Tidal-dl-ng: Dolby Atmos Downloads As Stereo - Fixed

সম্মুখীন হচ্ছেন? Dolby Atmos tracks are downloading as 2 Channel Stereo instead of the expected Multichannel audio? Don't worry, we'll explore this issue and provide some guidance. This article dives into a problem reported by users of tidal-dl-ng where Dolby Atmos tracks are being incorrectly downloaded as stereo instead of multichannel. We'll analyze the problem, look at potential causes, and offer solutions to get your downloads back to immersive audio.

Understanding the Issue

Dolby Atmos is an immersive audio technology that creates a three-dimensional soundscape, offering a richer and more realistic listening experience compared to traditional stereo. When using tidal-dl-ng to download tracks, you expect to retain this high-quality audio. However, some users have found that the downloaded files are only in stereo, defeating the purpose of downloading the Atmos version.

The main issue is that even though the user has correctly configured tidal-dl-ng and has FFMPEG properly set up in their system's PATH, the downloaded Dolby Atmos tracks are being converted to 2-channel stereo instead of retaining their original multichannel format. This is a frustrating problem because it negates the benefits of downloading the Dolby Atmos version in the first place. The user has confirmed that the settings within the tidal-dl-ng GUI application are configured according to the recommended settings, but the issue persists. This means that the problem likely lies deeper within the application's processing or in the interaction with FFMPEG.

To further illustrate the problem, the user provided screenshots comparing downloads from the original tidal-dl via PowerShell and the tidal-dl-ng GUI. The screenshots clearly show that the original tidal-dl correctly downloads the Dolby Atmos track in its multichannel format, while tidal-dl-ng incorrectly downloads it as stereo. This comparison highlights that the issue is specific to the tidal-dl-ng application and not a general problem with the user's system or Tidal account.

This problem is not isolated to a single track or album; it occurs across multiple tracks and albums. The user specifically mentioned the blink-182 track "Please Take Me Home" as an example. This indicates that the issue is systemic and not just a random occurrence affecting a small number of files. The consistency of the problem across different tracks and albums suggests that there is a fundamental flaw in how tidal-dl-ng handles Dolby Atmos downloads. Understanding the scope and consistency of the problem is crucial for identifying the root cause and developing an effective solution.

Possible Causes and Solutions

Let's explore potential reasons why this might be happening and what you can do to fix it.

1. FFMPEG Configuration Issues

Even though you've set up FFMPEG in your PATH, there might be underlying configuration problems. Here’s what to check:

• Verify FFMPEG Version: Ensure you have a compatible version of FFMPEG installed. Some older or newer versions might have issues with certain audio codecs. Try using a stable, recommended version.

• FFMPEG Libraries: Make sure all necessary libraries for decoding and encoding Dolby Atmos are included in your FFMPEG build. You might need specific codecs or libraries.

• Command-Line Test: Open a command prompt and run a simple FFMPEG command to convert a known Dolby Atmos file. This will help you confirm that FFMPEG is working correctly and can handle Atmos audio.

  ffmpeg -i input.atmos -acodec copy output.mp4
  

  If this command fails, it indicates a problem with your FFMPEG installation.

2. tidal-dl-ng Settings

Double-check your settings in tidal-dl-ng to ensure they are correctly configured for Dolby Atmos downloads:

• Download Dolby Atmos: Verify that the "Download Dolby Atmos" option is enabled in the settings. It might seem obvious, but it's worth checking.
• Output Format: Ensure that the output format is compatible with Dolby Atmos. Formats like .mp4 or .mkv can usually handle multichannel audio.
• Audio Quality: Select the highest available audio quality (HI_RES_LOSSLESS) to ensure that the audio is not downscaled during the download process.

3. Software Bugs

It's possible that there's a bug in tidal-dl-ng that's causing the issue. Here’s what you can do:

• Update tidal-dl-ng: Make sure you're using the latest version of tidal-dl-ng. Developers often release updates to fix bugs and improve functionality.
• GitHub Issues: Check the tidal-dl-ng GitHub repository for similar issues. If others are experiencing the same problem, there might be a known bug with a potential workaround.
• Report the Issue: If you can't find a solution, report the issue on the GitHub repository. Provide detailed information about your setup, settings, and the steps you've taken to troubleshoot the problem.

4. Codec Compatibility

Sometimes, the issue might be related to the codecs used by tidal-dl-ng and FFMPEG.

• Install Missing Codecs: Ensure that you have all the necessary codecs installed on your system. Codec packs like K-Lite Codec Pack can help with this.
• FFMPEG Codecs: Verify that FFMPEG is configured to use the correct codecs for Dolby Atmos. You might need to specify the codecs manually in the FFMPEG settings.

5. Path Issues

Even if FFMPEG is in your PATH, tidal-dl-ng might not be recognizing it correctly.

• Restart: Restart tidal-dl-ng and your computer to ensure that the PATH changes are properly recognized.
• Full Path: In the tidal-dl-ng settings, try specifying the full path to the FFMPEG executable instead of relying on the PATH variable.

6. Check the Downloaded File

Use media info tools to get details of the downloaded file. This helps confirm if it's stereo or multichannel.

• MediaInfo: Use a tool like MediaInfo to inspect the downloaded file. It will show you the audio format, number of channels, and other relevant information.
• Audio Software: Open the downloaded file in audio editing software like Audacity or Adobe Audition. These programs can display the number of channels and the audio waveform, helping you confirm whether it's stereo or multichannel.

User Configuration

The user provided their settings, which can help in troubleshooting:

{
    "skip_existing": true,
    "lyrics_embed": true,
    "lyrics_file": true,
    "use_primary_album_artist": true,
    "video_download": true,
    "download_delay": true,
    "download_base_path": "C:\\Users\\Tyler\\Music\\tidal-dl-ng",
    "quality_audio": "HI_RES_LOSSLESS",
    "quality_video": "1080",
    "download_dolby_atmos": true,
    "format_album": "{album_artist}/{album_title}{album_explicit}/{track_volume_num_optional}{album_track_num}. {track_title}",
    "format_playlist": "Playlists/{playlist_name}/{list_pos}. {artist_name} - {track_title}",
    "format_mix": "Mix/{mix_name}/{artist_name} - {track_title}",
    "format_track": "{album_artist}/{album_title} ({album_year}) [{album_explicit}]/{album_track_num}. {track_title}",
    "format_video": "Videos/{artist_name} - {track_title}{track_explicit}",
    "video_convert_mp4": true,
    "path_binary_ffmpeg": "C:\\ffmpeg\\bin\\ffmpeg.exe",
    "metadata_cover_dimension": "origin",
    "metadata_cover_embed": true,
    "mark_explicit": true,
    "cover_album_file": true,
    "extract_flac": true,
    "downloads_simultaneous_per_track_max": 20,
    "download_delay_sec_min": 3.0,
    "download_delay_sec_max": 5.0,
    "album_track_num_pad_min": 1,
    "downloads_concurrent_max": 3,
    "symlink_to_track": false,
    "playlist_create": false,
    "metadata_replay_gain": false,
    "metadata_write_url": true,
    "window_x": 3490,
    "window_y": 0,
    "window_w": 1666,
    "window_h": 800,
    "metadata_delimiter_artist": ", ",
    "metadata_delimiter_album_artist": ", ",
    "filename_delimiter_artist": ", ",
    "filename_delimiter_album_artist": ", ",
    "metadata_target_upc": "UPC",
    "api_rate_limit_batch_size": 20,
    "api_rate_limit_delay_sec": 3.0
}

The configuration seems correct, with download_dolby_atmos set to true and the path to FFMPEG specified. However, ensure that the path C:\ffmpeg\bin\ffmpeg.exe is accurate and that the FFMPEG executable is indeed located there. A typo or incorrect path could prevent tidal-dl-ng from properly utilizing FFMPEG.

Log Output Analysis

The provided log output doesn't show any obvious errors related to audio conversion. It mainly indicates that lyrics could not be retrieved for some tracks. However, it's still useful to examine the log for any hidden clues.

• FFMPEG Messages: Look for any FFMPEG-related messages in the log. These messages might indicate issues with codec initialization or audio conversion.
• Error Messages: Check for any error messages that might indicate problems with the download process or audio encoding.
• Verbose Logging: Enable verbose logging in tidal-dl-ng to get more detailed information about the download process. This might help identify the exact point at which the audio is being converted to stereo.

Additional Tips

Here are some additional tips that might help you resolve the issue:

• Test with Different Tracks: Try downloading different Dolby Atmos tracks to see if the issue is specific to certain files or albums.
• Use a Different Download Tool: As a test, try using a different download tool to see if it can correctly download Dolby Atmos tracks. This will help you determine whether the issue is specific to tidal-dl-ng.
• Check Your Audio Setup: Ensure that your audio setup supports Dolby Atmos. If your audio hardware or software is not compatible with Atmos, the downloaded files might be downmixed to stereo.

Conclusion

Experiencing Dolby Atmos tracks downloading as stereo in tidal-dl-ng can be frustrating. By systematically checking your FFMPEG configuration, tidal-dl-ng settings, and software versions, you can identify and resolve the issue. Don't hesitate to seek help from the tidal-dl-ng community on GitHub if you're still stuck. Hopefully, with these steps, you’ll be back to enjoying your music in immersive audio in no time! Remember to keep your software updated and verify your settings to ensure the best possible download experience. We hope this helps you in resolving your problem! If you have any questions or tips, feel free to leave them in the comments below.