TAK: Difference between revisions
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| website = [http://www.thbeck.de/Tak/Tak.html Homepage] (german) | | website = [http://www.thbeck.de/Tak/Tak.html Homepage] (german) | ||
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==General aspects of the format== | |||
'''TAK''' ('''T'''om's lossless '''A'''udio '''K'''ompressor) is a lossless audio compressor which promises compression performance similar to [[Monkey's Audio]] "High" and decompression speed similar to [[FLAC]]. While the basic format is ready and safe to use, many features such as internal tagging, playback support for other players are yet to be implemented. | |||
= | ===Features=== | ||
* High compression | |||
* Fast compression and decompression speed | |||
== | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* Streaming support | * Streaming support | ||
* Error tolerance | * Error tolerance | ||
** | ** Single bit error will never affect more than 250 ms | ||
* Error detection | * Error detection | ||
** | ** Each frame protected by a 24-bit checksum (CRC) | ||
==Pros== | ===Pros=== | ||
* Fast encoding speed | * Fast encoding speed | ||
** | ** TAK "Extra" encodes as fast as [[FLAC]] -8 while providing better compression | ||
** | ** TAK "Turbo" encodes several times faster than [[FLAC]] -8 while providing better compression | ||
* 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 | ||
* Fast Seeking | * Fast Seeking | ||
==Cons== | ===Cons=== | ||
* Closed Source (at the moment) | * Closed Source (at the moment) | ||
* No hardware support | * No hardware support | ||
* Very limited software support (Only Winamp & Foobar2000 plugins at the moment) | * Very limited software support (Only Winamp & [[Foobar2000]] plugins at the moment) | ||
=Hardware and software that support TAK= | ==Hardware and software that support TAK== | ||
==Hardware== | ===Hardware=== | ||
* | * None | ||
==Software== | ===Software=== | ||
* TAK SDK 1.0.2 - Software Development Kit for TAK [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54159 here] | * TAK SDK 1.0.2 - Software Development Kit for TAK [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54159 here] | ||
* TAK Decoding library 1.0.3 [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54352 here] | * TAK Decoding library 1.0.3 [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54352 here] | ||
* Winamp Plugin 1.0.2 [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54159 here] | * Winamp Plugin 1.0.2 [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54159 here] | ||
* foo_input_tak, TAK decoder for Foobar2000 [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54087 here] | * foo_input_tak, TAK decoder for [[Foobar2000]] [http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=54087 here] | ||
* [[MP3tag]] - universal tag editor with support for TAK | * [[MP3tag]] - universal tag editor with support for TAK | ||
=Recommended Settings= | |||
* Best 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 | ==Recommended Settings== | ||
* Best 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.) | |||
takc -e -p4m [input file] | takc -e -p4m [input file] | ||
* Fastest compression: "Turbo" preset (This will create files which are comparable in size to Monkey's Audio Fast or | * 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] | takc -e -p0 [input file] | ||
* Setting Up TAK with Foobar2000 | * Setting Up 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: | ||
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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) | |||
=Future Features= | ==Future Features== | ||
* Unicode support | * Unicode support | ||
* Piping support | * Piping support | ||
* MD5 audio checksums for verification and identification | * MD5 audio checksums for verification and identification | ||
* A | * A German version | ||
* Embedded cue sheets | * Embedded cue sheets | ||
* 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 | Yes. To check, convert a WAVE to TAK and back and compare the two (or use foobar's bitcompare tool). | ||
* Why should | * 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 | *What can I compress with TAK? | ||
TAK 1.0 can compress any integer-format (up to 24bits per channel) PCM Windows Waveform 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 24bits per channel) PCM Windows Waveform file (.wav). Since piping support has not been added yet, you must convert your lossless files to wav first to convert to TAK. | ||
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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= | |||
==See also== | |||
[[EAC and TAK]] | |||
==External links== | |||
* [http://www.thbeck.de/Tak/Tak.html TAK: Homepage] (german) | * [http://www.thbeck.de/Tak/Tak.html TAK: Homepage] (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) | ||
Revision as of 18:38, 1 May 2007
This article is a stub. You can help the Hydrogenaudio Knowledgebase by expanding it.
| TAK | |
|---|---|
| File:TAK-logo.gif | |
| lossless audio compression. | |
| Developer(s) | Thomas Becker |
| Release | TBC |
| Type | Lossless |
| Recommended encoder | TAK v1.0.1 |
| Website | Homepage (german) |
General aspects of the format
TAK (Tom's lossless Audio Kompressor) is a lossless audio compressor which promises compression performance similar to Monkey's Audio "High" and decompression speed similar to FLAC. While the basic format is ready and safe to use, many features such as internal tagging, playback support for other players are yet to be implemented.
Features
- High compression
- Fast compression and decompression speed
- Streaming support
- 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
- 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 (Only Winamp & Foobar2000 plugins at the moment)
Hardware and software that support TAK
Hardware
- None
Software
- TAK SDK 1.0.2 - Software Development Kit for TAK here
- TAK Decoding library 1.0.3 here
- Winamp Plugin 1.0.2 here
- foo_input_tak, TAK decoder for Foobar2000 here
- MP3tag - universal tag editor with support for TAK
Recommended Settings
- Best 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.)
takc -e -p4m [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]
- Setting Up TAK with Foobar2000
- Copy the takc.exe to your foobar2000 directory
- Go to File -> Preferences -> Tools -> Converter
- Set it up as shown:
NOTE: replace the -p4 with the desired compression level.
- Use APEv2 tagging (will be used as internal tagging)
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 24bits per channel) PCM Windows Waveform 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.
See also