Auto select highest quality source by default, overruling library version

Hello, I was wondering if there is a way for ROON to automatically match low-definition files in my local library with lossless files in TIDAL, and then play the best-quality file available. I know I can do that if I have the same song or album in both TIDAL and my local library, but I am looking for something that would not require that I create essentially a duplicate version on TIDAL of my local library.

Thank you,

Gianfranco

Hello, I was wondering if there is a way for ROON to automatically match low-definition files in my local library with lossless files in TIDAL, and then play the best-quality file available. I know I can do that if I have the same song or album in both TIDAL and my local library, but I am looking for something that would not require that I create essentially a duplicate version on TIDAL of my local library.

Thank you,

Gianfranco

Hi Gianfranco,

Roon will play the highest quality version of albums/tracks in your library by default, but to get Tidal albums/tracks into your library you need to favourite them in Tidal or "add’ them in Roon. Adding an album/track from Tidal doesn’t download it to your local storage, so there is no storage overhead to duplicating in Tidal.

Roon is supposed to automatically flag duplicates and hide them by default. You can set duplicates to be displayed in settings/general/browsing preferences/show hidden tracks and albums.

Roon is supposed to display the ‘best’ version or the local version of equivalents.

Is Roon behaving differently for you from the above ?

You can view or select albums/tracks by quality using focus/format or duplicates using focus/inspector/multiple formats. You can bookmark those searches so you can return to them with a single click (well, two). I can’t think of a way of automatically adding higher quality albums/tracks from Tidal, I think that may need to be done manually.

If you’d like to suggest a new feature where Roon automatically plays a better version from Tidal, including tracks/albums not in your library, then we could shift this thread over to feature requests for others to comment and consider. Let me know if you’d like to start that discussion.

Not yet – key word being yet :slight_smile:

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Hello,

Yes, it is behaving the way you describe. I guess I am asking for a new feature. I have hundreds of albums (in low definition) in my local library that Roon identified correctly. For me to add them to the Tidal favorite list one by one would be very tedious. My point is, it would be great to have a feature that allows Roon to kist go out to Tidal and grab a lossless version of the album that it has identified in my local library. Thanks!

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I’ve shifted this thread into Feature Requests for comment. It may be something that @danny or @brian could contribute to.

I think a bulk favouriting option would be better than conducting a fresh streaming service search before each play.

Good point.

this feature is on the roadmap.

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Hello, trying to bring this back to life. Is this feature still planned? Any ETA? Thanks!

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We’ve implemented a link between local albums in your library and their TIDAL equivalent in Build 88.

So, for any local album that has a match, you’ll see the Other Versions button and you can click through to the TIDAL version.

Note that the button is tinted just slightly blue when there’s a TIDAL link.

I know some people are looking for more of a bulk "upgrade all my lossy albums to their TIDAL equivalents, and we’re thinking abut that kind of feature too, but no timelines to share yet.

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Have to say that I find the current version of the feature a little annoying. Ive got 1000s of albums and some are old mp3s that have been replaced by flac/wav over the years…but not deleted. ‘Other versions’ is a great opportunity to see where the duplicates lie and sort them out once and for all. The trouble is that I keep getting tidal versions being flagged which is pointless in most cases, with the exception of the use case that the OP pointed out, when there is a higher quality version available.

Hey Crom,

How about in Album View, focus using Format and select MP3. Then select each MP3 album and check for a high resolution equivalent in your system. If you’ve got one, then delete the MP3. If not, then see if there’s a Tidal version, add it to your library and delete the MP3.

Cheers, Greg

Thanks Greg, I could definitely do that but it’s more fun editing whilst playing. I just keep the synology files app open behind roon on the iPad and switch to delete when necessary. Interesting point you make at the end of your post when you say, delete my MP3 version if it’s available on Tidal. I could never do that. Tidal won’t exist one day and I might need that MP3. But it is good to know if there’s a higher res version available to play.

Any word on how this feature is progressing? This is my number one wished-for item

Even a Focus option along the lines of “Available on TIDAL” would be helpful, if that’s possible.

Is there a bulk mp3<->tidal swap feature in 1.3? If not, is it coming somewhen?

Howdy :wave:

I am new to Roon and am very pleased with its functionality and quality so far! I amassed a music collection over the years but had neglected its use as my professional life garnered more attention and lesser services weaseled in with their seductive convenience. I have brought my collection back to life with Roon and am finding a vast array of long lost albums, bringing me great joy. Thank you Roon!

However, and I may very well be missing something, I would like to tell Roon to select the highest quality source available, even if it does not exist in my local library. If I have a lower quality MP3 or ACC source, can Roon go look on Tidal for a high quality version to play instead? I do understand that I can manually find the higher quality source and add to my library and tell Roon to hide the lower quality tracks, but that seems a bit cumbersome if I always want to defer to higher quality sources.

Is there a setting that I have missed?

Many thanks for your great product!

John

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You’ll need to add the album to your collection first. So, for a given album, on the Versions tab select the higher quality recording for play, then add this to your library. Typically the higher quality releases are set as preferred for playback.

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Thanks Martin_Webster - I understand the flow for manually adding albums to my library from Tidal. I am inquiring to see if there is any functionality in place or planned to do this across my entire library. I would like to go ahead and bring in a higher quality version of every lossy rip in library in an automated way.

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Roon will populate the Version tab with alternative releases, but these won’t be added to your library automatically. You may be able to use a service like Soundiiz to replicate your library in TIDAL.

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