The Astonishing FLAC download

[Zirreall]

So, where can this be done?

[Implode]

HDTracks in a few hours depending on where you live I'd imagine.

[splent]

 Nowhere...

I would imagine within a day though

[ariich]

HDTracks in a few hours depending on where you live I'd imagine.

That requires a new purchase, obviously.

For those that are due a FLAC download because they pre-ordered the box set, I'm afraid I don't know how this works. Someone else might be able to shed some light on it.

[BFRedrocks]

Assuming RR will send out a link tonight/tomorrow for the download(s). Being in the "west", midnight EST is 10 pm here, so hopefully I can get these tonight.

[DarkLord_Lalinc]

You can buy the CD and rip the music in FLAC format.

[Milzinga]

Anyone buy the HDTracks yet? I am considering it if it's a significant difference like it was with DT12

[RaiseTheKnife]

HD Tracks lists a sample rate of 96kHz/24bit.  Any idea if that will be better than the Road Runner FLAC file that comes with the box set?

[BlobVanDam]

HD Tracks lists a sample rate of 96kHz/24bit.  Any idea if that will be better than the Road Runner FLAC file that comes with the box set?

I could be wrong, but I think the FLACs in the boxset will be the same as the CD, 44.1khz 16bit.

[Bolsters]

HD Tracks lists a sample rate of 96kHz/24bit.  Any idea if that will be better than the Road Runner FLAC file that comes with the box set?

I could be wrong, but I think the FLACs in the boxset will be the same as the CD, 44.1khz 16bit.

More than likely the same master as the CD aswell, whereas HDTracks will have a different master.

[BlobVanDam]

HD Tracks lists a sample rate of 96kHz/24bit.  Any idea if that will be better than the Road Runner FLAC file that comes with the box set?

I could be wrong, but I think the FLACs in the boxset will be the same as the CD, 44.1khz 16bit.

More than likely the same master as the CD aswell, whereas HDTracks will have a different master.

Yeah. I think the point of the FLAC download is for people to have instant access to a digital version of the CD album while waiting for the physical one to arrive.
The HDTracks version has always been a separate thing.

[minstrel]

I bought the FLACs from HD Tracks (German store) and ran a quick TT Dynamic Range metering test. It seems like the master for the HD Tracks is the same as for the CD, i.e., the tracks have exactly the same dynamics. (I tested track 1 and 2 which measured DR 8 and DR 7 on TT Meter).

I based my comparison on the CD ratings from:
https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=&album=astonishing

A bit disappointing, but at least better than the last CD masters.

[Milzinga]

Ouch 33 bucks for the HD Tracks. I went ahead and bought it, it was considerably better on DT12 so I was assuming about the same for this one too. Sounds good either way.

[Zydar]

Ouch 33 bucks for the HD Tracks. I went ahead and bought it, it was considerably better on DT12 so I was assuming about the same for this one too. Sounds good either way.

Have you compared them to the CD version of TA? I am curious about getting them.

[Quarter_Cask]

HD Tracks lists a sample rate of 96kHz/24bit.  Any idea if that will be better than the Road Runner FLAC file that comes with the box set?

I could be wrong, but I think the FLACs in the boxset will be the same as the CD, 44.1khz 16bit.

More than likely the same master as the CD aswell, whereas HDTracks will have a different master.

HDt is apparently the same master as CD
https://dr.loudness-war.info/album/list?artist=dream+theater&album=asto
- no point to buy. you're not going to hear any difference.

[Nefarius]

HDtracks saved DT12 from being pretty much unlistenable to my ears. But if TA is using the same master there's no reason for buying twice. The difference in kHz and bits is practically irrelevant.

Greetings...
Nef

[Dorkmaster Flek]

Aww man, that is disappointing.  The main reason I bought the last two albums on HD Tracks wasn't for the super hi def quality, it was because it was a better mix than the CD!  The dynamic range was way less compressed.  That makes way more of a difference than the insanely high bitrate.

That having been said, how is the overall mix on this album so far?  It's entirely possible that because of the nature of this album, they wanted it mixed the same across the board because they have very specific requirements for how it should sound, something like that.  I mean, I'd like to think they have those same standards for EVERY album, but this album is pretty different from the previous ones.

[chucker]

HDTracks sent me an email code of "HDJAN29" for 15% off The Astonishing.  Hopefully that can help you alleviates some of the $33.98 pain.  I still haven't decided to buy the HD version, so I can't comment on whether it's a better master.  I'm waiting for some other suckers to go first. 

I also just want to note that this is my first ever forum post or any "dt fan community engagement".  But they've been my favorite band since '93.  I'm sure you guys are cool, so after 23 years I guess I can dive in.

[chrisgazpacho]

Are the samples on HD tracks actually HD?  I cannot hear any difference between the album on Apple music and listening to the samples on HD.

[JonesyAZ]

FLAC download from RR for those who pre-ordered the box has come through my email.  Hopefully this has been the same for others!

Question...how do I listen to FLACs on an iMAC?  I can't pull them up in my iTunes (sorry, I'm a FLAC noob...)

[Nefarius]

I have an e-mail telling me The Limited Edition Box Set (with the NOMAC) is at least delayed until May.
I have an e-mail telling me The Astonishing Vinyl Box Set (part of above set) is at least delayed until late March.
It's the 29th of January close to 18:00 CET. In other words it's Friday evening, the blood still on my hands, and I still don't have a message regarding the FLAC download of my preordered album.

Seriously, is so completely new to the music and shopping business to not get a single detail of this release right?

Greetings...
Nef

[The Letter M]

Got my FLAC download, burned it to two CD-Rs, going to take them with me in my car today (and to work) to give them a spin!!! I should be getting my package from RR sometime this afternoon, too!

-Marc.

[Nefarius]

The message arrived, finally downloading my FLACs.
Still bothered any kind of physical copy is months away.

Greetings...
Nef

[Kilminster]

I'm really disappointed that I paid £180 for the ultimate bundle and so far on release day i've got nothing. I appreciate delays but this is an all time low. Not even the download email yet in the UK.

[kirksnosehair]

I guess it was a good idea going with Amazon.com this time.  I actually got my copy of the album a day before release day.

[RaiseTheKnife]

The message arrived, finally downloading my FLACs.
Still bothered any kind of physical copy is months away.

Greetings...
Nef

My understanding is that we will receive physical copies of the CD now (with a NOMAC pin as bonus gift for the delay).

[ethebubbeth]

My understanding is that we will receive physical copies of the CD now (with a NOMAC pin as bonus gift for the delay).

Correct, the 2CD set ships out now, the rest of the box ships out when it's ready.

[ethebubbeth]

HDTracks sent me an email code of "HDJAN29" for 15% off The Astonishing.  Hopefully that can help you alleviates some of the $33.98 pain.  I still haven't decided to buy the HD version, so I can't comment on whether it's a better master.  I'm waiting for some other suckers to go first. 

It's the same master on the HDTracks release, so no incrase in dynamic range over the CD.  The nice thing is that the CD has more dynamic range this time around to begin with.  Dream Theater 2013 was DR6 on the CD master, and The Astonishing is DR8, which makes a world of difference.

(The DR rating is the difference between average and peak loudness over the album.  DR8 is the turning point where most music stops sounding compressed dynamically.)

[seasonsinthesky]

Question...how do I listen to FLACs on an iMAC?  I can't pull them up in my iTunes (sorry, I'm a FLAC noob...)

iTunes can only play the Apple version of lossless, appropriately named Apple Lossless (ALAC). Lots of free software will convert your FLACs to ALAC for you.

Or you can try one of a large number of apps that will play FLAC directly. I recommend this, as I started off using iTunes + ALAC conversion when I first got a Mac and it became a serious pain to convert every single time I got a download.

I use Enqueue. It has the library-style layout like iTunes and it'll play every format. Costs money though.

[RaiseTheKnife]

I downloaded the FLAC from RoadRunner, but then had to convert it to an MP3 to actually listen to it.  Should I have just downloaded the MP3 directly from RoadRunner?  Does converting the FLAC to MP3 defeat the purpose of downloading the FLAC, or is the MP3 conversation higher quality than the direct MP3 download?

I ask this because if I choose to buy the HD Net versions, I will have to convert those FLAC files to MP3 too, but don't want to waste my money if there is no difference once the conversion is made.

Thanks to all the helpful folks in this thread.  Without you I would have accidentally deleted my sound drivers (again).

[Chimpi]

I downloaded the FLAC from RoadRunner, but then had to convert it to an MP3 to actually listen to it.  Should I have just downloaded the MP3 directly from RoadRunner?  Does converting the FLAC to MP3 defeat the purpose of downloading the FLAC, or is the MP3 conversation higher quality than the direct MP3 download?

I ask this because if I choose to buy the HD Net versions, I will have to convert those FLAC files to MP3 too, but don't want to waste my money if there is no difference once the conversion is made.

Thanks to all the helpful folks in this thread.  Without you I would have accidentally deleted my sound drivers (again).

I'm not sure about the quality difference (though, I presume an MP3 converted from FLAC will be the same quality as an MP3 ripped from the CD directly), however if you need an audio player that can play FLAC files, foobar2000 is a good program for that.  Reads many lossless file formats as well as MP3, MP4, Wav and more.

[RaiseTheKnife]

I downloaded the FLAC from RoadRunner, but then had to convert it to an MP3 to actually listen to it.  Should I have just downloaded the MP3 directly from RoadRunner?  Does converting the FLAC to MP3 defeat the purpose of downloading the FLAC, or is the MP3 conversation higher quality than the direct MP3 download?

I ask this because if I choose to buy the HD Net versions, I will have to convert those FLAC files to MP3 too, but don't want to waste my money if there is no difference once the conversion is made.

Thanks to all the helpful folks in this thread.  Without you I would have accidentally deleted my sound drivers (again).

I'm not sure about the quality difference (though, I presume an MP3 converted from FLAC will be the same quality as an MP3 ripped from the CD directly), however if you need an audio player that can play FLAC files, foobar2000 is a good program for that.  Reads many lossless file formats as well as MP3, MP4, Wav and more.

Cool, good to know!

[Quarter_Cask]

I downloaded the FLAC from RoadRunner, but then had to convert it to an MP3 to actually listen to it.  Should I have just downloaded the MP3 directly from RoadRunner?  Does converting the FLAC to MP3 defeat the purpose of downloading the FLAC, or is the MP3 conversation higher quality than the direct MP3 download?

I ask this because if I choose to buy the HD Net versions, I will have to convert those FLAC files to MP3 too, but don't want to waste my money if there is no difference once the conversion is made.

Thanks to all the helpful folks in this thread.  Without you I would have accidentally deleted my sound drivers (again).

I'm not sure about the quality difference (though, I presume an MP3 converted from FLAC will be the same quality as an MP3 ripped from the CD directly), however if you need an audio player that can play FLAC files, foobar2000 is a good program for that.  Reads many lossless file formats as well as MP3, MP4, Wav and more.

+1 for foobar2000. it really is great player. as for the flac -> mp3. i wouldn't be too concerned. even guys with headphone apparatus for thousands of $ often can't tell the difference (via proper abx comparison) between flac and high-bit properly ripped mp3s. the real benefit from HD versions is usually that they are sourced from different (usually better sounding, more dynamic) master so even the mp3s ripped from that version would sound better/different than regular CD/mp3/flac/whatever. but not in this case as it looks like HD version is the same source as CD.