result in the exact same quality when played back, as the lossless compression results in the same file as uncompressed (hence the name 'lossless') when decompressed for playback.

The following article seems to support that assumption (though not read every single word), but are you saying CD quality is better than lossless compression such as FLAC?

High-Def FAQ: Uncompressed vs. Lossless Audio | High-Def Digest

Another point that seems relevant is that tests show that human hearing can't really distinguish differences in quality above 320kbps for MP3 and many can't tell significant differences at much lower bitrates:

mp3ornot.com

[doodab]

I was under the impression that uncompressed and lossless compression result in the exact same quality when played back, as the lossless compression results in the same file as uncompressed (hence the name 'lossless') when decompressed for playback.

This is correct. It should be bit for bit identical.

[PAH]

This is correct. It should be bit for bit identical.

That's a relief. I thought I was being a bit thick.

So the only benefit of storing uncompressed is if you have a fetish for hard drives.

[chef]

what does it look like?

f##king awful

-a horrid green start screen that looks like it aimed at 4 year olds
- to get to the desktop you click a f##king button
- the start button takes you back to that horrid screen

utter tulip

[eek]

what does it look like?

f##king awful

-a horrid green start screen that looks like it aimed at 4 year olds
- to get to the desktop you click a f##king button
- the start button takes you back to that horrid screen

utter tulip

So they've reinvented Bob again and forgotten all the lessons from 16 years ago.

Ho hum.