Clicks into DSF or PCM (FLAC, WAV, AIFF, other) files extracted from ISO (1-bit audio, aka SACD ISO) sometimes happen.
«How extract ISO without clicks?» is one of popular questions associated with the ISO conversion to music files.
Read about click reasons and ways how to fix the it.
If you buy "AuI ConverteR PROduce-RD" (2023/12.x version) from 24 August 2023 to 24 October 2023, you will get free update to version 2024 (13.x) after its release.
Main issue here is plenty of different click types.
There is no general recommendation: how to fix any kind of these clicks.
Here we consider several possible types and try recommend action(s) for fixing each one.
You can try clicks either experimentally or after analysis of converted audio file content.
Let me begin from click reasons currently known me:
- Playback tool issues >
- DC bias across a album >
- Non-zero border level in albums with live concerts, operas, etc. >
- Clicks placed into pauses between tracks >
- Clicks inside audio stuff far enough from begin and end of file >
May be in the future will discovered new reasons. ISO surprise me not once.
Whether or not we hear clicks, depend on hardware software playback processing, volume level of amplifier.
1. Playback tool issues
When an audio player start or stop play audio file, it change work mode. It can cause audible pops/clicks.
To solve the issue, you are need to study the device or software, get advice from its manufacturer or other users.
DSD album may be converted to big solid audio file. It allows avoiding mode switching between tracks.
Also, the clicks may happen due to overload and clipping audio into playback software and hardware.
It may be fixed via reducing maximum level with gain control of the playback device or program. Alternatively, DSD file's level reduction may be applied.
Sometimes, when DSD audio file is converted, clipping m ay happens. You can fix it this way.
2. DC bias across a album
a) Bit perfect extraction
Audio content of ISO can be extracted to DSF as is (without changes, bit-perfect extraction).
There no resampling and other processing.
If these files will be monitored at audio player with gapless playback ability, we won't hear clicks.
If the tracks are played back separately or other order than into the album:
Track 1 - probably click at end,
Track 2 - probably clicks at begin and end,
Track 3 - probably click at begin.
Click level depend on sample level at border of track.
Also click level depend on difference of sample levels at common border of next tracks.
For ability random order playback of the album’s tracks, recommended use SmoothDC processing.
Smooth DC is fast fade in/out (gain control) at begin/end of a audio track. Gain changing curve has special form that allow approach track from full volume to zero and vice versa smoothly.
Two tracks, processed by SmoothDC have common value at border - zero.
So there is no level "stair" between tracks, that can cause click.
Short time of the fade in/out is designed to minimisation of impact to track.
Special form of changing gain during time is designed for more smooth transient at track border(s).
b) Resampling of extracted DSF or extracting ISO to PCM
Tradition resampling re-initialised at begin of each converted track. Conversion ISO to PCM may be considered here as resampling too.
It is good for batch audio conversion of mixed unrelated tracks.
But for album type with general DC bias re-initialising will generate transient processes (noise) at begin and end of the track.
At common spectrum of merged next tracks we can see it as splash (line at track border).
For minimal border changes recommended use gapless conversion, where all album tracks processed sequentially in album order.
Proper playback of resampled files should be gapless. Otherwise clicks can appear probably.
Read more about ISO converters
- How to Convert ISO to FLAC under Mac and Windows >
- How to Convert ISO to DSF under Mac and Windows >
- How convert ISO to DSF WAV FLAC AIFF without clicks. User manual >
- How Faster Extract ISO Audio File >