Gapless fix breaks gaps of files sold online?

2020-01-25 14:12:01

I stumbled across a little problem that unfortunately seems to creep in with digital music distribution these days.
There are quick fades between songs on digital distributed files i purchased. I saw this before.
I guess the distributers try to prevent possible clicks and glitches between songs with broken hard and software that doesn't handle gapless playback.
It seems these fades are only done if the level is above a certain volume. At lower levels it wouldn't matter. Maybe this is already an automated process.

Besides they alter the original files it really starts to get silly when this precautionary fade creates a glitch itself that wasn't there before.

I may have found such a thing at the recent "Bohren & Der Club Of Gore - Patchouli Blue" between track 10+11 bought at qobuz
No idea if i should complain again. Music online distribution still regulary accomplishs to disappoint.

I don't know someone that has the CD. My bet is that on a professional mastered CD such a glitch won't exist.

I attached short samples for others to listen. Maybe someone else already had a similar experience.

Re: Gapless fix breaks gaps of files sold online?

Reply #1 – 2020-01-25 15:03:46

> My bet is that on a professional mastered CD such a glitch won't exist.

On some of CDs, there are even worse gaps. 

But it's so dumb for formats not limited by CD limitations, they could simply align track transitions to zero crossings and it'll be fine but somehow it's too hard for these people.

Re: Gapless fix breaks gaps of files sold online?

Reply #2 – 2020-01-25 16:51:24

I had a likewise problem.
The Canto Ostinato by Simeon ten Holt doesn’t fit on 1 CD
Hence at the and of the CD they fade out and on the second fade in.
On a CD this make sense, on a PC not.
I loaded the tracks in audacity, removed the fade out/in.
After some trial and error they now play gapless.