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FLAC compression levels question(s)

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FenceFurniture:
Not being at all tech minded, as I have been demonstrating in my G drive thread  ::) I have only just found out that file compression doesn't affect sound quality, just the speed at which the file can be read by any given device.

On my PC that won't be a problem with bigger compression levels (I wouldn't think), but for my DAP which is a Shanling M3s it might be - I have posted a question in their forum to see what they recommend. EDIT: just had a response over there and they think any compression level will be ok for the M3S.

Someone I was talking to this morning (who wised me up) said that he felt the sweet spot for compression was level 5. So I copied a folder a couple of times to do some tests for space saved, and then imported them into MC 23, and compressed them both. wer, I learnt my lesson and did it within MC :)

The original uncompressed folder is 526Mb
Compression level 5 made it 508Mb
and level 6 made it 493Mb

Hardly worthwhile for a 5% space saving, but maybe I didn't do it correctly. I have the Convert Format dialogue open, convert 12 files to: "FLAC encoder" (even though they are flac already), and then clicked options, "convert to same folder", "replace original on disc and library". In the encoder settings I have the level (5 or 6) but I didn't know what to do with the other options:
Verify encoding left unchecked
Add 4k padding block has a x
Add seek table has a x
Use Ogg as transport layer is unchecked

I'd be interested in some thoughts on compression levels and any tips that people might have please.

wer:
No, you have discovered FLAC's dirty secret...

Higher compression levels yield little benefit.  On some occasions, I have actually seen it increase file size.  That's why 5 is the recommended level.

Stick with level 5, the default, and don't worry about it.

FenceFurniture:

--- Quote from: wer on August 09, 2019, 12:07:54 am ---Stick with level 5, the default, and don't worry about it.

--- End quote ---
In that case I don't think I could be bothered doing it at all - a lot of work for a <5% space saving.

The flac files this other fella has are all much more compressed. Usually around half the size of mine for any given album. He ripped them with dbPoweramp (as I do) and set the compression level to 5. I might re-do one of my CDs as a test.

RoderickGI:
I thought 6 was the recommended compression level...

Yeah, the FLAC Encoder MC uses has 6 as the recommended level.

There have been detailed discussions on the topic in the past. Including information on how much difference on size the different level make. Answer: Not much, if in the mid-range.
See this post and thread: https://yabb.jriver.com/interact/index.php/topic,117944.msg816031.html#msg816031

Hard drive space is cheap. FLAC files aren't that big. Set to 6 and leave it be.

FenceFurniture:
Original uncompressed 526Mb
re-ripped with dbPoweramp at level 0 "Fast" yields 355Mb
re-ripped with dbPoweramp at level 1 yields 346Mb
re-ripped with dbPoweramp at level 3 yields 340Mb
re-ripped with dbPoweramp at level 5 yields 328Mb (very worthwhile space saving)
re-ripped with dbPoweramp at level 8 yields 326Mb (no gain over L5)

So maybe it's all in the original ripping? Results above suggest that with dbPoweramp setting level 5 or 6 is the sweet spot, and no difference between them. Other software might be different of course.

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