[GH-ISSUE #108] Transcodes? #89

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opened 2026-02-27 19:02:10 +03:00 by kerem · 6 comments
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Originally created by @ncsufan8628 on GitHub (Nov 24, 2025).
Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/afkarxyz/SpotiFLAC/issues/108

Are these really true lossless or just FLAC formatted? Everything I download appears to be an approx 320 transcode to FLAC vs. true lossless.

Am I missing a setting or something?

Originally created by @ncsufan8628 on GitHub (Nov 24, 2025). Original GitHub issue: https://github.com/afkarxyz/SpotiFLAC/issues/108 Are these really true lossless or just FLAC formatted? Everything I download appears to be an approx 320 transcode to FLAC vs. true lossless. Am I missing a setting or something?
kerem closed this issue 2026-02-27 19:02:11 +03:00
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@afkarxyz commented on GitHub (Nov 24, 2025):

I don't know in detail, I just made a downlaoder from 4 existing sources, all the original sources are from there and I didn't touch them except inserting tags

<!-- gh-comment-id:3572879620 --> @afkarxyz commented on GitHub (Nov 24, 2025): I don't know in detail, I just made a downlaoder from 4 existing sources, all the original sources are from there and I didn't touch them except inserting tags
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@KGeo101 commented on GitHub (Nov 24, 2025):

Where are you finding "an approx 320 transcode to FLAC"?
The files this provides are 800+ kbps and as far as i can tell definately 'True Lossless' files downloaded From Tidal/Deezer/Qobuz/Amazon
Check them with FLAC Checker or Audacity

<!-- gh-comment-id:3573196449 --> @KGeo101 commented on GitHub (Nov 24, 2025): Where are you finding "an approx 320 transcode to FLAC"? The files this provides are 800+ kbps and as far as i can tell definately 'True Lossless' files downloaded From Tidal/Deezer/Qobuz/Amazon Check them with FLAC Checker or Audacity
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@ncsufan8628 commented on GitHub (Nov 25, 2025):

I just checked with adobe audition, heres a file ripped from this tool vs. the lossless copy i got from bandcamp directly.

Notice the missing data above ~ 20.5k hz, thats typical for a 320mp3 transcode. Other spek is from bandcamp w/ data going up to 22k hz.

FWIW, i noticed its also very song dependent, others I've pulled have matching speks. ultimately, may not be the tools fault, but the fault of the platforms themselves.

Image Image
<!-- gh-comment-id:3573348823 --> @ncsufan8628 commented on GitHub (Nov 25, 2025): I just checked with adobe audition, heres a file ripped from this tool vs. the lossless copy i got from bandcamp directly. Notice the missing data above ~ 20.5k hz, thats typical for a 320mp3 transcode. Other spek is from bandcamp w/ data going up to 22k hz. FWIW, i noticed its also very song dependent, others I've pulled have matching speks. ultimately, may not be the tools fault, but the fault of the platforms themselves. <img width="871" height="809" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/cef3f117-79e6-435b-9423-c5a61af58d9b" /> <img width="873" height="860" alt="Image" src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/5b047d7e-68ba-4b37-80f7-69b03d69c455" />
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@KGeo101 commented on GitHub (Nov 25, 2025):

Damn.. yeah i had a look and found two very old songs were not quite right after replying to you. but literally only 2 in a few hundred gig of files. All others seem fine, ive checked them with FLAC Checker and it only flagged the 2 files. i didnt look at them any closer but i could kind of tell listening to them that 'something wasn't quite right' like they sounded a bit flat.

This does somewhat show that the services Like Tidal/Deezer (Not sure which one my files came from) are not 'always' honest when they tell you you have 'Lossless' From them. LOL

Any chance you know what service them files came from? would be interesting if its only one of the services providing bad files

if not you could check by redownloading one of the songs you've already checked using the settings to set the download service and then re-check/compare the file. if you do, let us know what you find. I might do some digging tomorrow as well.

<!-- gh-comment-id:3573520552 --> @KGeo101 commented on GitHub (Nov 25, 2025): Damn.. yeah i had a look and found two very old songs were not quite right after replying to you. but literally only 2 in a few hundred gig of files. All others seem fine, ive checked them with FLAC Checker and it only flagged the 2 files. i didnt look at them any closer but i could kind of tell listening to them that 'something wasn't quite right' like they sounded a bit flat. This does somewhat show that the services Like Tidal/Deezer (Not sure which one my files came from) are not 'always' honest when they tell you you have 'Lossless' From them. LOL Any chance you know what service them files came from? would be interesting if its only one of the services providing bad files if not you could check by redownloading one of the songs you've already checked using the settings to set the download service and then re-check/compare the file. if you do, let us know what you find. I might do some digging tomorrow as well.
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@KGeo101 commented on GitHub (Nov 25, 2025):

Could this be dependant on what Master Version is used to create the 'Lossless' File in the first place for the Service its coming from? (Especially since it seems to be older songs only)

<!-- gh-comment-id:3573604590 --> @KGeo101 commented on GitHub (Nov 25, 2025): Could this be dependant on what Master Version is used to create the 'Lossless' File in the first place for the Service its coming from? (Especially since it seems to be older songs only)
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@ncsufan8628 commented on GitHub (Nov 25, 2025):

So I've done some more experimenting, I guess the first DL i picked was one of these instances. Every other has matched tracks with known good sourcing. Strange thing is the tracks I tested are from the Anjunadeep 15 compilation, which was released this year. Seems like you're right and it may be dependent on the file the streaming service has.

Would be awesome if the tool could check/verify the integrity of the files found, but probably outside scope.

<!-- gh-comment-id:3576416497 --> @ncsufan8628 commented on GitHub (Nov 25, 2025): So I've done some more experimenting, I guess the first DL i picked was one of these instances. Every other has matched tracks with known good sourcing. Strange thing is the tracks I tested are from the Anjunadeep 15 compilation, which was released this year. Seems like you're right and it may be dependent on the file the streaming service has. Would be awesome if the tool could check/verify the integrity of the files found, but probably outside scope.
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