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I've noticed that in certain GOG games the audio has been compressed. I've encountered this with two games so far, The 7th Guest and Gobliiins pack, both games having their Rebook audio tracks compressed to a lossy format such as ogg or mp3.

Now I know most people can hardly hear the difference (my self included sometimes). However, it still bugs me knowing that I got a down sampled release of the game without any warning before hand.

Does anyone else here feel similar distaste for this practice? I for one would prefer a perfect representation of the original game here on GOG.
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LentFilms: I've noticed that in certain GOG games the audio has been compressed. I've encountered this with two games so far, The 7th Guest and Gobliiins pack, both games having their Rebook audio tracks compressed to a lossy format such as ogg or mp3.

Now I know most people can hardly hear the difference (my self included sometimes). However, it still bugs me knowing that I got a down sampled release of the game without any warning before hand.

Does anyone else here feel similar distaste for this practice? I for one would prefer a perfect representation of the original game here on GOG.
Yeah, but it really can be hard to hear the difference, even with a hi-fi audio setup. I guess GOG is just trying to save bandwidth.

I know some games, like Little Big Adventure, had MP3 tracks and actually got upgraded to lossless after enough people complained.
Figured this was better as a community wishlist. Here it is,
http://www.gog.com/wishlist/site/remove_lossy_compression_from_games
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LentFilms: Figured this was better as a community wishlist. Here it is,
http://www.gog.com/wishlist/site/remove_lossy_compression_from_games
I find the language confusing since it's impossible to "remove" compression from a MP3. You'd have to obtain the original tracks in a full quality format.

For example, some games recently had their soundtracks changed from MP3 to FLAC and some people noticed that some of the FLAC files were only a conversion from MP3 files, resulting in the same audio with a bigger file size. Since GOG had obtained those FLACs from the developers and had not access to higher quality files, they ended up removing those FLAC files for the time being.
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LentFilms: Figured this was better as a community wishlist. Here it is,
http://www.gog.com/wishlist/site/remove_lossy_compression_from_games
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madth3: I find the language confusing since it's impossible to "remove" compression from a MP3. You'd have to obtain the original tracks in a full quality format.

For example, some games recently had their soundtracks changed from MP3 to FLAC and some people noticed that some of the FLAC files were only a conversion from MP3 files, resulting in the same audio with a bigger file size. Since GOG had obtained those FLACs from the developers and had not access to higher quality files, they ended up removing those FLAC files for the time being.
That's HD Tracks levels of fail. xD
Selling high-quality albums at a premium at the same dynamic range as the MP3 version.
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madth3: I find the language confusing since it's impossible to "remove" compression from a MP3. You'd have to obtain the original tracks in a full quality format.

For example, some games recently had their soundtracks changed from MP3 to FLAC and some people noticed that some of the FLAC files were only a conversion from MP3 files, resulting in the same audio with a bigger file size. Since GOG had obtained those FLACs from the developers and had not access to higher quality files, they ended up removing those FLAC files for the time being.
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realkman666: That's HD Tracks levels of fail. xD
Selling high-quality albums at a premium at the same dynamic range as the MP3 version.
We aren't selling them and we certainly wouldn't upscale MP3s into FLACs :) We may make mistakes but we certainly aren't amateurs :)
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madth3: I find the language confusing since it's impossible to "remove" compression from a MP3. You'd have to obtain the original tracks in a full quality format.
Well, yes, but some games which were originally released with full redbook audio (such as Heroes of Might and Magic 2, for instance) have since been changed to use compressed music instead.
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realkman666: That's HD Tracks levels of fail. xD
Selling high-quality albums at a premium at the same dynamic range as the MP3 version.
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JudasIscariot: We aren't selling them and we certainly wouldn't upscale MP3s into FLACs :) We may make mistakes but we certainly aren't amateurs :)
I meant HD, for music albums.
http://www.hdtracks.com
Post edited July 15, 2014 by realkman666
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JudasIscariot: We aren't selling them and we certainly wouldn't upscale MP3s into FLACs :) We may make mistakes but we certainly aren't amateurs :)
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realkman666: I meant HD, for music albums.
Boy is my face red :) Sorry :)
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JudasIscariot: *snip*
Why did you start downgrading existing games from redbook to lossy compression? Just to make smaller installers?
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JudasIscariot: *snip*
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Wishbone: Why did you start downgrading existing games from redbook to lossy compression? Just to make smaller installers?
Umm which ones? I don't remember downgrading games, more like trying to upgrade them whenever we can such as the Pinball Gold Pack and its CD Audio :)

edit: I am not dismissing your claim, I just really don't remember every installer change :)
Post edited July 15, 2014 by JudasIscariot
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Wishbone: Why did you start downgrading existing games from redbook to lossy compression? Just to make smaller installers?
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JudasIscariot: Umm which ones? I don't remember downgrading games, more like trying to upgrade them whenever we can such as the Pinball Gold Pack and its CD Audio :)

edit: I am not dismissing your claim, I just really don't remember every installer change :)
Well, Heroes of Might and Magic 2 for instance, like I mentioned above. I know it wasn't because of the "switch soundtrack" functionality, because the downgrade happened long before that.

Now, if only there was a changelog for each game on the site... (hint, hint)
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Wishbone: Well, yes, but some games which were originally released with full redbook audio (such as Heroes of Might and Magic 2, for instance) have since been changed to use compressed music instead.
Ok, but it would be clearer to talk about recovering lossless audio files, I think.
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JudasIscariot: Umm which ones? I don't remember downgrading games, more like trying to upgrade them whenever we can such as the Pinball Gold Pack and its CD Audio :)

edit: I am not dismissing your claim, I just really don't remember every installer change :)
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Wishbone: Well, Heroes of Might and Magic 2 for instance, like I mentioned above. I know it wasn't because of the "switch soundtrack" functionality, because the downgrade happened long before that.

Now, if only there was a changelog for each game on the site... (hint, hint)
It could be the installer issue but I don't have the actual answer on hand but I'll see what I can find out :)
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JudasIscariot: Umm which ones? I don't remember downgrading games, more like trying to upgrade them whenever we can such as the Pinball Gold Pack and its CD Audio :)

edit: I am not dismissing your claim, I just really don't remember every installer change :)
There seems to be some info about switching CD quality audio for oggs