BEST ZUNE AUDIO FILE

[Baird GoW]

For starters I don't know if there is a rule that says don't put an emergency sign next to your thread if its not an emergency but i thought more people might check it out and get me a little more help.

This is my first post and I am going to buy a Zune shortly. Right now I have a Ipod and i have total disregard for anything on it cause its gona be hell getting it all off.

So I have started off my brand new music library I want on the Zune. I have been getting a lot of different discographys in .FLAC (free lossless audio codec). These are also the music files I listen to on my desktop which is why I chose .FLAC.

My Question is what is the best type of file that i can convert them too (so i don't loose much sound quality). And if you guys know any good free software that will convert them for me.

PS: I'm not interested in getting the files off my Ipod its a lot of music I don't listen to anymore.

I want to thank you if you read this far and if you reply thanks again.

 

[Aedion]

(this needs to be moved to portable source gear)
quick look at the supported audio formats that the zune supports would give you your answer.

Zune.net | Zune 120 Tech Specs
"Audio Support

Windows Media® Audio Standard[3] (WMA) (.wma): Up to 320 Kbps; constant bit rate (CBR) and variable bit rate (VBR) up to 48 kHz sample rate. WMA Pro 2-channel up to 384 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48 kHz.

WMA Lossless

Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b, .mov): .m4a and .m4b files without FairPlay DRM up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48 kHz.

MP3 (.mp3): up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48 kHz."

WMA lossless.

 

[nylan8301]

WMA lossless is as good as it gets. In order to get that, you'll have to transcode from FLAC to WAV and then, using WMP 11, transcode from WAV to WMA lossless.

If anyone else knows a better way, they should speak up. I'm sure it's some media player I don't use.

Good luck.

Nylan

 

[Baird GoW]

thanks to both of you lets see if anyone else has anything to say

 

[Woodsmith]

There is a program called dBpoweramp Music Converter It's a very modular audio converter and it does convert FLAC to WMA 9.2 lossless. It also has a host of other codecs, DSP effects, and other utility codecs (ReplayGain) that can be applied to your conversion. The bad news is... it's not freeware. The good news is that it's free for the first 21 days.

If you're still interested, it can be downloaded here:

dBpoweramp Music Converter R13.1

You will have to install the FLAC and WMA codecs either separately or in the Reference Codec Pack Release 3

Hope that helps!

Edit: Just wanted to say that this software is integrated into your windows-shell so just right click on the file (or group of files) and you should see a "Convert To" on the context menu to do some ultra fast conversions.

 

[Baird GoW]

Thanks alot I just saw that site I'm gona get all the music I want and then download it so i can convert as much as i can in the 21 days. May I also ask is there a simple way to rip cd's to wma flawless.
Im new at all this stuff just got into sound quality.

 

[nylan8301]

Pop it into WMP 11 and use the drop down menu under "rip" to select "format" and then select "Windows Media Audio lossless".

Boom, Bam, you're done.

Nylan

 

[Woodsmith]

dBpoweramp has a CD ripping software included, but I would also suggest WMP for WMA Lossless. (in depth ID3 automation including album art)

though when all said and done... I don't think you're going to notice a difference with that than say 256kpbs VBR.. hell even 192kbps when using a Zune as your source. I own a Zune 30gb and I'm more concerned with fitting more albums on it because these Zunes can't show the difference. Maybe a Zen X-Fi could pick up the difference... but even then that's loose speculation. Can anyone else hear the difference on their PMP's? (excluding iMods)

 

[Baird GoW]

wait if i have a zune and i use wma lossless i wont be able to see album art?
second how do i set the albums to show album art?(i might know but im might not 100% sure)
never mind i get what your first thing was but how do i put in the album art

 

[Woodsmith]

It's automated when you rip the album... given the album isn't that obscure. Even the Zune software will automatically update album art so that it can be viewed on your Zune. You should only be concerned with album art if it isn't automatically showing up.

 

[Baird GoW]

wood, nylan and adeion thanks alot for all you help.

 

[nylan8301]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baird GoW /img/forum/go_quote.gif wood, nylan and adeion thanks alot for all you help.

You're welcome. Have a good one!

Nylan