TAK: Difference between revisions

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| maintainer = Thomas Becker
| maintainer = Thomas Becker
| recommended_encoder = TAK encoder
| recommended_encoder = TAK encoder
| recommended_text = TAK v1.0.1
| recommended_text = TAK v1.0.2
| website = [http://www.thbeck.de/Tak/Tak.html ThBeck.de/Tak/Tak.html] ''(german)''
| website = [http://thbeck.de/Tak/Tak.html ThBeck.de/Tak/Tak.html] ''(german)''
}}
}}


== Description ==
== Description ==
'''Tom's lossless Audio Kompressor''' ('''TAK''') is a lossless audio compressor which promises compression performance similar to [[Monkey's Audio]] “High” and decompression speed similar to [[FLAC]].
'''Tom's lossless Audio Kompressor''' ('''TAK''') is a lossless audio compressor which promises compression performance similar to [[Monkey's Audio]] “High” and decompression speed similar to [[Free Lossless Audio Codec|FLAC]].


=== Features ===
=== Features ===
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=== Pros ===
=== Pros ===
* Fast encoding speed (while providing better compression TAK encodes as fast as [[FLAC]] -8 in TAK's “Extra” and several times faster in “Turbo” mode)
* Fast encoding speed (while providing better compression TAK encodes as fast as [[Free Lossless Audio Codec|FLAC]] -8 in TAK's “Insane” and several times faster in “Turbo” mode)
* Fast decompression speed (on par with [[FLAC]] / [[WavPack]])
* Fast decompression speed (on par with FLAC / [[WavPack]])
* Good compression levels (on par with [[Monkey's Audio]] High)
* Good compression levels (on par with [[Monkey's Audio]] High)
* Error Robustness
* Error Robustness
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* No hardware support
* No hardware support
* Very limited software support (playback: [[Winamp]] & [[foobar2000]] plugins, tagging: Mp3Tag)
* Very limited software support (playback: [[Winamp]] & [[foobar2000]] plugins, tagging: Mp3Tag)


== Hardware and Software That Support TAK ==
== Hardware and Software That Support TAK ==
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==== Linux ====
==== Linux ====
* The TAK reference applications (GUI as well as commandline) are known to run on Linux via WINE.
* The TAK reference applications (GUI as well as commandline) are known to run on Linux via WINE.


== Recommended Settings ==
== Recommended Settings ==
* Default compression: “Normal” is the most attractive setting, providing an excellent compromise between compression and encoding speed. (At compression levels close to [[Monkey's Audio]] High (<0.4% difference), it is able to encode more quickly.)
* Default compression: “Normal” is the most attractive setting, providing an excellent compromise between compression and encoding speed. (At compression levels close to [[Monkey's Audio]] High (<0.4% difference), it is able to encode more quickly.)
takc -e [input file]


<pre>takc -e [input file]</pre>
* Highest compression: “Insane” preset with “Maximum” switch. (This will create files which are comparable in size to file created using [[Monkey's Audio]] High. Decompression speed is comparable to [[WavPack]] Normal.)
 
takc -e -p5m [input file]
* Highest compression: “Extra” preset with “Maximum” switch. (This will create files which are comparable in size to file created using [[Monkey's Audio]] High. Decompression speed is comparable to [[WavPack]] Normal.)
 
<pre>takc -e -p4m [input file]</pre>
 
* Fastest compression: “Turbo” preset (This will create files which are comparable in size to [[Monkey's Audio]] Fast or [[WavPack]] High. Decompression speed is comparable to [[FLAC]] 0.)


<pre>takc -e -p0 [input file]</pre>
* Fastest compression: “Turbo” preset (This will create files which are comparable in size to [[Monkey's Audio]] Fast or [[WavPack]] High. Decompression speed is comparable to [[Free Lossless Audio Codec|FLAC]] 0.)
takc -e -p0 [input file]


=== TAK Performance Graph ===
=== TAK Performance Graph ===
[[Image:TAK_performance_graph.png|frame|center|Graph showing encoding and decoding rate against compression, using data from Synthetic Soul's test on TAK 1.0.1<br />(see [[TAK#External_Links|External Links]])]]
[[Image:TAK_performance_graph.png|frame|center|Graph showing encoding and decoding rate against compression, using data from Synthetic Soul's test on TAK 1.0.1<br />(see [[TAK#External Links|External Links]])]]
 


== Using TAK ==
== Using TAK ==
=== TAK with [[foobar2000]] ===
=== TAK with [[foobar2000]] ===
* Copy the takc.exe to your [[foobar2000]] directory
* Copy the takc.exe to your [[foobar2000]] directory
* Go to File -> Preferences -> Tools -> Converter
* Go to File Preferences Tools Converter
* Set it up as shown:
* Set it up as shown:
[[Image:tak.PNG|frame|center|TAK Encoder with foobar]]
[[Image:tak.PNG|frame|center|TAK Encoder with foobar]]
'''Note:''' replace the -p4 with the desired compression level.
'''Note:''' replace the -p4 with the desired compression level.


* Use [[APEv2_specification|APEv2]] tagging (will be used as internal tagging)
* Use [[APEv2 specification|APEv2]] tagging (will be used as internal tagging)
 
=== TAK with [[EAC]] ===
Please read the [[EAC_and_TAK|wiki guide]], which details how to create TAK files with [[EAC]].


=== TAK with EAC ===
Please read the [[EAC and TAK|wiki guide]], which details how to create TAK files with [[Exact Audio Copy|EAC]].


== Future Features ==
== Future Features ==
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* Embedded cover art
* Embedded cover art
* Multichannel audio
* Multichannel audio


== Frequently Asked Questions ==
== Frequently Asked Questions ==
* Is the codec safe for use?
; Is the codec safe for use?
: Yes. To check, convert a WAVE to TAK and back and compare the two (or use foobar's bitcompare tool).
: Yes. To check, convert a WAVE to TAK and back and compare the two (or use foobar's bitcompare tool).
 
; Why should I use TAK?
* Why should I use TAK?
: TAK offers high compression ratios with great decoding rates.
: TAK offers high compression ratios with great decoding rates.
 
; What can I compress with TAK?
* What can I compress with TAK?
: TAK 1.0 can compress any integer-format (up to 24 bits per channel) PCM RIFF WAVE file (.wav). Since piping support has not been added yet, you must convert your lossless files to wav first to convert to TAK.
: TAK 1.0 can compress any integer-format (up to 24 bits per channel) PCM RIFF WAVE file (.wav). Since piping support has not been added yet, you must convert your lossless files to wav first to convert to TAK.
 
; What about hardware support?
* What about hardware support?
: None at the moment. Although, ''Turbo'', ''Fast'' and ''Normal'' are the candidates for hardware playback.
: None at the moment. Although, ''Turbo'', ''Fast'' and ''Normal'' are the candidates for hardware playback.
 
; When will the source be opened?
* When will the source be opened?
: Yes, TAK will be open-source, as soon as the code is ported to C or C++ and documented. However, Thomas has mentioned that he would like to improve the codec before opening the source.
: Yes, TAK will be open-source, as soon as the code is ported to C or C++ and documented. However, Thomas has mentioned that he would like to improve the codec before opening the source.


== External Links ==
== External Links ==
* [http://www.thbeck.de/Tak/Tak.html www.thbeck.de/Tak/Tak.html] – Official Website ''(german)''
* [http://thbeck.de/Tak/Tak.html thbeck.de/Tak/Tak.html] – Official Website ''(german)''
* [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54160 TAK Release Announcement / Discussion Thread on HA] ''(english)''
* [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54160 TAK Release Announcement / Discussion Thread on HA] ''(english)''
* [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54159 TAK Downloads]
* [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54159 TAK Downloads]
* [http://synthetic-soul.co.uk/comparison/lossless/ synthetic-soul.co.uk/comparison/lossless] – Comparison with Other Codecs (by Synthetic Soul)
* [http://synthetic-soul.co.uk/comparison/lossless/ synthetic-soul.co.uk/comparison/lossless] – Comparison with Other Codecs (by Synthetic Soul)
* [http://flac.sourceforge.net/comparison.html flac.sourceforge.net/comparison.html] – An Updated Comparison (from FLAC Homepage)
* [http://flac.sourceforge.net/comparison.html flac.sourceforge.net/comparison.html] – An Updated Comparison (from FLAC Homepage)


[[Category:Lossless]]
[[Category:Lossless]]
[[Category:Encoder/Decoder]]
[[Category:Encoder/Decoder]]

Revision as of 20:20, 2 December 2007

Description

Tom's lossless Audio Kompressor (TAK) is a lossless audio compressor which promises compression performance similar to Monkey's Audio “High” and decompression speed similar to FLAC.

Features

  • High compression
  • Fast compression and decompression speed
  • Streaming support (necessary headers for decompressing the audio are written to the stream every 2 seconds)
  • Error tolerance (single bit error will never affect more than 250 ms)
  • Error detection (each frame protected by a 24-bit checksum (CRC))

Pros

  • Fast encoding speed (while providing better compression TAK encodes as fast as FLAC -8 in TAK's “Insane” and several times faster in “Turbo” mode)
  • Fast decompression speed (on par with FLAC / WavPack)
  • Good compression levels (on par with Monkey's Audio High)
  • Error Robustness
  • Fast Seeking

Cons

  • Closed Source (at the moment)
  • No hardware support
  • Very limited software support (playback: Winamp & foobar2000 plugins, tagging: Mp3Tag)

Hardware and Software That Support TAK

Hardware

  • None

Software

Windows

  • TAK SDK 1.0.3 – Software Development Kit for TAK here
  • Winamp Plugin 1.0.2 here
  • foo_input_tak, TAK decoder for foobar2000 here (supports tagging and Replay Gain)
  • Mp3tag – universal tag editor with support for TAK

Linux

  • The TAK reference applications (GUI as well as commandline) are known to run on Linux via WINE.

Recommended Settings

  • Default compression: “Normal” is the most attractive setting, providing an excellent compromise between compression and encoding speed. (At compression levels close to Monkey's Audio High (<0.4% difference), it is able to encode more quickly.)
takc -e [input file]
  • Highest compression: “Insane” preset with “Maximum” switch. (This will create files which are comparable in size to file created using Monkey's Audio High. Decompression speed is comparable to WavPack Normal.)
takc -e -p5m [input file]
  • Fastest compression: “Turbo” preset (This will create files which are comparable in size to Monkey's Audio Fast or WavPack High. Decompression speed is comparable to FLAC 0.)
takc -e -p0 [input file]

TAK Performance Graph

Graph showing encoding and decoding rate against compression, using data from Synthetic Soul's test on TAK 1.0.1
(see External Links)

Using TAK

TAK with foobar2000

  • Copy the takc.exe to your foobar2000 directory
  • Go to File → Preferences → Tools → Converter
  • Set it up as shown:
TAK Encoder with foobar

Note: replace the -p4 with the desired compression level.

  • Use APEv2 tagging (will be used as internal tagging)

TAK with EAC

Please read the wiki guide, which details how to create TAK files with EAC.

Future Features

  • Unicode support
  • Piping support
  • MD5 audio checksums for verification and identification
  • A German version
  • Embedded cue sheets
  • Embedded cover art
  • Multichannel audio

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the codec safe for use?
Yes. To check, convert a WAVE to TAK and back and compare the two (or use foobar's bitcompare tool).
Why should I use TAK?
TAK offers high compression ratios with great decoding rates.
What can I compress with TAK?
TAK 1.0 can compress any integer-format (up to 24 bits per channel) PCM RIFF WAVE file (.wav). Since piping support has not been added yet, you must convert your lossless files to wav first to convert to TAK.
What about hardware support?
None at the moment. Although, Turbo, Fast and Normal are the candidates for hardware playback.
When will the source be opened?
Yes, TAK will be open-source, as soon as the code is ported to C or C++ and documented. However, Thomas has mentioned that he would like to improve the codec before opening the source.

External Links