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Author Topic: Question on Conversion of Audio Format when playing via Media Network  (Read 2534 times)

sskings

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I have two questions regarding Media Network and audio file format conversion.  My set up is a PC running MC as the DLNA Server/Controller and a PC running MC as the DLNA Renderer.  

#1 When configuring Options in the Media Network dialog box what controls the format played at the Renderer?  Is it the DLNA server options under "Add or configure DLNA servers....."   OR   is the "Audio Conversion" options at the bottom of the dialog under "Client Options"?  Is control occurring at the renderer or server or both?

#2  I find that when I specify "Convert audio if necessary" MC performs the conversion.  If I specify "don't convert" it does not.  Since I'm going between two MC instances, I don't understand why it would convert in the former case.  Obviously it doesn't have to since the latter case works.

Thanks in advance for your help.
Steve

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sskings

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Re: Question on Conversion of Audio Format when playing via Media Network
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2015, 12:31:28 pm »

bump....

anyone?
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AndrewFG

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Re: Question on Conversion of Audio Format when playing via Media Network
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2015, 12:44:47 pm »

Basically one instance of MC is fully able to play any media format that another instance of MC is able to serve. So if you are pushing from MC to MC then you can always safely set the output format to "original". Of course you can force conversion if you want to, but really there is no point since it is just a waste of CPU and risks losing precision.

You only need to set your server to do conversion if you are pushing to a device that is not capable whatever Original media formats you have in your library.


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Author of Whitebear Digital Media Renderer Analyser - http://www.whitebear.ch/dmra.htm
Author of Whitebear - http://www.whitebear.ch/mediaserver.htm

sskings

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Re: Question on Conversion of Audio Format when playing via Media Network
« Reply #3 on: December 12, 2015, 11:09:57 am »

AndrewFG, 

Got it.  Thanks.

It appears that MC does not act as you suggest when the default setting of "Specified format only if necessary" is chosen.  Specifically, at the default settings for the server and renderer, MC was converting from flac to mp3.  This does not appear to be the  correct behavior.  Hence my question.  I assume its the server that is controlling whether or not to convert?

Steve
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AndrewFG

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Re: Question on Conversion of Audio Format when playing via Media Network
« Reply #4 on: December 12, 2015, 05:06:26 pm »

I agree that "Only convert when necessary" is really confusing. Who defines what is necessary? And very often it converts even when it is not necessary. Unfortunately the JRiver guys never really explained this "feature", or what it is intended for.

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Author of Whitebear Digital Media Renderer Analyser - http://www.whitebear.ch/dmra.htm
Author of Whitebear - http://www.whitebear.ch/mediaserver.htm
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