FLAC 24 bit output

[jjfabbsy]

I've checked my Directsound output plugin, and under the "status" tab when I play an MP3 file...it will say it is outputting at 24 bits.

When I play a FLAC file, and check the Directsound status tab it will say it is playing at 16 bits.

I am using the included FLAC plugin, is there any way to enable 24 bit output with this plugin? or is another plugin necessary?

It is the same with APE files, by the way. And I am using the latest version of Winamp.

Thanks

[DJ Egg]

What version of Winamp and the Nullsoft FLAC plugin are you using?

eg.

Winamp 5.33 with Nullsoft FLAC Decoder 1.1.2e [in_flac.dll]

Winamp 5.34 beta with Nullsoft FLAC Decoder 2.0 (FLAC 1.1.4) [in_flac.dll]

Providing us with a List of Plugins would show us the required information.

24bit Output with FLAC works fine for me (see screenshot).

At a guess, you're using the 3rd-party FLAC plugin from sourceforge.net, and not the Nullsoft one...?


MonkeysAudio APE support is provided by a 3rd-party plugin, and I guess that said 3rd-party plugin will need updating to support things like 24bit output, transcoding, replaygain analysis, etc.
Sorry, there's nothing that we can do about 3rd-party plugins here. Contact the plugin author instead, and point them to the Winamp 5.3x SDK.

[jjfabbsy]

Sorry, as I fell asleep last night, I realised I should have put exactly what version I was using...

I'm using Winamp 5.34 Beta build 1239...with Nullsoft FLAC Decoder 2.0 (FLAC 1.1.4) [in_flac.dll]

I am not using any other third party plugin's apart from
the Monkey's Audio and SHN input plugins.

Both shouldn't be interfering with FLAC playback as far as I know.

EDIT: I just installed the latest non beta version of WINAMP and the issue is still there.

[Koopa]

24Bit works fine with Winamp 5.33 & Nullsoft FLAC Decoder v1.1.2e and with Winamp 5.34 Beta & Nullsoft FLAC Decoder v2.0.

[Benski]

Be sure you have enabled "Allow 24bit" in the Playback preferences. This is off by default because some soundcards (particularly the Audigy 2) have strange behavior with 24-bit playback.

[jjfabbsy]

I definitely have Allow 24Bit ticked...the weird thing is, that mp3's are showing as playing in 24 bit in Directsound Output Plugin/Status...so it works with mp3's...not FLAC's.

EDIT: I just uninstalled, deleted Winamp directory...rebooted. Then installed Winamp (latest stable version, then the beta using the same uninstall/install process) and am still having the same issue.

[DJ Egg]

Could you possibly zip up and upload a short sample .flac file to eg. sendspace.com or mediafire.com (or stashbox.org if it's under 5mb) - eg. a short ~1 minute track - and post the link here?

Don't worry if the forum just shows 'url submited by user' as that is part of the forum's anti-spam policy, where url's submitted by anyone with a Junior Member status are only visible to moderators/admin.

Please also attach a List of Plugins.

[jjfabbsy]

Okay, I've uploaded the FLAC file to this URL:

http://www.mediafire.com/?1ufymuvjmxu

Also attached the plugin list..

Thank you!

[DJ Egg]

Hmm, everything looks in order with your List of Plugins, and the sample FLAC file shows it's outputting at 24bit for me (see attached screenshot).

Alas, I'm a bit baffled, and don't know what else to tell you...

Anyone?

A Vista/soundcard/driver related issue maybe?

[Benski]

This is because you're listening to 16 bit FLAC files! You can check the bits-per-sample of the FLAC file bit hitting Alt+3 and looking in the "File Info" area - http://stashbox.org/17175/1073129543...-File-Info.png

The only reason DJ Egg and Koopa have them playing back as 24 bit is because they have "Replay Gain" enabled. Winamp saves the results of applying Replay Gain as 24 bit in order to maintain significance that would be otherwise lost when digitally reducing volume with only 16 bit precision.

Don't sweat it - you would gain nothing by listening to your 16bit FLAC files as 24bit. Even if Winamp were to let this happen, it would just fill those last 8 bits as 0's. It's kind of like writing more 0's after the end of the decimal point - doesn't change the number, just hurts your hand

[DJ Egg]

Aha! Of course. Cheers Benski :-)

Yeah, all my files have RG applied, and for those that don't (eg. the sample flac file from this thread) it's using the 'Adjustment for files without RG' setting.

So yeah, if you checkmark "Use Replay Gain" in: Prefs > Playback
then out_ds should still output at 24bit even for flac files without RG applied,
(note, you can set the 'Adjustment for files without RG' preamp slider to 0dB, instead of the default -6.0dB value, if you wish).

[jjfabbsy]

Thank you so much for investigating that guys, especially DJ Egg!

Very satisfying explanation

All the best,

Jason