Section ConvertFormats explained

ConvertFormats contain detailed instructions how to convert a source item (Medialibrary or playlist item) and also contains information how FoobarSync should verify if an existing file already matches the convert-instructions. Any rule can point to a ConvertFormats-set.

Table of Contents
 

Configuration file syntax


Nameoptionalarrayitemssperatorstatus
ConvertFormatsnoyes4-5*ok
' DEFAULT
ConvertFormats=OGG_Quality2*OGG*-vn -c:a libvorbis -ac 2 -ab 96k*96*_q2
' MP3
ConvertFormats=MP3_256*MP3*-vn -ac 2 -ab 256k*256

Parameter description


Parameter 1Parameter 2Parameter 3Parameter 4Parameter 5
identifierfileextensionencoder parametersbitrate in kbit/smatch
OGG_Quality2OGG-vn -c:a libvorbis -ac 2 -ab 96k 96_q2

Parameterdescribtion
1Identifier:
The identifier is used with SyncRules. If a rule in SyncRules is evaluated to true, FoobarSync will look for the corresponding identifier in your ConvertFormats-sets. As you can see it makes sense to use a combination of format and bitrate for the identifier to make it more readable for human eyes.
2Fileextension:
The encoded audio-files will get this fileextension. Some audio formats offer different fileextensions (container formats) for one codec and this gives you the chance to take influence.
3Encoder Parameters:
Are the parameters for FFmpeg to convert the source item. Take a look at the button of this page for some ready-to-use examples and see section tips & tricks for some hints.
4Bitrate in kbit/s:
Is used to estimate the target filesize of the item to a) estimate space needed on target, time to complete AND b) may be used to check if an existing audio-file needs to be reconverted (depending on parameter match below).
5Match: (optional)
Influences how FoobarSync decides if an existing file needs to be reconverted.
  • '?' will invoke usage of FFprobe to check, if the audio stream in the file has the bitrate of parameter 4.
This is slow because FFprobes' output (Example: Stream #0:0, 1, 1/44100: Audio: vorbis, 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 96 kb/s) is searched with a RegExp ("Stream #.* Audio:.*, <parameter 4> kb/s").
  • '_suffix' will check/add the string '_suffix' to the destination filename. When present, the _suffix is used to identify the codec/format/bitrate in an existing file and to check, if it needs to be reconverted. Therefore, if you change encoder settings make sure to change _suffix too! This is simple and as fast as comparing filesizes (see below).
  • if you leave parameter 5 empty (or even omit it) the calculated filesize on target (length multiplied by parameter 4) will be used to decide if the item needs to be reconverted.
    • Please note that FoobarSync has a built in tolerance of 10 % when comparing the filesize because other things like tags and container influence filesize too. Some formats simply have no predictable bitrate (Vorbis for example). You then have to use '?' or '_suffix'.
    • Also this method does not really compare any encoder settings. For example it would make no difference in filesize if you change the encoder settings for a MP3 from stereo to mono.

Examples

To just get started here are some ready-to-use examples for common formats which work fine.
'VORBIS
ConvertFormats=VORBIS_96*OGG*-vn -c:a libvorbis -ac 2 -ab 96k*96*_q2
ConvertFormats=VORBIS_128*OGG*-vn -c:a libvorbis -ac 2 -ab 128k*128*_q4
ConvertFormats=VORBIS_150*OGG*-vn -c:a libvorbis -ac 2 -ab 150k*150*_q5
' OPUS 
ConvertFormats=OPUS_96*-vn -c:a libopus -ac 2 -ab 96k*96
ConvertFormats=OPUS_128*OGG*-vn -c:a libopus -ac 2 -ab 128k*128
' AAC-HE SBR (High Efficiancy) **Caution:  libvo_aacenc is known to produce bad quality!**
ConvertFormats=AAC_HE_80*AAC*-vn -c:a libvo_aacenc -profile:a aac_he_v2 -ac 2 -ab 80k*80


- This page belongs to category ConfigurationFiles
- Check out the other Pages, that belong to the wiki-category Documentation !
- Ask and discuss at the FoobarSync discussion thread on Hydrogenaudio Forums
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