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If you are using a lossless format, specifically FLAC (via EAC) is there anything lost in sound quality, in using the highest compression?As either way it's lossless, the apparent answer is no.
But could well be there's something I'm not aware of.I believe that some people do not using the highest compression - why is that?
Follow Ups:
No, nothing is lost.> I believe that some people do not using the highest
> compression - why is that?There's a tradeoff between compression level and processing/time required to compress the files. You actually gain very little space at the highest compression setting vs the default. I'd recommend trying the default (IIRC it's 5, or just don't specify a level) and then try the highest and see what difference it makes in file size and processing time on your computer. Or choose a level in between.
Also, maybe of no concern to you, is that the more compression, the more processing power required to decompress. That means that some devices with minimal processing power - portables mostly - may not be able to decode the higher compression levels.
Actually, the point about a higher compression ratio requiring more CPU power to decompress is not entirely true. In many cases, higher compression results in significantly LESS processing power for decompression. For example, a run of 10,000 zeros could be compressed into a few bytes (for a 10,000 to 3 ratio) and decompressed in much less time than it would take to decompress a run of compressed random data.
Not higher compression ratio, higher compression setting. That will yield a slightly higher ratio, but at the expense of running more complex algorithms on both ends of the en/decoding cycle. It affects the encoding much more so than the decoding, though. That's one thing that Flac really has going for it. The encoding/decoding processing relationship is asymmetrical. It takes a lot more cpu to encode to decode. As I understand it, this was a major design goal of Flac, so that relatively low powered devices would be able to easily decode and play the files.
Thanks J, that spells it out clearly
For only small % differences, I’d probably save the CPU a little heat . .
Compressed data (audio) has to be decompressed by the CPU / software before it can be processed (played back). Shouldn't be a problem for most modern processors unless you are doing something like SRC on playback.
I have since read that the saving in file size is only 5%. Iin case it makes a differnce(?), my music is mostly pop/rock.Using maximum compression over "normal", what extra file size saving do you get ~ what's the range?
See the wiki at hydrogen audio which will answer all your questions.
JeffI tried to find a *really good forum earlier - hydrogen audio looks excellent
Thank you!
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