Mac OS X Music Players - alternatives to iTunes - Page 110

Or it could be that XLD is open, but seeing as it doesn't exactly have a window he's missing it.

i think i downloaded it wrong, but it works now.

Now my problem (if it's one) is that when i convert to lossless, it gives me 16 bit audio. I converted from an Ape file.

Is it possible that the ape file is made in 16 bit?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ren19 

i think i downloaded it wrong, but it works now.

 

Now my problem (if it's one) is that when i convert to lossless, it gives me 16 bit audio. I converted from an Ape file.

 

Is it possible that the ape file is made in 16 bit?

Check your settings: Under option. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by paradoxper 

Check your settings: Under option. 

Ah thanks, i was converting to AIFF.

I noticed you have you "Maximum #threads" at 4. Did you change it because it makes a difference in the audio? (I have no idea what it is)

Was it like that default?

that amounts to the number of processor cores you want to keep busy converting. It's about conversion speed, not related to quality. I think standard setting utilizes all available cores, but you can lower it to keep system responsiveness better if you want to keep working while converting.

I'm not going to read the 100 pages I missed... has any real alternative to iTunes/Remote popped up since? I have used the BitPerfect add-on for a while, but it is just too buggy and uncertain for a headless MacMini to work with and I don't have much 44.1+ material anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ren19 

 

Ah thanks, i was converting to AIFF.

 

I noticed you have you "Maximum #threads" at 4. Did you change it because it makes a difference in the audio? (I have no idea what it is)

 

Was it like that default?

Default should be 2, If I'm not mistaken.

Threads refers to the number of Cores/Processors you have available to use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paaj 

that amounts to the number of processor cores you want to keep busy converting. It's about conversion speed, not related to quality. I think standard setting utilizes all available cores, but you can lower it to keep system responsiveness better if you want to keep working while converting.

 

 

I'm not going to read the 100 pages I missed... has any real alternative to iTunes/Remote popped up since? I have used the BitPerfect add-on for a while, but it is just too buggy and uncertain for a headless MacMini to work with and I don't have much 44.1+ material anyway.

Did you try the latest versions of BP? I just let the program start on startup of my headless MM and whenever I run iTunes it simply takes over core audio and changes the sample rate just fine.

For iTunes I keep using the Remote App. Haven't felt the need for anything better.

I have a bunch of remote apps for other things though, and Rowmote to use as a keyboard/mouse replacement. When you start Rowmote the MM wakes from sleep.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ren19 

i think i downloaded it wrong, but it works now.

 

Now my problem (if it's one) is that when i convert to lossless, it gives me 16 bit audio. I converted from an Ape file.

 

Is it possible that the ape file is made in 16 bit?

You should take Apple Lossless indeed and under the options button next to it set sample rate and bit depth to same as original.

ALAC is the same quality as AIFF (Apple's version of wav) but is smaller due to losless compression and  keeps all metadata inside the mp4 file. Wav doesn't and aiff keeps only part of it inside the file if I remember it right.

It could be your ape file is 16-bit as well. If it's a CD rip then it's 16-bit. CD's are 16/44, if you want higher you need a DVD audio or BluRay audio rip or highres downloads form sites like hdtracks.com .

By the way Ren, I get the feeling that you haven't used iTunes (much) yet.

one of the reasons many like it is it's capabilities as a music manager/browser. 

It isn't configured like that standard though, out of the box you get a shiny and easy to use interface.

With some customizng through the view menu and by right clicking on the headers of the columns you can make it a joy to search, select and re-discover your music.

Below is a screenshot of how I use it.

As for SQ it's bitperfect if you don't mess with the sound-enhancement options in preferences and keep the volume at max.

The only gripe I have is that it doesn't autoswitch sample rates but that is easily remedied by installing BitPerfect from the app store and always have it running. I even set it to run on startup of the Mac.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleheadMay 

 

Did you try the latest versions of BP? I just let the program start on startup of my headless MM and whenever I run iTunes it simply takes over core audio and changes the sample rate just fine.

 

Yeah. Previous versions didn't do gapless well (I did get a 'custom' version that worked for a while but then started skipping too), and the new version doesn't integrate with Lion or iTunes11 but the sample rate doesn't (visibly) change in AudioMidi anymore.

Maybe my Mini needs an upgrade, it's getting old with it's 1.8Ghz C2D and no support for MountainLion. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleheadMay 

You should take Apple Lossless indeed and under the options button next to it set sample rate and bit depth to same as original.

 

ALAC is the same quality as AIFF (Apple's version of wav) but is smaller due to losless compression and  keeps all metadata inside the mp4 file. Wav doesn't and aiff keeps only part of it inside the file if I remember it right.

 

It could be your ape file is 16-bit as well. If it's a CD rip then it's 16-bit. CD's are 16/44, if you want higher you need a DVD audio or BluRay audio rip or highres downloads form sites like hdtracks.com .

Thanks for the site, can i get that much quality if i buy from itunes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleheadMay 

By the way Ren, I get the feeling that you haven't used iTunes (much) yet.

one of the reasons many like it is it's capabilities as a music manager/browser. 

It isn't configured like that standard though, out of the box you get a shiny and easy to use interface.

With some customizng through the view menu and by right clicking on the headers of the columns you can make it a joy to search, select and re-discover your music.

Below is a screenshot of how I use it.

As for SQ it's bitperfect if you don't mess with the sound-enhancement options in preferences and keep the volume at max.

The only gripe I have is that it doesn't autoswitch sample rates but that is easily remedied by installing BitPerfect from the app store and always have it running. I even set it to run on startup of the Mac.

 

 

 

Thanks thats nice to know, but i don't have that much music.....yet.

Anyone know how to make the mac output 24/96 ? I can't see it in the audio settings
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ren19 

Anyone know how to make the mac output 24/96 ? I can't see it in the audio settings
 

Apps/Utilities/Audio Midi you can manually change it there, if that's what you're wanting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by paradoxper 

Apps/Utilities/Audio Midi you can manually change it there, if that's what you're wanting.

exactly what i was looking for, thanks.

For Audirvana Plus, in OS X 10.8.2 (I'm using a 15" Retina MacBook Pro):

1. Can you prevent the playlist from automatically showing up every time you open a song from Finder?
2. Even when "Autostart playback when opened from outside" is checked, opening a file straight from Finder doesn't automatically start playback. Does this happen to anyone else?
3. Why does the preferences window ALWAYS appear near the bottom of my screen? It's so annoying having to move it up every time...