Squeezebox, EAC, and FLAC

[curtis]

OK...I just ripped an album to FLAC using EAC.

I will be playing it through my Squeezebox which is connected digitally to my pre/pro.

It should sound identical to the original CD as played through my Denon 2900 if played through the digital connection.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to test it much until tomorrow. The kids are watching old Pink Panther cartoons in HD at the moment. :)

BTW..those FLAC files are not small.

[curtis]

I guess I will be buying a large external harddrive and ripping to MP3 and FLAC now.

[rajacat]

Curtis,

I used this tutorial to help me configure EAC.

http://www.carltonbale.com/projects/cd_audio_extraction/

Raja

[curtis]

Thanks....I have to look into this "offset" business. Other than configuring it to use the FLAC executable, I have not done any other tweaking and it sounds pretty good so far.

[Lou-the-dog]

I guess I will be buying a large external harddrive and ripping to MP3 and FLAC now.

Just wondering as I am trying to figure out all this bit rate stuff...if FLAC is lossless why would you mess with a lower resolution MP3 rip? Big harddrives a dirt cheap and surely a FLAC file sounds superior to MP3...or not?

Randy

[curtis]

Just wondering as I am trying to figure out all this bit rate stuff...if FLAC is lossless why would you mess with a lower resolution MP3 rip? Big harddrives a dirt cheap and surely a FLAC file sounds superior to MP3...or not?

Randy
Because it is more portable and supported......and all on my iPod which does not support FLAC.

[boludaso]

Curtis:

Are there any devices that I can copy my CDs to but not have to have a squeezebox type device as a go between?? I dont want to use my computer as my CD database.

i want an external harddrive that i can plug directly to my reciever. Seen anything like that??

[curtis]

As far as I know, there are no receivers that can play music directly from a USB harddrive.

You can modify some network attached storage devices to fun the Slimserver software, then you would not need to turn on a PC for the Squeezebox.

I have also been looking at www.sonos.com. I demo'd a Sonos system last week and thought it was great. It takes an idea like Squeezebox even further.

[PLincoln]

Because it is more portable and supported......and all on my iPod which does not support FLAC.

true, but any decent ipod sync software will transcode the flac to mp3 when being transferred to the ipod...no need to store both formats on the same drive. and since you generally only sync a few new files this will only take "long" the first time you sync your entire library...suggest you look into mediamonkey if itunes does not do this...

[boludaso]

Well, i couldnt leave it at that. i had to find the device i knew had to exist since i'd thought of the idea long ago. and if i've thought of it, then somebody smarter than must have already made it. so check out these links to virtual digital nirvana.

http://www.olive.us/p_bin/?cid=home

http://www.escient.com/

http://www.request.com/

http://www.yamaha.com/yec/separate/cdrecorder.html?CTID=5002200

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_BrowseCatalog-Start;sid=FYyEHmfdRKSETiNoH_yOFSjNAye6ezw4QJk=?Cat egoryName=tv_DigitalLivingSystem&Dept=tvvideo

http://www.integrahometheater.com/model.cfm?class=Nettune&m=NAS-2.6&p=i

http://www.integrahometheater.com/model.cfm?class=Nettune&m=NAS-2.3rev2&p=i

heres an old article.
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0%2C1895%2C523213%2C00.asp

and

http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,924250,00.asp

[curtis]

Ahhh....OK...I misunderstood what you were looking for.

Yes....all of those devices will do what you ask, but are much more expensive than the Squeezbox, and I don't think have the same ease of use.

[boludaso]

Yep. Do i spend 1k plus to have this done or just use the old PC, maybe add a large slave drive and do the same for a LOT less? The component has the sexiness, but money speaks. where is my lottery ticket????

[curtis]

Yeah...I have been eyeing that Sonos setup....I saw it in action and it is slick. Maybe I will sell you my Squeezebox 2? :) Actually...I am half serious!

[PLincoln]

Yep. Do i spend 1k plus to have this done or just use the old PC, maybe add a large slave drive and do the same for a LOT less? The component has the sexiness, but money speaks. where is my lottery ticket????

or 150 on a modded xbox and do way more

[curtis]

or 150 on a modded xbox and do way more
Is that all they cost?

One thing though, I have decided that I do not want to HAVE to use my TV as display/interface.

[PLincoln]

Is that all they cost?

One thing though, I have decided that I do not want to HAVE to use my TV as display/interface.

you can probably pick up a used 1st gen modded xbox for around 150ish without any games or hdd upgrades. maybe a little less maybe a little more...let's say less than 200 for sure.

the dedicated tv part would be a deal breaker for you then. I know there is an LCD display mod that could be done but that's increasing the complexity of the project...so now it becomes $ vs your time.

I love my modded xbox and wouldn't trade it for anything. Being able to network it and play nearly any media is far more important to me than having to turn the tv on for it.

I can appreciate someone else not wanting to do the same

[curtis]

I have to see one in action.

I'm sure my kids would love it if I got one and hooked it up to the HDTV......but for them, I am waiting for the Nintendo Wii.

[drewface]

I have to see one in action.

I'm sure my kids would love it if I got one and hooked it up to the HDTV......but for them, I am waiting for the Nintendo Wii.
excellent choice, my friend! i'm a big nintendo fan and can't wait for the wii (i'm also waiting for them to bring the black ds lite over from europe...)

that said, some of the stuff microsoft is showing off for the xbox 360 is looking kinda cool. i'm not really into the whole media center computer idea (i like my gaming consoles straight up, thank you), but for those who are, it has some nice features. that would be a little more than $150, though...

[curtis]

http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=28821