Streaming FLAC files to HDR-FOX T2 Freeview Recorder

Peter Robertson

New Member
A straight forward question - is there a way to stream FLAC files to the HDR-FOX T2 Freeview Recorder?

I hope the answer is that it is possible!!!
 
A straight forward question - is there a way to stream FLAC files to the HDR-FOX T2 Freeview Recorder?

I hope the answer is that it is possible!!!
Best hope would be a transcoding DLNA server; somebody recently mentioned serviio as one possibility. It does list flac as a supported format and it does transcode but I haven't used it.
 
I would guess the OP's objection might be having to keep both a FLAC and an MP3 version of the files, FLAC is lossless i.e. it doesn't 'throw away' any date when storing the audio file, MP3 is lossy however high the sample rate, it still looses data and is therefore introduces a loss of quality
 
A straight forward question - is there a way to stream FLAC files to the HDR-FOX T2 Freeview Recorder?

I hope the answer is that it is possible!!!
Since nobody has posted a direct answer to this direct question: the answer is no. Any solution will involve pre-conversion or conversion on the fly (transcoding).
 
What's wrong with mine? The first clause explains why I posted it. The consequence of pre-conversion or transcoding is that it is not FLAC that is seeing streamed - which is what the OP was asking about.
 
I asked the question many moons ago, BH gave me an answer as I recall. To do it, it would have to be on the chipset I believe - that's the low level code. Its an audio zip type of format so it has to be unzipped and played in real time. Little project for af123 - may be its a hidden feature that Humax haven't documented. Those pesky torrents use flac but ofcource if you are wanting to save space and not store CDs then you put the files into Flac and play with your media player. The format output is identical to CD. Intrigued about DLNA server will research that. The next best thing is to digitise to MP3 at 320k. There are transcode programmes around that go from Flac to MP3. Xilisoft Audio Convertor Pro is one that I use. Super is a free one which I sometimes use. Then you have free one that I can't remember the name of which produces Flacs from CD. Similar to my get iPlayer question I need to produce multi output to keep the partner happy so file the output as Flac and MP3.
 
The consequence of pre-conversion or transcoding is that it is not FLAC that is seeing streamed - which is what the OP was asking about.
No, the user asked if FLAC files could be streamed to the HDR-FOX T2 which I believe I answered. Your answer is to the question can FLAC files be streamed in FLAC format.
 
My intrigue Martin to this one is what is the bit rate and what format do they arrive at the Hummy from the server ?. If it's loss less then that's the solution I was looking about six months ago for that answer (800 or so bit is loss less). I did watch the YouTube video... A fair bit of it. This is new evidence as they say in The Line of Duty. On the video the guy is talking about powerful processing on his system so I'm not sure whether it would work in real time. My musing on all of this is that I know transcoding via not on chipsets designed for the purpose takes an eternity (your home HD video camera processing v similar processes on a PC) so not so sure that you don't need a server with a bit of real power for it to work. Volunteers ?. It would be good if that is the solution. BTW we now need a Venn diagram as to who talks to who on this site now with all these un neutered cat fights these days.
 
FLAC can be transcoded to MP3 "live", i.e. streaming, without any need for specialist chipset support. Any reasonably acceptable PC should have no problem doing it.
 
That's the problem if you are a purist and it's mp3. You don't really want it transcoded but delivered out in its native unzipped form across the network. I tend to agree on the processing question / unsure. On ffmpeg library does that not have streaming options. Presume its use on the Humax in the custom software is outside the ability to stream so you are looking at servers as per Martins tip on that one. If your music collection is held off the Humax and that server works then it would be fine if it's not recompressed and plays back via the Humax. I need time to experiment and to be in the right place. This still may be a tall order.
 
No one seems to have asked the obvious question. The OP wants to stream lossless audio to his Humax box. What is he using to replay the audio, if it's a TV especially a flat screen thin modern one the audio will be dire anyway, very doubtful if there will be any difference between MP3 and Flac. The settop box will transcode the audio anyway even if it's a MP3 source and output as lpcm digital stereo or analogue audio either to a TV or a connected amplifier.

The onboard chip on a HDR FOX T2 will support ac3, aac, MP2 and MP3 audio natively. Either of the former will be superior to MP3. You might have to produce a video track, a still slide show would be a good choice to be able to stream content to the HDR FOX.
 
I had assumed he'd done the same as I and plumbed a surround sound processor into the optical out and had all the speakers. I turn the TV off then for audio. It's what Martins suggested / hint software does (serviio) that I'm unsure off in relation to using it with the Humax, perhaps you don't for play back then I wouldn't be interested myself.

Yes as Ezra pointed out to me recently you can play aac via mp3 audio as m4a file relabelled as mp3 but you don't get the duration marked up, how far you are in etc, but least for BBC iPlayer material you know you are on their best audio format.
 
I had assumed he'd done the same as I and plumbed a surround sound processor into the optical out and had all the speakers. I turn the TV off then for audio. It's what Martins suggested software does that I'm unsure off in relation to using it with the Humax.

The only audio you can get out of the s/pdif irrespective of input is

Ac3 (2.0 or 5.1) - aac source is recoded to ac3
lpcm stereo.

Neither of which is lossless and there will be some degradation in the transcoding anyway if the source isn't compatible with the above.
 
I can cope with a bit of loss if it's up at the 320 sample rates. I embellished my post above between your reply so still unclear whether the suggested software to look at for a server does or doesn't feature the Humax as the play back device. You would be streaming off the server. I can't say I'm that knowledgeable on DLNA servers. But I have a suspicion that play back isn't on the Humax.
 
I don't think there's a single scientifically performed study that has shown an perceptible difference between FLAC and HBR MP3, and a few that have shown the opposite.

So FLAC might be seen as a good choice for archival, but I don't think there's any reason to consider it for streaming. If you don't keep MP3 copies (as well as FLAC), then a transcoding server would be fine.
 
CDMackay. I agree sort of. I end up keeping the Flac and the MP3 although I do encode that at 192. On the partners Denon one can tell the difference between the Flac, the MP3 and Minidisc so my CD collection gets routelled through for making Flac, their CD player has been scrapped so they play all Flac if sourced from CD or elsewhere. So it would be good to play the Flac via the Humax if possible since I don't intend buying a media player. One needs the MP3 copies to take on holiday where some cars don't play Flac via SD card, the cigarette lighter device where all else fails on rental cars... Although since I'm doing this all in Japanese once a year its fun enough with the satnav as well. MP3s good for travelling but Flac is good for playing at home. I would like to do that via the Humax if possible.
 
If you encode your MP3s at ~300Kbps, with a good quality encoding program, you will not be able to tell the difference between that and FLAC. Or, if you still can, it's not FLAC versus MP3 that you're hearing, but something else in your system.

I use FLACs for home streaming, on our Logitech Squeezeboxes, since that works well, although the server also transcodes for any clients that can't cope with FLAC.

apols for going off-topic...
 
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