XXHighEnd

Ultimate Audio Playback => XXHighEnd Support => Topic started by: PeterSt on November 23, 2020, 05:28:34 pm



Title: Tidal Times are over
Post by: PeterSt on November 23, 2020, 05:28:34 pm

Hi all,

Maybe some of you noticed that all the normal Redbook CD albums are disappearing with lightspeed from Tidal. What remains are "MQA" 44.1 (16 bit) albums.

*If* you plan to listen to more albums of your favorite artist, then be quick with Preparing them for Playback, now you still can.
They have let loose a batch conversion program on the existing albums, and they are all being converted (at least I have the idea they will be doing them all).

Notice that we are talking about the same Album ID's here that literally change. Thus, the same album (ID) receives new content. I checked, and the music data really changes.
I did not check whether it sounds good or not, but I really am not interested in finding out, knowing that there will be no other way any more in the future.

As we know, we XXHighEnd users have been lucky ... ;)

Peter


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: briefremarks on November 26, 2020, 09:36:33 pm
This is sad news.  What does MQA 44.1 even mean?  The concern with MQA has always been around control of music distribution.  Looks like its happening.


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: PeterSt on November 27, 2020, 12:34:34 pm

Yeah, what does it mean. I don't know.

A few days ago I started working on XXHighEnd and MQA so we can try an existing album which has been replaced by the MQA version. Notice that this is necessary because of the re-using of the Album-ID (you would "overwrite" the existing one).
Lack of time will make that I hopefully can only finish it this weekend (v2.12).

We should not be confident that it will sound worse, although that will be the consensus in advance. The mere point is that the originals disappear and who likes that.

Peter


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: Tore on November 27, 2020, 04:11:20 pm
Peter, i trust you  :smile:

We need Tidal, i only use Tidal


Tore


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: Tore on January 26, 2021, 05:00:03 pm
Hi Peter!

Many of the new album i download stops playing. That means everything looks normal but the sound disappears

Do you think it is because of this new MQA thing ?

Do you have a fix for it ?

Tore


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: PeterSt on January 31, 2021, 12:59:11 pm
Hi Tore,

I would need to test that. I just Prepared a couple of albums and tonight I will try. But I think it is fine ...

Regards,
Peter


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: Tore on May 09, 2021, 06:40:06 pm
Peter, tracks is stopping before finish ?

Exampels:

https://listen.tidal.com/album/180039368

https://listen.tidal.com/album/144123531


Tore



Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: PeterSt on May 10, 2021, 09:34:45 am
Hi Tore,

The first one will be fake MQA. So avoid that (44.1).

If you play the second one on its own (restart XXHighEnd, have only that one loaded, then play). Does that still happen ? ... it should not.

Kind regards,
Peter


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: Tore on May 10, 2021, 02:48:50 pm
Track 2 in the first album is OK, the rest is not

Tore


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: coliny on May 10, 2021, 05:24:02 pm
What bit rate do they play at ?. If its 1411 they are fake MQA but should play ok with MQA switched off in XXHE setting.

Colin


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: PeterSt on May 10, 2021, 06:09:53 pm
Track 2 in the first album is OK, the rest is not

Tore

Tore, when  referred to "First" and "Second", I referred to your mentioned first and second album.

Peter


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: Tore on May 10, 2021, 10:19:48 pm
Sorry Peter, the second album was this one:

https://listen.tidal.com/album/35050147

Both is MQA 44.1 but it is no problem with "Decode HDCD & MQA" switched off. Thank you Colin

Tore




Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: PeterSt on May 11, 2021, 03:51:58 am

Interesting (or dangerous) ... For me it is 96 ! (which can happen because of rights per country).

What a mess they make of it. Such a waste ...


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: Scroobius on August 12, 2021, 01:53:40 pm
Quote
Maybe some of you noticed that all the normal Redbook CD albums are disappearing with lightspeed from Tidal. What remains are "MQA" 44.1 (16 bit) albums.

*If* you plan to listen to more albums of your favorite artist, then be quick with Preparing them for Playback, now you still can.
They have let loose a batch conversion program on the existing albums, and they are all being converted (at least I have the idea they will be doing them all).

Notice that we are talking about the same Album ID's here that literally change. Thus, the same album (ID) receives new content. I checked, and the music data really changes.
I did not check whether it sounds good or not, but I really am not interested in finding out, knowing that there will be no other way any more in the future.

Strange over time I have been trawling through recent jazz releases to try and find something decent to listen to (some 2020 but mostly 2021 releases) and of the 50 I have so far tried only 3 were MQA the rest were normal redbook. Very odd I wasn't expecting that as I had the same experience as others that it seemed that MQA was taking over as the defacto standard. Maybe Tidal are targeting the mass market releases and not bothering with the fringe less popular stuff.

Lets hope so (fingers crossed)

Cheers

Paul


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: PeterSt on August 13, 2021, 02:08:34 pm

Paul, to be honest I has a similar experience the other day. But I thought it was coincidence (I actually still think it was).

Peter

(yes, I must upload the "solved" search issues with Tidal, but one nasty thing holds back (plus the lack of time).)


Title: Re: Tidal Times are over
Post by: briefremarks on August 13, 2021, 06:42:34 pm
Peter,

One request on any fixes to Tidal integration on XXHE if at all possible. The option to log out and log in.  I've run into the old issue of not connecting.  The fix right now is to delete the TidalSession.dat file.  But doing that and restarting XXHE does not always prompt a new log in. 

Ramesh