Thanks.
Full Version: Question about FLAC's "compression" settings...
I was just wondering what the recommendation was for the setting in FLAC for its compression? I know it runs from -8 to -0 and I am wondering what will produce the best results? I guess I have always been kinda confused about this as well... Since FLAC is a lossless format, what is it actually compressing? To me, compressing signifies a "lossy" format. Can anyone help me out with this so that I can understand it better?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Most people just leave it at -5 (the default) for a good balance between speed and compression ratios.
What's there to understand? "lossless" means "no loss". Think of it like a ZIP file that's designed for audio.
What's there to understand? "lossless" means "no loss". Think of it like a ZIP file that's designed for audio.
HA wiki-FLAC
Settings above -5 do not result in significantly smaller file sizes, but encoding speed will drop a lot. If you have a fast machine, you could try -6 or -7.
QUOTE
Question: What is the best compression level for encoding my music?
Short Answer: The default setting, 5.
Long Answer: Encoding at the default setting will give the best balance between compression and encoding speed. Encoding at 8 can more than quadruple the encoding time, while having an insignificant effect on compression.
Short Answer: The default setting, 5.
Long Answer: Encoding at the default setting will give the best balance between compression and encoding speed. Encoding at 8 can more than quadruple the encoding time, while having an insignificant effect on compression.
Settings above -5 do not result in significantly smaller file sizes, but encoding speed will drop a lot. If you have a fast machine, you could try -6 or -7.
QUOTE(Axon @ Jul 17 2006, 12:33) 
Most people just leave it at -5 (the default) for a good balance between speed and compression ratios.
What's there to understand? "lossless" means "no loss". Think of it like a ZIP file that's designed for audio.
Thanks... I understand what "lossless" means... but compression means "loss"... this seems to be a contradiction.
Compare it to a 'WinZip'-like program that was specially optimized for audio. When you extract a compressed file, it comes out exactly identical to the original.
But:
from: FLAC FAQ
I compressed a WAVE file to FLAC, then decompressed to WAVE, and the two weren't identical. Why?
WAVE is a complicated standard; many kinds of data besides audio data can be put in it. Most likely what has happened is that the application that created the original WAVE file also added some extra information for it's own use, which FLAC does not store or recreate (see also). But the audio data in the two WAVE files will be identical. There are other tools to compare just the audio content of two WAVE files; ExactAudioCopy has such a feature.
But:
from: FLAC FAQ
QUOTE
I compressed a WAVE file to FLAC, then decompressed to WAVE, and the two weren't identical. Why?
WAVE is a complicated standard; many kinds of data besides audio data can be put in it. Most likely what has happened is that the application that created the original WAVE file also added some extra information for it's own use, which FLAC does not store or recreate (see also). But the audio data in the two WAVE files will be identical. There are other tools to compare just the audio content of two WAVE files; ExactAudioCopy has such a feature.
QUOTE(Hanky @ Jul 17 2006, 12:38)
Compare it to a 'WinZip'-like program that was specially optimized for audio.
Okay, I get where you are coming from with this... Thanks for the comparision.
QUOTE(TempestGarden @ Jul 17 2006, 21:36)
but compression means "loss"... this seems to be a contradiction.
Compressed is smaller, not less. You can fold a piece of paper to around fifty times its original surface area, but nothing is lost.I seem to remember once seeing that 6 is a good balance between compression and encoding speed. That said, 5 is no doubt the default for the same reason. In conclusion: 5 or 6.
QUOTE
Most people just leave it at -5 (the default) for a good balance between speed and compression ratios.
I would just make it do an "exhaustive search", but that's me
QUOTE(TempestGarden @ Jul 18 2006, 02:36)
QUOTE(Axon @ Jul 17 2006, 12:33)
Most people just leave it at -5 (the default) for a good balance between speed and compression ratios.
What's there to understand? "lossless" means "no loss". Think of it like a ZIP file that's designed for audio.
Thanks... I understand what "lossless" means... but compression means "loss"... this seems to be a contradiction.
lossless means that no part of the audio is thrown out (i can't explain it technically), it's like zipping your document. if you Unzip it, you get the original. just like that, if you convert your lossless back to WAV, you get the exact thing you started with.
lossy encoders throw away parts of the audio that our ears cannot perceive so they "sound" the same but mathematically they "aren't" the same.
hope that helps
QUOTE(TempestGarden @ Jul 17 2006, 22:36)
Thanks... I understand what "lossless" means... but compression means "loss"... this seems to be a contradiction.
Like ZIP, a lossless audio encoder won't reduce the size of every possible data you feed it. It just exploits characteristics of audio signals to find a smaller representation for "typical" audio content.This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.