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[Jim HTPC]

Please include MP3HD support for encoding and playback.

mp3HD Overview
•   mp3HD is a lossless audio codec (100% bit-exact replica of CD tracks)
•   Backward Compatible to mp3
•   File extension .mp3
•   Bitrates for music approximately 500 to 900 kbps rates (similar to other lossless codecs), depending on genre
•   Embedded mp3 track and the mp3HD file share the same id3 metadata
•   Encoding parameters (e.g. bit rate), ancillary data and meta data of embedded mp3 track are under control

Story here: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2343448,00.asp

[Mr ChriZ]

Sounds good apart from the cost.  Unless they ditch that it will never take off.

[Matt]

We like APE and FLAC.

They're both free, open, and widely supported.

[Jim HTPC]

APE and FLAC are no-where close to having the same extras or compatibility across all portable players as MP3 has.

I was asking for this to be incorporated.  I'm in the process of re-encoding but now have to use WinAmp to play the files.  Not a problem, but it would be nice to have a plugin for Media Center too.

[skeeterfood]

The only way this is interesting is if MC can automatically pull out the embedded non-HD mp3 with metadata and only sync that to your portable device.  Otherwise you're wasting a ton of space on your portable for a higher-quality version you can't listen to on it.

-John

[JimH]

APE and FLAC are no-where close to having the same extras or compatibility across all portable players as MP3 has.

MC can convert APE or FLAC to MP3 when it syncs.  It can also keep these converted files for use, if needed, on the next sync.

MP3HD is not likely to become a standard.  There are already  APE, FLAC, Apple Lossless, and Windows Media Lossless.  There's no need for another lossless format.

[Jim HTPC]

Just tested the mp3HD.  This works excellent for my Studio Room, and when I want to transfer a song to my mp3 player it also contains the 320cbr version in the same file.  NICE!

Again, I ask to please include this into a future release.  If some people want to use APE or FLAC, then they still can.  For a Media Center... wouldn't you want to play all types of media?  This is the ONLY codec that has both the low level and loss-less together in one file.

I appreciate your consideration.

For those that want an easier way to try this.

<------ Cut & Paste from Readme ----->

To rip mp3HD files from your audio CDs you need an audio CD grabber tool with external Encoder support. For example you can use the Exact Audio Copy CD grabber. The current version of Exact Audio Copy can be downloaded at: http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/en/index.php/resources/download/.
   
You can include the mp3HD encoder into the Exact Audio Copy grabber by performing the following steps:
         
         - Open the "Compression options" from the "EAC" menu
         - Go to the "External Compression" tab
         - Enable the "Use external program for compression" option
         - Set "Parameter passing scheme" to "User Defined Encoder"
         - Write ".mp3" into the "Use file extension" field
         - Type the link to your mp3hdEncoder.exe file into the
           "Program, including Path, used for compression" field
         - Insert the following text into the Additional command-line option field: -if %s -of %d -br %r000 -Artist "%a" -Album "%g" -Title "%t" -Year "%y" -Track "%n" -Genre "%m" -Encoder "Thomson mp3HD encoder v1.4"
         - Select the desired bit rate in the "Bit rate" field.
         - Uncheck the "Add ID3 tag" option

Works like a champ

[Dirhael]

To quote the foobar2000 developer in a discussion about this at their forum:

Useless format:

• The lossless part is stored in ID3v2 tags.
• Size of ID3v2 tags is limited to 256MB by specifications; as a result, lossless part of an mp3hd file can't be larger than 256MB.

I wonder what those people will think of next. Maybe resurrect VQF or something.

In addition, going by their current mp3 vs. mp3pro licensing costs I expect this to be way to expensive for something most people won't use.

[Jim HTPC]

256mb is plenty of room.  The largest mp3HD file from Pink Floyd - The Wall (remastered) is 48MB - Comfortably numb.  Even with the cover art, this falls way below 256MB.  Should be a non-issue.

Regarding the cost... that may be a different story.  For those of us with high end systems would be willing to pay more (within reason) to be able to take full advantage of the better audio quality.

[llafriel]

Isn't this the same as wavpack?
http://www.wavpack.com/
Only they stick the correction file into the tags? Oh and wavpack is free, mp3hd isn't. It seems silly though to have ~40mb of useless data in the tags for your portable. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of mp3.
MC + flac/ape and convert to mp3 for portable is the better solution.

[Dirhael]

256mb is plenty of room.  The largest mp3HD file from Pink Floyd - The Wall (remastered) is 48MB - Comfortably numb.  Even with the cover art, this falls way below 256MB.  Should be a non-issue.

Regarding the cost... that may be a different story.  For those of us with high end systems would be willing to pay more (within reason) to be able to take full advantage of the better audio quality.

Even if you ignore the size limitation (which will be a problem for certain files, even if you don't see yourself having a problem with it), it's insane to store the file in a id3 tag. Wipe the tag from the file or import the file into a program that doesn't deal correctly with the relevant existing parts of the tag and whoops, there goes the entire lossless file.

As for the cost, I'm not talking about cost to us consumers, I'm talking about the licensing cost that JRiver would have to pay for each and every copy of Media Center sold. To put it this way, if they haven't implemented native support for MP4/AAC due to licensing cost, it'd be rather stupid to pay for mp3hd which not only is even more expensive but also a lot less useful to a vast majority of MC users.

[AoXoMoXoA]

This format is making ripples all over the web as this is likely the 5th or 6th place I've seen it discussed in the past two days. So far there seems to be little excitement over it.

Even if JRiver was to consider incorporating support into MC, it would not be until (if) it has gained a large enough following.

Personally, I expect it to go about as far as mp3pro, probably less. People seem happy with the current offerings.