Taiko Audio SGM Extreme : the Crème de la Crème

kswanson27

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Nov 21, 2018
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I downloaded an album from Native DSD and it appeared immediately in Roon without a cover. I rescanned TAS and it appeared there but also without a cover. I went back into Roon and edited it and found the cover and saved it so Roon now has it. I rescanned TAS again but still no cover. Anyone know how to get a cover into TAS?
 

oldmustang

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Dec 1, 2012
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I downloaded an album from Native DSD and it appeared immediately in Roon without a cover. I rescanned TAS and it appeared there but also without a cover. I went back into Roon and edited it and found the cover and saved it so Roon now has it. I rescanned TAS again but still no cover. Anyone know how to get a cover into TAS?
You need to use a metadata editor (I like Yate for Macintosh) to add the cover art permanently to each track. Then rescan in TAS so it has the updated file(s) recognized.

Depending on how you edit in Roon, it may only be saving cover art links into a Roon-specific file rather than embedding the cover art into track metadata.

Good luck.

Steve Z
 

wil

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Jul 22, 2015
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Well in the typical, amazing support from Emile, I received an email with a suggestion to solve my Extreme case not being square
All in approx 15 minutes!

U rock Emile!!!
Can you share what the suggestion is?
 

Taiko Audio

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You need to use a metadata editor (I like Yate for Macintosh) to add the cover art permanently to each track. Then rescan in TAS so it has the updated file(s) recognized.

Depending on how you edit in Roon, it may only be saving cover art links into a Roon-specific file rather than embedding the cover art into track metadata.

Good luck.

Steve Z

Alternatively you can save an album art cover as “folder.jpg” in the album folder. This needs to be in a square format, between 300*300 and 1600*1600 pixels in size.
 
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kswanson27

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Alternatively you can save an album art cover as “folder.jpg” in the album folder. This needs to be in a square format, between 300*300 and 1600*1600 pixels in size.
I saved the album cover from Native DSD to documents then cut and pasted it to the album file in the Extreme. I ran a rescan with TAS and its there now. I've never used a metadata editor--it's probably something I should learn to use.
 

rando

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Alternatively you can save an album art cover as “folder.jpg” in the album folder. This needs to be in a square format, between 300*300 and 1600*1600 pixels in size.

Two questions.

Is anyone able to notice audible change in files (playback using Extreme) after embedding art into a file? Same for any other metadata file editing in Roon or elsewhere if that isn't too broad.

Album art dimensions are capped so it seems reasonable on disk size is too. Casually wondering if there is a reason somewhere along the development or playback path this was instituted?

Thanks.
 

Taiko Audio

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Two questions.

Is anyone able to notice audible change in files (playback using Extreme) after embedding art into a file? Same for any other metadata file editing in Roon or elsewhere if that isn't too broad.

Album art dimensions are capped so it seems reasonable on disk size is too. Casually wondering if there is a reason somewhere along the development or playback path this was instituted?

Thanks.

Extreme owners using TAS or the upcoming XDMS don’t have to worry about that.
 

dminches

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Oct 22, 2011
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For those of you who like to take control of your metadata for audio files I highly recommend Tag&Rename. I use it religiously to get my tags right so my music displays properly.
 

kswanson27

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Does it work with “cover.jpg”? Roon seems to recognize this folder name too. And I have all album art label as such.
I'm not sure it matters that much. I labeled mine "Beethoven cover.jpg" so I could find it in my documents.
 

bryans

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Dec 26, 2017
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Is anyone able to notice audible change in files (playback using Extreme) after embedding art into a file? Same for any other metadata file editing in Roon or elsewhere if that isn't too broad.
Maybe I am on an island on this one but if having album art affects the sound, I need to get into another hobby. Ripping all of my CDs was bad enough. If I now need to go remove or only use certain art files, etc. I give up.
 

Taiko Audio

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Maybe I am on an island on this one but if having album art affects the sound, I need to get into another hobby. Ripping all of my CDs was bad enough. If I now need to go remove or only use certain art files, etc. I give up.

It does, but our software takes care of that, no need to worry about it.
 

rando

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Maybe I am on an island on this one but if having album art affects the sound, I need to get into another hobby. Ripping all of my CDs was bad enough. If I now need to go remove or only use certain art files, etc. I give up.

This entire hobby is an island. ;)

My query was directed at something Emile stated isn't a concerning factor.
 
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Taiko Audio

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This entire hobby is an island. ;)

My query was directed at something Emile stated isn't a concerning factor.

This may have slipped under the radar over the years, it was common knowledge say a decade ago. Along with things like directory depths, filename / directoryname lengths, method of file storing etc. The differences are subtle rather then mayor but audible nonetheless. We do address all of these in software. You do not want to be in the situation feeling you’re missing out on something because of tagging, album art, or file storage methodology. As if having to worry about your network setup isn’t bad enough.
 

rando

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Yes, that is exactly where I heading with it.

Hopefully without spilling any apples out of the cart by upsetting someone's day with a fresh concern!

Reference to this legacy audio storage and playback factor had origin outside the Extreme/TAS environment. If anything, a broken file would be overly apparent using as sensitive of equipment/software as is under discussion.

Taiko seem rather adept at staying ahead of the game long before something intrudes.
 

oldmustang

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Dec 1, 2012
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I finally had some time to do a few network traffic experiments to assess the impact of traffic on sound quality. Here's what I heard when I started loading up my very simple network.

First a brief description of my home network:

Slow "high-speed" internet via DSL (12mbps down/1.2mbps up) via a ActionTec 1900C combination modem/router (powered by a JS-2 linear power supply).

From one of the RJ-45 ports on the router part of the DSL modem the path is via UTP copper jumper > OpticalModule (with a Sonore Signature linear power supply further regulated by a two-stage DXP regulator) > Finisar SFP > fiber optic cable > Finisar SFP intalled in my Extreme's SFP cage.

From another RJ-45 power on the modem's router the path is via UTP copper jumper > Startech FMC (regulated linear power supply wall wart) > PlanetTech SFP > short fiber optic jumper > Planet Tech SFP > Startech FMC (regulated linear power supply wall wart) > UTP copper ethernet jumper > Netgear GS105 unmanaged switch (regulated linear power supply wall wart) > the rest of my home LAN, including three NAS, upstairs and downstairs AV systems all connected by UTP copper ethernet cable.

I tried the following:

1. listening to music while running a NAS to NAS back up.

2. listening to music while streaming a Netflix movie.

3. listening to music while running an Extreme to NAS back up.

1. and 2. both exhibited a slight degradation of sound quality.

The magnitude sounded about the same doing the NAS to NAS back up whether listening to local content or streaming tracks for 1.

For experiment 2., the sound quality sounded slightly worse for streamed content vs local files. Not surprisingly given my very slow internet speeds, streamed content took much longer to buffer and begin playing, so perhaps my impatience somewhat colored my perceptions.

3. Running a backup of the Exteme music files to a NAS. This exhibited a greater decrease in sound quality than either 1. or 2. Music was still far from being unlistenable, however it was still noticeably worse than 1. or 2. I'd say that the sound quality hit was on the order of switching from TAS to Roon -- grayer and flatter than TAS playback when not doing network intensive things.

So, this is my particular experience with a simple home LAN. Hopefully there is something in this that is helpful.

Steve Z
 
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bryans

VIP/Donor
Dec 26, 2017
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250
I finally had some time to do a few network traffic experiments to assess the impact of traffic on sound quality. Here's what I heard when I started loading up my very simple network.

First a brief description of my home network:

Slow "high-speed" internet via DSL (12mbps down/1.2mbps up) via a ActionTec 1900C combination modem/router (powered by a JS-2 linear power supply).

From one of the RJ-45 ports on the router part of the DSL modem the path is via UTP copper jumper > OpticalModule (with a Sonore Signature linear power supply further regulated by a two-stage DXP regulator) > Finisar SFP > fiber optic cable > Finisar SFP intalled in my Extreme's SFP cage.

From another RJ-45 power on the modem's router the path is via UTP copper jumper > Startech FMC (regulated linear power supply wall wart) > PlanetTech SFP > short fiber optic jumper > Planet Tech SFP > Startech FMC (regulated linear power supply wall wart) > UTP copper ethernet jumper > Netgear GS105 unmanaged switch (regulated linear power supply wall wart) > the rest of my home LAN, including three NAS, upstairs and downstairs AV systems all connected by UTP copper ethernet cable.

I tried the following:

1. listening to music while running a NAS to NAS back up.

2. listening to music while streaming a Netflix movie.

3. listening to music while running an Extreme to NAS back up.

1. and 2. both exhibited a slight degradation of sound quality.

The magnitude sounded about the same doing the NAS to NAS back up whether listening to local content or streaming tracks for 1.

For experiment 2., the sound quality sounded slightly worse for streamed content vs local files. Not surprisingly given my very slow internet speeds, streamed content took much longer to buffer and begin playing, so perhaps my impatience somewhat colored my perceptions.

3. Running a backup of the Exteme music files to a NAS. This exhibited a greater decrease in sound quality than either 1. or 2. Music was still far from being unlistenable, however it was still noticeably worse than 1. or 2. I'd say that the sound quality hit was on the order of switching from TAS to Roon -- grayer and flatter than TAS playback when not doing network intensive things.

So, this is my particular experience with a simple home LAN. Hopefully there is something in this that is helpful.

Steve Z
Is there a reason why are you doing listening test while doing a backup? My advice would be to do all of your backups like 2 or 3 AM or when no one is on your network. If you are pulling music from your NAS while doing a backup one would expect a negative effect.

If I understand your network, you have your Extreme connected to your DSL Modem via an ethernet port. You then have the rest of your home network via a switch connected to the other port on your DSL Modem. So these are two different networks. Is there a reason why you have them on different networks?

Now if you are pulling music locally from your Extreme while doing a backup and you notice a negative effect that is something different.

I'm not trying to have you change anything, I'm just trying to understand your setup.
 

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