Ripping CD collection...building HTPC later...

[scootermaster]

The main issue here is FLAC. Of course, the Xbox 360 doesn't support it [natively?], because god hates me.

So what to do? As much as I'd love to use Flac, iTunes doesn't support it, and now Xbox 360? I guess it doesn't really matter, since I can likely switch between lossless formats, and it'll just take a day to transcode everything, but I'd like to only do this once. So while eventually, I want to build an HTPC for downstairs, with my CD collection in lossless (still don't know what front end software to use, although leaning toward straight Windows Media Center/Vista -- assuming they have ASIO/non k-mixer support) I'm not ready to build it just yet. But in the mean time, I have this Xbox360 connected to my main stereo/TV.

So what's a good idea here that'll give me access to my CDs (obviously from a different computer) from the Xbox, but with an eye on the future to when that harddrive will be in the HTPC? (I got one of them 640gig WDs. Very excited).

Flac and TVocity or whatever it's callled? That's the clubhouse leader right now. Any other ideas?

 

[pennylane]

I use FLAC myself because of its open nature. I've never had problems with FLAC and see no reason to switch to another format. TVersity can transcode FLAC into PCM (a wav file) and can stream it. It's not too hard. It should be as simple as installing ffdshow on your computer. There are tutorials online, youtube videos, too.

You might have to adjust some settings in ffdshow, but you shouldn't have to. If TVersity can play the FLAC file on your computer--you can browse your share to get to the file and play it inside TVersity (this is a good test to see if it works)--it should automatically transcode the FLAC file when you try playing it on your 360.

Also I have never got the 360 to play gaplessly (ie, songs that cut seamlessly with each other). I've had this issue with both mp3 and transcoded FLAC files. Also, as far as I'm aware, the 360 outputs Dolby Digital (!) even when you play a FLAC file. So it seems to transcode the input file into a lossy format anyway. I haven't done any testing, but my receiver clearly indicates it's receiving a Dolby Digital signal. I don't use my 360 to play music because of this. I still use my original xbox with xbox media center.

 

[Slick5150]

I've done subjective comparisons between FLAC and LAME encoded MP3 files, and frankly, I couldn't pick out the difference. I understand that even a well encoded MP3 is going to have some loss to it, the question is whether or not it is noticeable. In my case (and I was doing it blind so I didn't know what I was listening to until after), I didn't hear it. So, my point being, you save yourself a ton of diskspace by using MP3 over FLAC, and whether or not you lose anything important in the process is for you to decide. But ultimately, it'd solve your Xbox dilemma anyways.

 

[pennylane]

Originally posted by: Slick5150
I've done subjective comparisons between FLAC and LAME encoded MP3 files, and frankly, I couldn't pick out the difference. I understand that even a well encoded MP3 is going to have some loss to it, the question is whether or not it is noticeable. In my case (and I was doing it blind so I didn't know what I was listening to until after), I didn't hear it. So, my point being, you save yourself a ton of diskspace by using MP3 over FLAC, and whether or not you lose anything important in the process is for you to decide. But ultimately, it'd solve your Xbox dilemma anyways.

I can't tell either (at least with --alt preset standard or higher), but I prefer FLAC just for archival reasons. Just knowing that I have basically the CD on my computer for the future. If I want to encode the file into other formats in the future (for whatever reason), it's nice to know that I can start with the original CD quality instead of a lossy mp3.

Diskspace being so cheap anyway, I'd just archive it with FLAC and save any potential worries.