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Topic: Mounting FLAC files for iTunes (Read 8724 times) previous topic - next topic
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Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Hey,

I recently noticed that if I mounted FLAC files as a CD using a CUE sheet, iTunes was able to read the files and encode them to AAC. How is this happening? I thought iTunes doesn't support FLAC files?

Is it me or does this method solve the problem of having to transcode FLAC files to something iTunes can read (e.g. ALAC or WMA lossless) and then converting it to AAC?

I also noticed something strange in the CUE sheet, for each track a specific file name is given instead of just one file as is shown here: http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?ti...#A_Few_Examples

Am I right in presuming that the example is showing one massive file with all the tracks inside it as opposed to one file per track?

Also if anyone knows a good software to mount CUE sheets that point to FLAC files besides WinMount please tell me!

BTW Daemon tools can't do it

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #1 –
Quote from: igotquestion on
Is it me or does this method solve the problem of having to transcode FLAC files to something iTunes can read (e.g. ALAC or WMA lossless) and then converting it to AAC?

There are people who have that problem? Sounds painful. Why do you bother with FLAC if iTunes or iTunes AAC encoder is your software/encoder of choice? Or  maybe I should just ask why you bother with itunes...

how convenient that I also stumble upon this while doodling the aac forum:
"Unless you are absolutely 100% dead set on having iTunes AAC you will probably have an easier time converting to Nero AAC since you can very easily convert your FLAC files using dBPoweramp or Foobar without going around your nose to get to your elbow. Try a few of your faves in Nero. I'll wager you'll be quite happy with the sound." ~Frumious B
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....showtopic=73623

But to answer your first question, I have no idea.
I speculate either an iTunes plugin or you made a mistake somewhere. Meh, I'm not very insightful, oh well.

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #2 –
I use FLAC because transcoding from lossy to lossy decreases audio quality much more than when transcoding from lossless to lossy. I prefer to use iTunes because I have an iPod. Don't really like having a million different application which I only use for 1 function.

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #3 –
Why don't use use XLD to convert FLAC to Apple Lossless ? No quality is lost...

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #4 –
that would defeat the entire purpose.. read before you blindly post things -.-

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #5 –
Defeat what purpose? FLAC to ALAC is Lossless to Lossless. ALAC is totally compatible with iTunes, whereas FLAC is not. Oh, by the way, don't be rude. Otherwise, I doubt that you will receive much help here.
Surf's Up!
"Columnated Ruins Domino"

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #6 –
iTunes doesn't support FLAC.  WinMount creates a virtual drive that makes iTunes thinks it's reading a physical cd.

I've read Daemon Tools will work if you create NRG images with your FLACs instead.

I'm with everyone here when they say convert to ALAC or use Nero's AAC encoder.

And there's a million programs out there that can manage iPods...

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #7 –
Quote from: igotquestion on
Don't really like having a million different application which I only use for 1 function.

Yeah, same here. The only function I have for iTunes is putting stuff in my iPod. And iTunes has to go off forcing you to also include junk software like quicktime, viewpoint media, mobileme, bonjour, etc, etc

Ranting aside, my guess of your method:
self-ripped or bought or pirated FLAC > one-function-application-converted ALAC > iTunes-converted AAC > iPod via iTunes
My method:
FLAC > dbpoweramp-converted AAC > iPod via one-function iTunes
Smart people's method:
FLAC > foobar2000-converted AAC > iPod via foobar2000

While we're both stuck with one-function applications, I don't have to convert twofold at least.

And so...
Quote from: igotquestion on
I use FLAC because transcoding from lossy to lossy decreases audio quality much more than when transcoding from lossless to lossy. I prefer to use iTunes because I have an iPod.

"Why bother with FLAC" instead of just ripping to ALAC or WMA Lossless from the get-go?
ALAC > iTunes-converted AAC > iPod via iTunes

And then if you answer this ("I pirated or bought it") and then we argue in circles, I'll probably end up asking is converting two times worth it just to avoid installing one more software application... because either way, you seem to be stuck with needing a "one-function application" to convert those bloody flac files.

Quote from: igotquestion on
Also if anyone knows a good software to mount CUE sheets that point to FLAC files besides WinMount please tell me!

Maybe Slysoft Virtual CloneDrive or PowerISO.
If I had to guess why iTunes can read mounted flac images, it'd be flac turned to .cda. The guess is unfounded of course.

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #8 –
i'm using FLAC cuz i've already ripped a large collection to FLAC and can't be bothered to do it all over again for ALAC or WMA Lossless.

Any comments on the CUE sheet thing about one file vs multiple files?

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #9 –
If you looked further down in the Cuesheet Knowledge Base, you would have seen that both types of cuesheets were in there. Cuesheets are mostly used for image files, but they can be used to group single files together. Sort of like a playlist. So, what you saw is not that unusual at all.
Surf's Up!
"Columnated Ruins Domino"

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #10 –
Thank you for the tip. This would be the ideal solution to archive CDs on a hard drive. I used to archive ISO images, or when I rip LPs I would archive a cue file along with the wav. Then I would mount the image or cue with daemon tools and rip it. But obviously this takes a lot of disk space, so I have been looking for a program that could mount FLAC or wavpack. I will check out WinMount.

Mounting FLAC files for iTunes

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Trondis on
I will check out WinMount.


Now I have checked it. iTunes works fine, but other rippers, like dbPoweramp, didn't recognize mounted FLAC files. But for iTunes-users this is a nice workaround for using FLAC with iTunes.