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Audio quality information shown by MinimServer - simoncn - 29-03-2020 15:08
I am starting this thread because of two recent requests to change the information displayed by MinimServer in the #AudioData or #AudioQuality special tags. See this post and this post.
Information about the audio quality/resolution of a file is provided by two special tags #AudioData and #AudioQuality. The #AudioData tag provides exact information about bit depth and sample rate (or bit rate). The #AudioQuality tag classifies music into a smaller number of categories.
In more detail, the #AudioData tag can show any combination of bit depth and sample rate. For lossless files, some common combinations are 16/44100, 16/48000, 24/44100, 24/48000, 16/88200, 24/88200, 24/96000, 24/176400, 24/192000, 24/352800, 32/352800, 24/384000, 1/2822400, 1/5644800 and 1/11289600. #AudioData can also display any other combinations not listed above. For lossy files, #AudioData displays an approximate bit rate because lossy files vary slightly in their exact bit rate. These bit rates are displayed as <128k, ~128k, ~160k, ~192k, ~224k, ~256k, ~320k and ~400k. (The ~ means 'approximately'.)
Because of the large number of possible combinations, the #AudioQuality tag provides a simpler designation of audio quality that is intended to be sufficient for most people to select between different audio qualities in their library. The possible values for #AudioQuality are as follows:
LC : all lossy files (LC = Lossy Compression)
CD- : lossless, less than 16/44100
CD : exactly 16/44100
CD+ : better than CD, less than HD
HD : either bit depth 24 and not lower than 24/44100 or bit depth 16 and better than 16/96000
These categories date from 2013 and things have moved on quite a long way since then with DSD64, DSD128 (etc.) and PCM files with resolutions up to 32/352800 or 24/384000. To enable these higher resolution files to be identified easily, here are a few options for doing this:
1) Leave #AudioData unchanged and replace the current HD category of #AudioQuality with the following:
DSD64, DS128, DSD256, etc.
DXD : 24/352800 or better
HD+ : 24/176400 or 24/192000
HD : all others that are marked HD at present
2) Leave #AudioQuality unchanged and replace the current values in #AudioData with the following:
48k
64k
96k
128k
192k
256k
320k
16/44
24/44
16/48
24/48
16/88
24/88
24/96
24/176
24/192
24/352
32/352
24/384
DSD64
DSD128
DSD256, etc.
3) Leave both #AudioData and #AudioQuality unchanged and add a new special tag (perhaps #AudioInfo) with the values in 2) above.
My preference is for a combination of 1) and 2). What do others think?
RE: Audio quality information shown by MinimServer - stefano_mbp - 29-03-2020 15:26
I should prefer the third (3) ... with one plus: no need to change anyone’s mind ...
RE: Audio quality information shown by MinimServer - LittleScarabee - 29-03-2020 15:48
Hi Simon,
Thanks to open a dedicated thread for this request.
The mix of suggestion 1) and 2) it's a good idea : "minor" update (for #AudioData it will be better-looking)
In this case (in my point of view) :
1) We will be able to custom the description of album : BlaBlaBla [Date] [#AudioQuality] [#AudioData]
2) With indexTags the possibility to directly access to specific albums with specific sample rate : DSD64, 24/384 or other
Thanks
RE: Audio quality information shown by MinimServer - Peter@57m - 29-03-2020 15:58
Like the values in 2. Can’t really see the benefit of going to 3, don’t see what you would lose through just new values in #AudioData
Updating #AudioQuality as per 1 makes sense too.
I append the album title with #AudioData so I like the proposed shorter format
RE: Audio quality information shown by MinimServer - simoncn - 29-03-2020 17:56
(29-03-2020 15:58)Peter@57m Wrote: Like the values in 2. Can’t really see the benefit of going to 3, don’t see what you would lose through just new values in #AudioQuality.
Updating #AudioData as per 1 makes sense too.
I append the album title with #AudioQuality so I like the proposed shorter format
Thanks for this. A point of clarification: 1) was updating #AudioQuality, not #AudioData. Is that what you meant?
RE: Audio quality information shown by MinimServer - Peter@57m - 29-03-2020 18:05
(29-03-2020 17:56)simoncn Wrote: Thanks for this. A point of clarification: 1) was updating #AudioQuality, not #AudioData. Is that what you meant?
Yes Simon,
got my Quality and Data mixed up - I have now updated my original post
RE: Audio quality information shown by MinimServer - GreenMtnGringo - 29-03-2020 20:36
Interesting thread, thanks for starting it, Simon. I can already see file quality info on my DAC's display and in various control point apps. Would the information in the two tags under discussion show up on a DAC display and/or a control point app? And if so, how would the information differ from the file quality info displayed without the two tags being read? Thanks.
RE: Audio quality information shown by MinimServer - simoncn - 29-03-2020 22:03
Some people like to see the quality while browsing. The DAC would not show this. To see the quality during browsing, the user can use either indexTags or tagFormat.
RE: Audio quality information shown by MinimServer - rompolompo - 29-03-2020 22:13
My preference is #2
RE: Audio quality information shown by MinimServer - bbrip - 29-03-2020 22:48
Thanks for taking up my suggestion from the other thread, Simon.
I would opt for suggestion #2. Very clear and and in line with most streaming and download site‘s specifications.
Burkhard