Does the D2 play aac (.m4a) files? [Archive]

Yurre

02-25-2007, 10:51

You can use total video converter, converts from just about everything to just about everything..

You can also search for some open source (free) converter out there...

You can convert from 128 kbps to 192 kbps but the quality will be the same (128 kbps), meaning... If you have a bad original you can't make a copy that's better... So if you have 128 kbps aac files, convert to 128 kbps mp3s/wma/ogg files...

mssx

02-25-2007, 11:02

keep in mind that transcoding will definitely lead to loss of quality. if your songs are not DRM free, you have to google for some answers there!

and good decision on moving away from iPod!!

Judge

02-25-2007, 15:31

You can convert from 128 kbps to 192 kbps but the quality will be the same (128 kbps), meaning... If you have a bad original you can't make a copy that's better... So if you have 128 kbps aac files, convert to 128 kbps mp3s/wma/ogg files...If you convert from 128 to 192 the quality will not stay the same! It will be even less than the original 128 file. No matter how you twist or turn it, reconverting will always result in a loss of quality. 128 to 128 will result in very crappy files.

Yurre

02-25-2007, 16:46

I guess he should convert his 128 kbps aac files to 193 kbps (or higher) mp3/wma/ogg files then.. so the quality is a good as it's possible under the circumstances... Right?

iceman_dl6

02-25-2007, 17:10

Come to think of it, it's true, transcoding it to mp3 (@ any bitrate) will degrade the quality even more since it is still a lossy format over another lossy format. [mad]. I guess, my only way now is to transcode it into a lossless format (FLAC) for now (25-30mb files here we come! [mad] ) until a support for aac files comes along in a future firmware [sad] . Anyway, I HOPE Cowon is listening to this so they can implement aac support for those like me who jumped ship from Ipods!

MaxSt

02-25-2007, 17:54

Anyway, I HOPE Cowon is listening to this so they can implement aac support for those like me who jumped ship from Ipods!

Maybe it already plays AAC, who knows?

I asked about the APE too, but the D2 owners just aren't curious enough to try it.

iceman_dl6

02-25-2007, 18:09

Maybe it already plays AAC, who knows?

I asked about the APE too, but the D2 owners just aren't curious enough to try it.

Really! [excited] I really hope so since it doesn't specify on the specs in the online manual and the Cowon site. Is there anyone who has some AAC files or can convert an mp3 to aac to experiment on their D2?

Yurre

02-25-2007, 18:42

Really! [excited] I really hope so since it doesn't specify on the specs in the online manual and the Cowon site. Is there anyone who has some AAC files or can convert an mp3 to aac to experiment on their D2?

Ha ha ha ha.. I just tried out some .aac files... THEY WORK!!! [thumbsup]
The .m4a work too, but you have to rename them to .aac...

So simple rename your *.m4a files to *.aac..

COWON ROCKS!!! :jamming:

iceman_dl6

02-25-2007, 18:56

Ha ha ha ha.. I just tried out some .aac files... THEY WORK!!! [thumbsup]
The .m4a work too, but you have to rename them to .aac...

So simple rename your *.m4a files to *.aac..

COWON ROCKS!!! :jamming:

YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!![excited] [thumbsup] Can't wait to get mine!!!!!!![biggrin]

MaxSt

02-26-2007, 09:45

Wow. I wonder why they choose do not advertise the fact.

mssx

02-26-2007, 10:00

Wow!! nice find...lol this shows how far we really are from the Apple hype!! keep it up everyone! :D

nrwilk

02-26-2007, 10:32

I can completely confirm that .m4a files renamed to .aac DO WORK. [biggrin]

I tried a number of files, and they all play. I also tried leaving them as .m4a, but if you do this, the D2 will not see the file as a music file.

If someone will point me towards some ape files I can download, I will try them as well. [smile]

tabv

02-26-2007, 10:36

I can completely confirm that .m4a files renamed to .aac do work. [biggrin]

I tried a number of files, and they all play. I also tried leaving them as .m4a, but if you do this, the D2 will not see the file as a music file.

If someone will point me towards some ape files I can download, I will try them as well. [smile]

nrwilk, can't you just rip a cd to ape. using jetaudio and try it?

nrwilk

02-26-2007, 10:59

nrwilk, can't you just rip a cd to ape. using jetaudio and try it?

Not using jetaudio, no. COWON doesn't port jetaudio to other systems, and I don't use Windows.

Point me toward a Linux .ape encoder, and I'll rip a track to see if it works.

tabv

02-26-2007, 12:46

Not using jetaudio, no. COWON doesn't port jetaudio to other systems, and I don't use Windows.

Point me toward a Linux .ape encoder, and I'll rip a track to see if it works.

Oh ok....I get ya nrwilk.. And I'm not sure there is a .ape encoder for linux..but I tried looking for one ..couldn't find one....if anyone finds one please let nrwilk know..

Could someone please rip a song to .ape and try playing it on the D2 please..

LostPhil

02-27-2007, 04:55

I'll give it a shot if I can get on the PC tonight (brothers like to jump on there and it's incredibly difficult to remove them!). If someone can do it sooner, please don't let me stop you!

Thats good news about the .aac files, although I'm assuming that's the DRM free ones?

flacattack

02-27-2007, 09:10

lol, yeah .ape works.

I just converted a flac file to ape, using dbPowerAmp on normal settings. Just tried one song but it played perfectly.

Maybe they haven't got other compression settings stable yet.

I am using the firmware it came with, 2.21.

flacattack

02-27-2007, 09:21

OK, just tried it on the highest compression setting - 'insane'.

It does not play this. It doesn't crash or do anything nasty, it just skips to the next song.

There's no need to use the highest level anyway. On my sample file it reduced the size from 17.5Mb to 17Mb. No point in killing the battery for the sake of an extra 1/2 Mb.

nrwilk

02-27-2007, 10:15

Yeah, I don't know what compression setting it was, but I found an .ape song and downloaded it, and it did not play. I know this isn't very much info. Sorry!

It just skipped the track and went to the next one. The track was also pretty long - about an hour and a half.

I have many tracks that are much longer than that in MP3 and OGG form on my D2, and they play fine, but I don't have a clue whether this would make a difference in an ape file.

EDIT:
While the track is on the NPS (before it gets skipped to the next song), the screen says that the track is 128kbps. Does that help with the compression discussion? Could it be reporting it wrong? Sorry, I know nothing about the .ape format.

flacattack

02-27-2007, 13:03

OK, first of all does it play in Windows?

128kbps sounds way too low for an ape file. About 5 times too low.

It would make sense that files shared over the Internet are compressed to the maximum level.

Try reencoding it to normal compression level using dbPowerAmp. Takes about 5 seconds.

nrwilk

02-27-2007, 15:35

OK, first of all does it play in Windows?
I have no idea.

128kbps sounds way too low for an ape file. About 5 times too low.
I don't know whether this is correct. It could be that the file isn't being read correctly at all by the D2. I did say this in my last post.

It would make sense that files shared over the Internet are compressed to the maximum level.
Not necessarily. Look at the files being shared over bittorrent. A lot of them are flacs, and full, uncompressed DVD rips.

Try reencoding it to normal compression level using dbPowerAmp. Takes about 5 seconds.
I refer you several posts up, on this page of this thread, to this post (http://iaudiophile.net/forums/showpost.php?p=113767&postcount=16).

iceman_dl6

02-27-2007, 22:18

Right now I am attempting to rename all my *.m4a to *.aac, but they are all in the artists' subfolders, is there a way to rename them all in one shot without going into each subfolder?

flacattack

02-28-2007, 07:29

I have no idea.

I don't know whether this is correct. It could be that the file isn't being read correctly at all by the D2. I did say this in my last post.

Not necessarily. Look at the files being shared over bittorrent. A lot of them are flacs, and full, uncompressed DVD rips.

I refer you several posts up, on this page of this thread, to this post (http://iaudiophile.net/forums/showpost.php?p=113767&postcount=16).

I actually meant it was probably compressed to the maximum level in ape.

OK, I forgot you are using Linux. There must be some software that converts between audio formats. Any program that reads and writes ape should be able to read an 'insane' compressed file and reencode to normal settings.

See if that works

bugmenot

03-02-2007, 09:36

Right now I am attempting to rename all my *.m4a to *.aac, but they are all in the artists' subfolders, is there a way to rename them all in one shot without going into each subfolder?

Try "Better File Renamer". I had a problem with covers, they all had different names. The problem was solved by: searching by *.jpg and renaming all found
files to "cover.jpg".
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
English is not my mother language.

The_Chief

04-12-2007, 05:17

I tried a number of files, and they all play. I also tried leaving them as .m4a, but if you do this, the D2 will not see the file as a music file.
Can anyone mail to Cowon engineers - .mp4 & .m4a extentions are as legal as .aac. Why making troubles to user?

PS: SHIT! My car CD-reciever supports only .m4a, D2 supports only .aac... :(

W33nie

04-12-2007, 23:57

So for the best quality I will have to rip songs from a CD?

tabv

04-13-2007, 00:49

So for the best quality I will have to rip songs from a CD?

Yes W33nie, for the best quality rip songs to a lossless codec like FLAC or APE....

Saimen

04-18-2007, 09:39

I renamed some M4A files to AAC, but they were not displayed and so I can't play them. I use the firmware 3.41. Please help, any idea?

Saimen

Ron

04-18-2007, 12:36

under firmware 2.41 & 3.41
files APE and aac don't plays- you must return to version 2.21
or waiting for a new firmware :( maybe,maybe
tags in flac files don't works too ...

poster

04-18-2007, 19:06

Monkey audio (creator of .ape) probably has a version of their program for linux.

Not using jetaudio, no. COWON doesn't port jetaudio to other systems, and I don't use Windows.

Point me toward a Linux .ape encoder, and I'll rip a track to see if it works.

poster

04-18-2007, 19:09

Maybe it already plays AAC, who knows?

I asked about the APE too, but the D2 owners just aren't curious enough to try it.

I can't .ape files to work on D2.

niac

04-29-2007, 15:47

I tried as well and my a2 doesn't recognize files... I'm using the original firmware from 2006.
How can I update it, eventually?

poster

04-30-2007, 13:28

I learned from Cowon Tech support that ape is supported but only the fast and normal compression formats, not the high and extra high.

slawson

05-11-2007, 15:12

magu2k

05-12-2007, 06:41

I think I've found a way to fool the D2 into playing aac files even with the latest firmware versions.

Place a mp3/ogg file in the same directory as the aac files then play it via the filemanager. When it starts skip the track, the D2 then starts playing the aac files in the same directory.

Its a bit of a messy hack but it shows that aac playback functionality is still there.

If this is true, then just create a small MP3 with a length of a few seconds and no sound, just silence, that should do the trick.

But what about playing video encoded with AAC? Specifically Ipod formatted video? Will that work?

Ron

05-13-2007, 14:11

slawson:'
for me your tip isn't working :(
maybe names files with extension aac rename to mp3?

slawson

05-14-2007, 01:39

slawson:'
for me your tip isn't working :(
maybe names files with extension aac rename to mp3?

What firmware version are you using?

You also need to name the mp3/ogg file to ensure that it will appear at the top of an alphabetical list.
You don't need to rename the aac files.

Ron

05-14-2007, 09:31

I use 3.45b version...
you mean loading files via >browser>music list>>mode>music library>folders>
and select files >first mp3/ogg and skip these(next)and aac will be playing?

Bowser0001

05-14-2007, 12:09

I've tried the little work around of adding an mp3 file to a directory containing some .aac files, (really .m4a.) Here's what I did:

How I did it:
Changed .m4a files to .aac
Transferred them to D2 in their own directory within the Music directory, (A Momentary Lapse of Reason)
Created a .1 second mp3 of silence with Audacity named "0000.mp3" Link: 0000.mp3 (http://www.matthewobrien.com/CowonD2/0000.mp3)
Copied it to the directory containing the .aac files.To play:
Go to the music section of D2, (firmware 2.45b)
browser, Music List, Folders, D2, Music, A Momentary Lapse of Reason [this is the folder of .aac files i want to play], and the only file visible is 0000.mp3

After clicking 0000.mp3, It plays it, goes to next track. An awesome Pink Floyd album then starts playing.

In other words, it works. The downside is as follows: no tag support[cry] . The D2 play screen shows nothing playing, the screen goes from 00:00:00 to 00:00:00 even though it's playing the .aac file. Therefore there is no ability to seek within songs either[no] . This is a bummer. Still, [B]you can skip tracks, and have to give it some credit for that. But unless you know your album very well, you may not know what song you're listening to.

Hopefully they'll include support for .aac again in future firmware. Until then, I'm probably going to keep using this "hack," I'm have an Automator action for rename the .m4a's to .mp3 in OS X, if you're interested, send me a quick email. Good luck, and let's keep bugging iAudio/Cowon until they include .m4a/.aac support officially!!! [wink]

-Bowser0001:jamming:

slawson

05-14-2007, 13:32

I use 3.45b version...
you mean loading files via >browser>music list>>mode>music library>folders>
and select files >first mp3/ogg and skip these(next)and aac will be playing?

Thats right, and I'm sure it worked on the 3.45b

It looks like Bowser0001 has got it working, he's put a bit more effort into describing how it works. What he mentions in the above post is exactly what happens when I use it.

Ron

05-14-2007, 14:56

slawson&Bowser0001
Thanks!
OK -all is working -files aac in action!
maybe not all is good "zero" information about played music :(
a little success ....

magu2k

05-17-2007, 13:34

So will this silence MP3 work for videos enoded with AAC? Please let me know. I am waiting to receive my D2, ordered it on Tuesday.

The_Chief

05-19-2007, 02:18

In other words, it works.[biggrin] Yeah! It works!!! [excited] Thanx a lot, dude! [thumbsup] More to say - not only LC-AAC, but also HE-AAC are playable as well ('-q 0.76 -he' cmdline). Good news. Now waiting for Cowon to fix 'aac invisibility' bug...

PS: f/w ver. 2.46.

PPS: tried h.264/aac in .avi container (with 'DTS_x264' VFW codec) - not playable at all.

magu2k

05-20-2007, 02:24

PPS: tried h.264/aac in .avi container (with 'DTS_x264' VFW codec) - not playable at all.[/QUOTE]

But did it fail becuase the video is h.264, or becuase the audio is aac?

I don't see anyhting to indicate aac audio within a video will play at all. Still waiting to receive my player. >.<

CannotRegister

06-08-2007, 06:52

.ape do not work on my D2 with 2.46 FW

wader

06-12-2007, 14:41

.ape do not work on my D2 with 2.46 FW

See earlier posts - more highly compressed .APE files are not supported.

I just created a "Normal" compressed .APE file - it showed up with a little "A" icon in Track view and played fine on my v2.46 D2.

- wader

rijkard

07-23-2007, 09:45

hi just bought my d2 and im loving it one question though

there is some rare music i want that is only available on itunes

does the hack that Bowser came up with mean that it would now be possible to play itunes bought stuff on the d2?

thanks

Bowser0001

07-23-2007, 10:01

rijkard-

I have a problem with paying for poor quality compressed music especially in a proprietary format with DRM :), so I'm not sure about the iTunes music store.

As a side note, I can't take credit for the workaround either... I just explained how I got it to work. Recently I've been having some trouble getting certain songs I've ripped on my sister's computer via iTunes to play on firmware v2.50. They're .m4a files, and they don't have any DRM to my knowledge.

Let me know if you get some to work, as it's worth a shot for sure, and I'm sure the D2 community would appreciate it. Good luck!

Mr. Black

07-23-2007, 10:23

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but it won't work even with the work around if it has itunes "fairplay" DRM on it, no DAP other than the ipod can play music bought from the apple store unless that music does not contain the "fairplay" DRM.

rijkard

07-23-2007, 11:07

Bowser
I hear ya wouldn't buy from itunes if i didnt have to but this particular artist decided to release his back catalog and new releases exclusively there so ill try it and see what happens if worst comes to worst i guess ill just burn it onto cd and rip it back

Dominic thanks for the info not looking good at all now

ManchesterBaby

07-23-2007, 12:00

It's a bit debatable whether what .aac tracks do actually classes as 'working'! They do play if you follow bowser's wonderfully twisted hack, but the titles display random rubbish, the progress bar doesn't work and the tracks don't appear in the file/tag browser. This is with 3.50b. Cowon really should get their arse in gear and sort this out, i'm sure aac support must be a resonable selling point...

Other weird and wonderful codecs i've tried (mostly only briefly):
-> ogg vorbis - tested down to q -1. Works fine.
-> flac 1.14 - works fine in 3.50, tested with a handful of compression levels, max works
-> flac in an ogg container - doesn't work (though it should really given that ogg vorbis works and flac works indepedently!)
-> speex (the speech encoding brother of vorbis and flac) - doesn't work.
-> ape - works at normal compression, doesn't at max compression.
-> wma 9.2 - works fine
-> wma 10 professional - doesn't seem to work.
-> mp2 - works fine
-> mp1 - doesn't work (but then who really cares [wink]?)
-> wav - works fine

Thrasher

07-23-2007, 13:34

I have FW 3.50 and have tried Bowser's trick. It only plays about half a second of the aac file and skips to the next track :(

BTW: another format I tried was mpc (musepack), but this one doesn't work.

Tac21

07-24-2007, 05:22

what the hell? shouldn't Mp1 work?? cowon advertises it all the time!

Edit:weird... now that I check the specs for the D2... it does say "MPEG 1/2/2.5 Layer 3" whats the diff? coulda swarn I saw mp's 1 and 2 on some older products

and BTW to the rest of you AACer's. Cowon droped that format awhile ago (alittle before relase) apple must've gave them shit for it (like they do all compenies that relase products with AAC decoders on them)

also is Ape Max quaility the = to WMA pro and MP3 pro?

ManchesterBaby

07-24-2007, 10:27

No they don't, at least i've never seen it. Unless you're confusing mp1 (mpeg 1 audio layer 1) with mpeg 1, which is not the same thing. Infact cowon's website doesn't claim that mp2 works, but it does.

No one in their right mind would use mp1 anyway, it's archaic.

Camy

10-06-2007, 02:29

I didn't notice it mentioned on here, so thought I would ask. Has anyone had success playing *.m4a/*.aac files on your D2 running firmware version 2.50? If so, what did you do to get them to play?

ProDigit

10-06-2007, 05:44

Just a suggestion, but maybe renaming the file to .mpg would work in your video player...

It does playback on my pc, but never tried renaming the file, and playing it back on my DAP.

DaremoS

11-22-2007, 10:33

I've read in early post that D2 plays .aac.

I have installed v2.51 and D2 don't even see the files... can anybody confirm if it plays such iPod files? [rolleyes]

wader

11-22-2007, 11:17

I've read in early post that D2 plays .aac.

I have installed v2.51 and D2 don't even see the files . . .

Did you try bowser's description of a hack (http://www.iaudiophile.net/forums/showthread.php?p=127203#post127203) that (sort of) worked?

- wader

DaremoS

11-22-2007, 11:49

Did you try bowser's description of a hack (http://www.iaudiophile.net/forums/showthread.php?p=127203#post127203) that (sort of) worked?

- wader

that (sort of) worked!!!??? [biggrin]

It works!! fantastically [thumbsup]!!!

I've added cover.jpg and it shows album cover... also allows to skip tracks... all functionalities as a normal format... with this my D2 plays APE, AAC, OGG, FLAC; WMA (no lossless) beside MP3.

The only difference with a normal format is it has to be played from Browser... which is a minor problem.

What I see here is that AAC is not played normally due to the obsessive fever for copyrights of Apple.

Thanks for the clue wader [yes]

Mr. Black

11-22-2007, 11:59

incorrect, AAC is NOT an Apple format, they have NO copyright on it, I cannot stress this enough.

DaremoS

11-22-2007, 12:08

ok ok ok [smile]...

You seems to be well informed... why it can't be normally played then?

The decoder is already in the player as I see.

Thanks for the info.

Mr. Black

11-22-2007, 14:00

No idea, but I assume they (Cowon) have not paid the licensing fees which would have to be paid to Sony, Fraunhofer IIS, Dolby, Nokia, and AT&T} the creators of the codec.

DaremoS

11-22-2007, 19:50

No idea, but I assume they (Cowon) have not paid the licensing fees which would have to be paid to Sony, Fraunhofer IIS, Dolby, Nokia, and AT&T} the creators of the codec.

Why you mention all that companies when was only Fraunhofer who create AAC?... you said that all this companies get involved in the creation of this absolutely unsuccessful codec?

You know why AAC is not added in any serious player??... because nobody will waste his time encoding in such codec... it's only used in iTunes / iPod by few people who started using that player... later overpassed in that machine itself by MP3. Beside MP3, OGG, MPC... and some other lossy codec AAC is an absolute looser.

The only reason I see to have in this awesome iAudio D2 is to easy the transferring of music from iPod.

Thanks you for clarify to me that Apple is not the owner of AAC, but is like if they were... as is the only device that uses it.

Sorry if I look a bit impolite Dominic... but all related with Apple really makes me sick

Nothing personal [thumbsup]

PS.: I don't want to start an argue about it... lots of people are happy with their iPods

W33nie

11-22-2007, 22:02

actually, many phones support AAC

Mr. Black

11-23-2007, 08:17

I personally do not care about your opinion on AAC DaremoS, sorry if I sound rude but you seem hugely uninformed and ignorable.

Sony largely support AAC, why wouldn't they, they helped create it after all.
Microsoft also support it.
Cowon's A3 supports it
Creatives ZEN supports it
All Sony mobile DAP phones support it

I have no problem with people being against something, I just hate it when someone mindlessly spouts off about something they have no real comprehension about. Use google and teach yourself. Many thanks.

Dominic.

Back on topic.

DaremoS

11-23-2007, 09:23

I will [biggrin]... I've been in this matters for years, if I don't know about the copyrights of AAC is simply because is not used except for those few you mention. In this point I don't mind to be called ignorant and uninformed, because I was.

I simply believe that Apple has the copyrights because is the only popular player that was made based on this codec, until they have to open their doors for mp3.

Precisely reading in then net long time ago, when I realise how average and plain it sounds iPod, I found many articles written by specialist, saying that AAC is not a good encoder. I just believe them, I won't waste my time comparing which one is best in lossy formats... I simply don't use it, like many other audiophiles

One thing is to know what codecs are better for some purpose than to know about who owns the copyright or other details. An audiophile spend his time listening music and dealing with it.

If it weren't by iPod probably nobody would have use it. All players in PC support it, the questions is if manufacturers of HiFi products put this format in their products. and certainly they don't. Nor even Sony, in their walkman or other consumer product.

Anyway... I have few albums encoded in AAC and I don't convert lossy-lossy that's why I am happy that I have it in my D2, and working despite that is not officially supported.

This is on topic as far as I can see.[smile]

soundpro69

12-06-2007, 21:28

DaremoS

12-07-2007, 06:25

Hi there,
And how do I transfer the newly renamed ".aac" m4a files? When I try to drag them into the folders it say the format is not supported and it only lets me choose between skip, skip all or cancel.

Sorry I'm new to this.

Thank you!

Gabe.[help]

Your problem could be the media player your are using to transfer files to your D2. Many media players filters what to send to your external device. You must add extension .aac to it. Sometimes media player convert them too, pay attention to this.

Concerning D2 it wont be playing .aac directly when you press 0000.mp3 but a mp3 file which is allowed without problems, from it with follow playing .aac files automatically.

soundpro69

12-07-2007, 13:42

Your problem could be the media player your are using to transfer files to your D2. Many media players filters what to send to your external device. You must add extension .aac to it. Sometimes media player convert them too, pay attention to this.

Concerning D2 it wont be playing .aac directly when you press 0000.mp3 but a mp3 file which is allowed without problems, from it with follow playing .aac files automatically.

I finally was able to transfer the files in using JetShell. I was simply dragging and dropping form Windows Explorer and it would not let me do it.
Now, I created a folder for each piece and added the 0000.mp3 to each folder. (There's no playlist - just the folders with subfolders and one 0000.mp3 + one .aac file in each). I now see a number of 0000 listings in my music list but none of them plays. (or they actually play 0.1 seconds of silence an then move on to the next folder)

Also, I hope this is not too off-topic, I can't even see any listing for other folders I created which contain FLAC and APE files. How can I choose to play those folders? I cant even see the folders from "Music". (I can see them from Picures)...

I' frustrated. [cursing] Everything I tried to do seem so far has failed. I just bought this player a short time ago because it had support for lossless formats.

I'm running 2.51.

Thank you again!

Gabe.

wader

12-07-2007, 14:51

I' frustrated. [cursing] Everything I tried to do seem so far has failed. I just bought this player a short time ago because it had support for lossless formats. . .

To be fair, those lossless format were never advertised as including .m4a .

In this topic, I've only seen explicit mention of people playing lossy .aac on the D2 - e.g., LC, HE - and not lossless. Maybe someone who is using this hack can attest to it playing their lossless Apple format files, though.

Still, it's lossless. As a consideration, you might look into the possibility of converting (http://www.bonkenc.org/) the lossless .m4a into .flac or .ape . It'll sound the same, of course.

- wader

MaxSt

12-07-2007, 15:02

soundpro69, are you using MTP protocol, by any chance? You know, for file transfer?

DaremoS

12-07-2007, 15:07

To be fair, those lossless format were never advertised as including .m4a .

In this topic, I've only seen explicit mention of people playing lossy .aac on the D2 - e.g., LC, HE - and not lossless. Maybe someone who is using this hack can attest to it playing their lossless Apple format files, though.

Still, it's lossless. As a consideration, you might look into the possibility of converting (http://www.bonkenc.org/) the lossless .m4a into .flac or .ape . It'll sound the same, of course.

- wader

On topic... x.53 now support .aac files without tricks (no 0000.mp3) and shows cover art and timing.

Also, I hope this is not too off-topic, I can't even see any listing for other folders I created which contain FLAC and APE files. How can I choose to play those folders? I cant even see the folders from "Music". (I can see them from Picures)...

The problem of soundpro69 is that your files doesn't have proper tags. Download mp3tag and check all of them inside the player http://www.mp3tag.de/en/ it's free and read all type of files... including aac!!![rolleyes]

wader

12-07-2007, 15:23

On topic... x.53 now support .aac files without tricks (no 0000.mp3) and shows cover art and timing.

Amazing! Was that in the change log?

Have you tried Apple Lossless with the firmware?

How does the file show up in the Music List? That is, MP3 has an "M" in a box, APE has an "A", etc.

- wader

soundpro69

12-07-2007, 18:21

soundpro69, are you using MTP protocol, by any chance? You know, for file transfer?

Yes, I am why?

soundpro69

12-07-2007, 18:27

To be fair, those lossless format were never advertised as including .m4a .- wader

OK, sorry it came across like that. My question about .m4a and my question about the lossless formats were to separate questions. (That's why I tried to clarify by saying I hope it's not too off-topic) Sorry for the confusion guys.

In this topic, I've only seen explicit mention of people playing lossy .aac on the D2 - e.g., LC, HE - and not lossless. Maybe someone who is using this hack can attest to it playing their lossless Apple format files, though.- wader

I didn't mean Apple Lossles under .aac or .ala... I was referring to FLAC & APE.

Still, it's lossless. As a consideration, you might look into the possibility of converting (http://www.bonkenc.org/) the lossless .m4a into .flac or .ape . It'll sound the same, of course.

- wader

Thank you for your advise though. I do appreciate it.[yes]

Gabe.

soundpro69

12-07-2007, 18:34

On topic... x.53 now support .aac files without tricks (no 0000.mp3) and shows cover art and timing.

The problem of soundpro69 is that your files doesn't have proper tags. Download mp3tag and check all of them inside the player http://www.mp3tag.de/en/ it's free and read all type of files... including aac!!![rolleyes]

I'll try that. Thank you![thumbsup]

I hope it also supports APE and FLAC...
So 2.53 is available?

I'll check it out. I hope by upgrading to it I won't brick my D2 before getting any use out of it.:jamming:

Cheers!

Gabe

DaremoS

12-07-2007, 19:31

Amazing! Was that in the change log?

Have you tried Apple Lossless with the firmware?

How does the file show up in the Music List? That is, MP3 has an "M" in a box, APE has an "A", etc.

- wader

I've noticed that .aac is partially implemented... I have the files perfectly tagged but appears wrongly in Artist list. There is a bug here: where supposedly go the .aac Artist name is repeated previous or following Artist name. If this is selected, appears wrongly the album and if it pressed again appears the real .aac artist files and plays accordingly, showing cover art and time correctly but Artist / Album appears as "unknown", clearly is a problem of TAG of .aac files.

How does the file show up in the Music List? That is, MP3 has an "M" in a box, APE has an "A", etc.

First time I saw those little boxes [smile] No box for .aac files.

More info... if its search the files by browser appears correctly the files as it are recorded in the player. Of course appears extension .aac. tapping on them plays correctly as explained above.

The new Flash music player doesn't recognize .aac files.

DaremoS

12-07-2007, 19:35

Yes, I am why?

Question concerning use of MTP is because when it's used, windows explorer is not allowed to transfer files... But I think is not the case of Cowon D2... [biggrin] I'm not sure... now I'm using 3.53 which doesn't have MTP.

MaxSt

12-07-2007, 20:58

Yes, I am why?

Because you know... the whole idea of MTP is to make obstacles for transfer of files.

Switch to UMS, and you'll see that drag-and-drop always works.

DaremoS

12-08-2007, 09:20

Because you know... the whole idea of MTP is to make obstacles for transfer of files.

Come on Max... do you think that a good firmware maker will put MTP just to put obstacles as you said.

MTP Media Transfer Protocol is to make a better integration among the hand held player (PDA, MP4, PMP) with a software in the host: a PC ... many things can be done when MTP is well implemented in the player and in the host software. MTP requires two parts to work fine: a software in the PC (as it is iTunes) and a good software in the player (as it is OS of iPod).

One of the few things valuable in iPod is its integration with iTunes. This software is used to upgrade firmware in a transparent way for the user and to transfer media files in a very simple way. Once the music is well organized in iTunes it will appear without problems in iPod, showing seamless organized music, cover art, lyrics... that's integration.

As many of you know, internal iPod organization is really cryptic, is almost impossible to see MP3 in folders or other type of grouping. That's is due to iPod always work in MTP mode. User cannot access iPod as a external HDD.

If iTunes were a real media organizer (ie: work with FLAC, OGG beside Apple formats) and worked well with non-iPod players, it will be a good solution for non-expert user.
Switch to UMS, and you'll see that drag-and-drop always works.

I agree with this... extreme integration don't allow user to access the player... but if the user get a good program that handles well MTP it will have a sort of iTunes working with his Cowon D2.

I have not tested entirely JetAudio in MTP mode with Cowon D2 which it should have been the natural iTunes for it, but Jetshell do a good job it seems. But I've worked with J River Media Center 12 and MediaMonkey 3 and both are wonderful organizers and integrators with Cowon D2. I've been told that Winamp too do a good job in MTP mode.

Working in MSC / UMS requires some knowledge and expertise to make the player work as it should.

MTP is a step forward in integration but it's not easy to deal with it.

algi

12-08-2007, 09:30

Does the last firmware play VBR AAC?

MaxSt

12-08-2007, 12:33

One of the few things valuable in iPod is its integration with iTunes. This software is used to upgrade firmware in a transparent way for the user and to transfer media files in a very simple way. Once the music is well organized in iTunes it will appear without problems in iPod, showing seamless organized music, cover art, lyrics... that's integration.

And it's all very much possible to implement, on top of UMS.

Different low-level protocol for file transfer is only needed because it can provide some obstacles for file transfer. That's exactly what some companies want.