Hello,

in the transcode tracks dialoge, Amarok offers three different options:

- Transcode all
- Transcode only when needed for playability
- Transcode only when source and destination formats are different

What do the last two options mean?

Needed for playability? How do Amarok knows about playability on my target device (an USB stick). If I choose to transcode to mp3 maybe it considers that tracks not playable which are not mp3? But isn't exactly this what the second options means? Sorry... I'm really puzzled.

What I actually wants is to transcode,

if (SRC_FORMAT != DEST_FORMAT) or (SRC_BITRATE > DEST_BITRATE)

http://userbase.kde.org/Amarok/Manual/O ... ranscoding is not helpful, neither is the tool tip.

Thx!

Those options are presets you can choose, and even keep for the next time, but you don't have to.

It is not Amarok who knows this, it is you who decide if you need to transcode: some media players don't use free formats like FLAC or OGG, so you have to transcode to be able to play the tracks on a media player. If you try one of the options with a mixed source set (different file formats) -> an mp3 only media player it will only transcode those not mp3 for example.
As for the third example: try copying FLAC files to an iPad, you will see what happens

As for the handbook: feel free to come up with a better description...

I'll be happy trying to produce a better description if I knew what these options mean.

Your answers did not really help me. I know about these issues your described, but they do not apply here.

As I said, I'm copying to an USB stick. Since there is no definition of playability for an USB stick, what formats does Amarok consider playable on an USB stick?

How does Amarok defines format equality/difference? is it merely the format (MP3 == MP3) or the (format, bitrate) tuple?

Is there a way to do a transcode only if (SRC_FORMAT != DEST_FORMAT) or (SRC_BITRATE > DEST_BITRATE)?

Kind Regards!

Well, why would you transcode if you are copying to a USB Stick? Where will you use the stick? If you plan to use the USB stick with Amarok, there is definitely no reason to transcode anything.

In my car, in my hifi system, ... Does it matter?

Well, in that case you choose the file format you can play there, and I guess you want to transcode only the files that don't have the necessary format. In that case you choose option 2

As for option 3: if you choose to transcode everything, the Amarok takes that literally, as you will have every file rewritten. This is most of the time needed if you want to change the bitrate as well. If you don't want this to happen on all files in a mixed file type setting, you would choose option 3, so only the files that are not yet in that format will be transcoded. Of course, if you want the bitrate to change as well, you choose option 1.

I will try to find a better wording in the handbook.

Sorry, I still can't tell the effects of option 2 und 3 apart:

Given I choose mp3 as target format.

to transcode only the files that don't have the necessary format. In that case you choose option 2

I understand at this way: Any file that is not mp3 will be transcoded using the given settings. All other files (means: any mp3) will merely be copied.

choose option 3, so only the files that are not yet in that format will be transcoded

Isn't that the same?

Addendum: After reading it a couple of times, another explanation comes in my mind.

If Amarok knows about a set of playable formats on the target player, like on an Apple device which plays aac and mp3 but no flac. (is that what you mean with a mixed file type setting?)
-> Option 2 means: Transcode to DEST_FORMAT if SRC_FORMAT is not in [ PLAYABLE_FORMATS ]
-> Option 3 means: Transcode to DEST_FORMAT if SRC_FORMAT is not equal to DEST_FORMAT

If Amarok does not know about a set of playable formats on target, like it is with a USB stick
-> Option 2 means the same as Option 3
-> Option 3 means: Transcode to DEST_FORMAT if SRC_FORMAT is not equal to DEST_FORMAT

is that correct?

Thx for your patience.

Yes, I think that is a good explanation, indeed.

An idea for the wiki http://userbase.kde.org/Amarok/Manual/O ... ranscoding

Transcode only when needed for playability

For some destination systems (e.g. an iPod) Amarok knows which formats work. Transcode only if the file would not work on the destination system. If Amarok has no information about playability on the destination system (e.g. an USB stick), this options transcodes if source and destination formats are different (just like the other option)

Transcode only if source and destination formats are different

Transcode only if the source file is not already in the destination format, e.g. if you chose mp3 as destination, no file which already is mp3 would be transcoded.

Feel free to use this text anywhere, consider it public domain