m4a playback skipping
Finally found out today that my skipping issues are due to a known software bug (summarized below.) Does anyone know if there's a way to find a track issue status for this bug?
From what I was told, this is specific to the m4a file format.
#250996 : Grouped players skipping end/start of songs
After speaking with our engineering team regarding your specific issue they have been able to replicate it here in our labs. Our engineering team will be looking into this further and be providing a fix for this issue in a future firmware update.
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Official comment
We do apologise for the inconvenience - it took us a while to find this one but yes we have identified the source and will be releasing an update to resolve it as quickly as possible.
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You could look into batch converting your M4A tracks as temporary solution, depending on what they contain you could go FLAC or down to MP3.
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Yes, I have played FLAC and there is no skip, indeed. I have all music in MP3 (on an external disk) too, but not available 24/24 and will give it a try later today.
Thanks for the hint, I did not have the information that the issue is linked to file format further to my support request. I was told there would be a new release soon. In the meantime I used another music player and airplay when speakers needed to be grouped. Not so nice 🤧.
I don’t think that M4A is some exotic format and customers can expect these to work. It will take days to convert, reindexing and/or mixing up all libraries again. I do agree that bugs can appear, but there must be a better solution than to tell customers to convert to another format and hopefully Bluesound will, as announced, come up with a new release soon.
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I use a program called XLD to convert, lossless to lossless takes roughly about 5 seconds per Album on my Mac Mini M1 with the files held locally on the SSD, my metadata is all correct and copies across correctly.
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Thanks for the info Seppi.
I use Switch to process conversions, as I can modify the tags as I like. I had tried a different converter, which removed the artwork except from first track when tags were changed. Then, since Apple Monterrey release there was an issue with complex characters (Chinese seems to be working, but French and German characters must be a dread 😃). So I do not want to experiment too much any more, my choice though. Some other users may not have enough disk space readily available, tripling (copy and backup) a few TB just like that …
Nevertheless, I am a bit disappointed to find the information that M4A files are concerned in the forum more or less by chance. I filed a support request the day release 3.16.1 was installed (Nov 25), and would have expected to have had some advice from the support team. I cannot understand either, that this issue should not be important enough to trigger an update, even if there are no other fixes. Customers do spend some money on their equipment and should at least be able to use the basics. I consider that grouping two speakers and playing an M4A file to be rather basic.
Anyway, now I have a better solution than using another player and airplay and try to calm down a bit 😃.
Thanks Tony, I have seen your message which has crossed mine, so now I am perfectly reassured that it won’t be long.
To all have a great weekend
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Indeed, I am also very anxious to have M4A files play again.
I have converted everything to MP3, which I need for the car anyway. Having given up all hope for this issue to be dealt with, I have converted everything to FLAC too last week as I did not want to miss out on the Quality. Took almost two days to do so for some 20.000 files. Nobody shall now tell me my Computers are outdated or lame ducks, it just takes time as most files need to be retagged and some files need additional handling, NAS and Spotlight need reindexing and so on.
Everything plays fine, but there is a short interruption once in a while though, for both MP3 and FLAC as well. As playback resumes after 10 to 20 seconds I have not submitted a support request so far.
Besides from pumping from your available TBs, it is annoying to have to handle additional formats. I want to keep ALAC as they work perfectly with apple’s music and syncing to iphone is easy. Now I need to convert every piece of art to FLAC too and make sure that I have enough disk space for the additional files, a security copy and backup.
We are not at the very low end of quality level and you can expect more indeed. Switching to an online service as the only provider is not an option for me either. Sorry Seppi, downgrading to MP3 may be a solution for some but for others it is only a temporary workaround. Moreover, I do not want to install unknown softwares, testing around to find out not everything is working as expected in the end. Have had some nasty experiences in the past. It is not enough to find the problem but essential to correct it asap. Almost 2 months have passed by and nothing has happened, not even an approximate date for a bug fix.
I am sincerely disappointed at how this issue is being handled.
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Hi Adriene
I have escalated your issue to our Support Crew for a closer look
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Adrien, I did say “temporary solution” in my post.
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Thanks for doing so, you have been very quick indeed! Hopefully they will react in some way.
The issue should be known as I have had already 2 support request, both closed to avoid unnecessary mailings.
I am currently on holidays and won’t be back home before Feb. 1st., but will be reading my mail.
Kind regards.
Adrien
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Our Support Crew can not fix the issue without you being accessible to your system - I am cancelling this request - please send us a Support Request when you return from your travels.
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Tony,
Cancelling which support request?
I, the original author of this post, am available for system access.
Andy Miller
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Hi Andy - I have escalated you to our Support Crew for a closer look.
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Thanks Seppi, but can you please define “temporary” 😃 . I think almost two months is more than temporary …
MP3 was readily available as I mentioned I use it anyway. What works perfectly in the car may not satisfy you depending on your sound system, though.
I am wondering that there are not more comments related to this issue. There must be more users concerned or is there a better or easier way to manage the music library and prepare it for Bluesound, that I am not aware of? I like the direct syncing facility, the way I can rename albums, change album artist and add the artwork, without having to go through a less user-friendly tagging app. I have not come across an app, that would reproduce changes to apple’s music. Of course, I wouldn’t want to restart from scratch. Curious to learn how others proceed.
I you wish and if nobody objects, I can give you my mail, so we can discuss out of this thread.
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My post was not in response to the post you made afterwards. M4A can be of lower bitrate quality hence the suggestion to the OP of FLAC or MP3.
I am out of this thread.
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Thanks Tony,
will reissue request as soon as I am back home again by the system,
Kind regards
Adrien
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