TIDAL - Gapless Playback? [Resolved - only with HiFi subscription]

Roon Software Discussion TIDAL
21

Hmmm… just tried here with the same album and no gaps between tracks 2 & 3.

Check your core logs at the point of transition and see if there are any errors associated with fetching data from Tidal.

Mine looks like this:

03/21 11:14:52 Trace: [prebuffer] status 441000/441000 (100%) @ 0/150 sec
03/21 11:14:55 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = Enhanced
Elements:
    Source Format=Flac 44100/16/2  Quality=Lossless
    UpgradeBitDepth FromBitsPerSample=16 ToBitsPerSample=64 Quality=Lossless
    SampleRateConversion FromSampleRate=44100 ToSampleRate=352800 Algorithm=HighQuality Quality=Enhanced
    Truncate FromBitsPerSample=64 ToBitsPerSample=32 Quality=Lossless
    Raat Device=MOON USB DSD HD Audio
    Output OutputType=Local_Alsa Quality=Lossless
------------------------------------------------------------

03/21 11:14:55 Info: [library] recorded play for profile 1431e7bc-99f1-4347-afa2-ab3918158b7e: mediaid=168:0:12225365 metadataid= contentid=168:0:12225365 libraryid=
03/21 11:14:55 Trace: [tidal/http] GET https://api.tidalhifi.com/v1/tracks/12225367/streamurl?countryCode=US&sessionId=52d0095d-51a4-4fb1-a7e0-d20b9b6a9402&soundQuality=LOSSLESS => Success
03/21 11:14:55 Trace: [tidal/http] GET https://api.tidalhifi.com/v1/tracks/12225367?countryCode=US&sessionId=52d0095d-51a4-4fb1-a7e0-d20b9b6a9402& => Success
03/21 11:14:55 Info: [zoneplayer/base] Queueing: http://d5.audio-pop.tidal.com/d766b793cfc554fffaa2d355bee4ead4_26.flac
03/21 11:14:55 Warn: [music] GetExtendedTrackInfo: track 15743144 not found
03/21 11:14:56 Info: [zoneplayer/base] Open result (Queueing): Result[Status=Success]
03/21 11:14:56 Trace: [prebuffer] ready 149940/441000 (34%) @ 0/77 sec
03/21 11:14:56 Trace: [streamingmediafile] immediate read of http://d5.audio-pop.tidal.com/d766b793cfc554fffaa2d355bee4ead4_26.flac at 524288 length=5534121
03/21 11:14:57 Trace: [streamingmediafile] finished caching http://d5.audio-pop.tidal.com/d766b793cfc554fffaa2d355bee4ead4_26.flac
03/21 11:14:57 Trace: [prebuffer] status 441000/441000 (100%) @ 5/150 sec
03/21 11:15:01 Trace: [raat/audiosource] Sent 20000 packets, qdepth=8
03/21 11:15:01 Trace: [zone] [Moon 780D] Stop
22

Here’s the point of transition between track 2 and track 3 (where I heard the jump), not sure what the logs are telling me though:

03/21 19:23:51 Trace: [transport/raatclient] [High Definition Audio Device] GOT [48] {"status":"Ready"}
03/21 19:23:51 Trace: [zoneplayer/raat] Endpoint High Definition Audio Device State Changed: Buffering => Ready
03/21 19:23:51 Trace: [zoneplayer/raat] wait for ready in 17ms
03/21 19:23:51 Trace: [zoneplayer/raat] Starting at streamsample 0 and time 2013958339 min_offset=120ms offset=150ms
03/21 19:23:51 Trace: [transport/raatclient] [High Definition Audio Device] SENT [49]{"request":"start","time":2114888044,"stream_sample":0}
03/21 19:23:51 Trace: [zoneplayer/raat] Endpoint High Definition Audio Device State Changed: Ready => Playing
03/21 19:23:51 Trace: [transport/raatclient] [High Definition Audio Device] GOT [48] {"status":"Playing"}
03/21 19:23:51 Trace: [transport/raatclient] [High Definition Audio Device] GOT [49] {"status":"Success"}
03/21 19:23:56 Trace: [prebuffer] status 441000/441000 (100%) @ 246/258 sec
03/21 19:23:58 Trace: [prebuffer] short read: 0 / 8820 fill=432704
03/21 19:23:58 Info: [stats] 1446mb Virtual, 514mb Physical, 191mb Managed, 1790 Handles, 77 Threads
03/21 19:24:01 Trace: [prebuffer] status 318044/441000 (72%) @ 251/258 sec
03/21 19:24:03 Trace: [prebuffer] status 212204/441000 (48%) @ 253/258 sec
03/21 19:24:04 Trace: [prebuffer] status 185744/441000 (42%) @ 254/258 sec
03/21 19:24:05 Trace: [prebuffer] status 159284/441000 (36%) @ 254/258 sec
03/21 19:24:05 Trace: [prebuffer] status 132824/441000 (30%) @ 255/258 sec
03/21 19:24:06 Trace: [prebuffer] status 106364/441000 (24%) @ 256/258 sec
03/21 19:24:06 Trace: [prebuffer] status 79904/441000 (18%) @ 256/258 sec
03/21 19:24:07 Trace: [prebuffer] status 53444/441000 (12%) @ 257/258 sec
03/21 19:24:08 Trace: [prebuffer] status 26984/441000 (6%) @ 257/258 sec
03/21 19:24:08 Trace: [prebuffer] status 524/441000 (0%) @ 258/258 sec
03/21 19:24:08 Trace: [prebuffer] status 441000/441000 (100%) @ 0/150 sec
03/21 19:24:10 Info: 
--[ SignalPath ]---------------------------------------------
SignalPath Quality = LowQuality
Elements:
    Source Format=Aac 44100/16/2  Quality=LowQuality
    ChannelMapping Stereo to 5.1
    Raat Device=High Definition Audio Device
    Output OutputType=Local_ExclusiveMode_Wasapi Quality=Lossless
------------------------------------------------------------

03/21 19:24:10 Info: [library] recorded play for profile 6a911c0d-2651-428f-9486-fb61c86f17dd: mediaid=168:0:12225365 metadataid= contentid=168:0:12225365 libraryid=
03/21 19:24:10 Warn: [music] GetExtendedTrackInfo: track 9244328 not found
03/21 19:24:10 Trace: [tidal/http] GET https://api.tidalhifi.com/v1/tracks/12225367/streamurl?countryCode=NL&sessionId=7bb6f866-88d7-470b-850a-f6cc83363b30&soundQuality=HIGH => Success
03/21 19:24:11 Trace: [tidal/http] GET https://api.tidalhifi.com/v1/tracks/12225367?countryCode=NL&sessionId=7bb6f866-88d7-470b-850a-f6cc83363b30& => Success
03/21 19:24:11 Info: [zoneplayer/base] Queueing: http://b8.audio-pop.tidal.com/76352221/bafa6957556d4ef8238d425a2d285d16_37.m4a
03/21 19:24:11 Info: [zoneplayer/base] Open result (Queueing): Result[Status=Success]
03/21 19:24:11 Trace: [prebuffer] ready 149940/441000 (34%) @ 0/77 sec
03/21 19:24:11 Trace: [streamingmediafile] finished caching http://b8.audio-pop.tidal.com/76352221/bafa6957556d4ef8238d425a2d285d16_37.m4a
03/21 19:24:13 Trace: [prebuffer] status 441000/441000 (100%) @ 5/150 sec
03/21 19:24:13 Info: [stats] 1466mb Virtual, 515mb Physical, 228mb Managed, 1825 Handles, 82 Threads
03/21 19:24:19 Trace: [prebuffer] status 441000/441000 (100%) @ 10/150 sec
03/21 19:24:21 Trace: [zoneplayer/raat] sync High Definition Audio Device: realtime=32005480213 rtt=210us offset=-5521288475us delta=3962us drift=-1556us in 30.21125055s (-51.515ppm, -185.454ms/hr)
03/21 19:24:24 Trace: [prebuffer] status 441000/441000 (100%) @ 15/150 sec
03/21 19:24:25 Trace: [zone] [Matisse] PlayPause
03/21 19:24:25 Trace: [zone] [Matisse] Pause
23

Nothing odd in there and it would appear that the queuing process is the same for Tidal HiFi as it is for the lower tier.

I see that you’re mapping stereo to 5.1, but you mention this being an issue on multiple systems so I doubt this has anything to do with it.

The only other thing I can think of is that Roon has trouble stitching together AAC (m4a) files for gapless playback. Do you have any AAC files in your local library that you can test with?

25

Pretty sure that Gapless playback is not part of the spec for Lossy files [MP3, AAC etc., etc]…and many players have had issue with it down thru the years

As Andrew suggests, create an AAC or MP3 album from one of your own FLAC Albums…and then playback within Roon to see if it can maintain Gapless??

26

Thanks guys, I appreciate the suggestions. I’ll try making an AAC or MP3 equivalent of these tracks, and see what happens. Will probably take a day or two before I get a chance to test this though. Will report back once I’ve done it.

27

I tried lowering the quality, listening through the web player. There was a definite gap.

I don’t use Chrome so I can’t check the HiFi version through the web as a control.

28

I’ve tested your album using Lumin native gapless Tidal playback instead of using Roon. Tidal FLAC is gapless as expected. Tidal 320kbps AAC is not.

I believe @Ronnie is correct.

29

OK, I’ve now had a chance to use dbPoweramp to convert the local FLAC files into local AAC files, and indeed, playing the AAC version is not gapless - I can hear the transitions between the tracks, just as the AAC TIDAL streams.

So that’s my answer, I think. If I want gapless streaming from TIDAL, I have to stump up for the Hifi subscription.

30

Hi Geoff - just tried it and it is completely gapless, flows beautifully between tracks. I am subscribed to Tidal premium.

31

HiFi = up to Lossless FLAC or Apple Lossless or MQA (if available)

Premium = Lossy AAC only

It is an unfortunate choice of word because the word “Premium” sounds like it’s better but in fact it’s worst.
https://support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/202722972-HiFi-vs-Premium-Subscriptions-

32

@wklie - yep, you’re correct. Sorry about that - will edit the title and my posts accordingly.

33

I don’t find any gap between tracks 1, 2 or 2, 3 In the Mahler Symphony 8 album using my Tidal Hi-Fi subscription. Plays perfectly.

34

I should have noted that I’m using the Tidal desktop app on my Dell Workstation with a Cox cable connection and a direct modem/router/computer Ethernet connection.

35

Yes, that is the point - you are using the Tidal Hi-Fi subscription. As I noted earlier in the thread, I am using the Premium subscription, which delivers lossy AAC. That’s what causes the gaps.

36

I have gaps with premium, very annoying. Why can’t roon handle this?

37

I think its because, as the thread above suggested, the Premium tier streams AAC/MP3 and these formats do not support perfect gapless playback. The Hifi tier will give you gapless playback since it streams FLAC or ALAC.

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