Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming dBpoweramp plug in failures

I'm using the dBpoweramp plug in to rip in both conventional and Sooloos formats - all has been going well with over 300 discs ripped in the last couple of weeks.

I tried to rip some discs this morning and the first track has failed on all rips. I have now tried three different drives on two separate PCs, thinking it might be a drive alignment issue. This does not appear to be the case. I have not changed any of the plug in settings.

The dBpoweramp error message I am getting is:

Error ripping to [Multi Encoder], Track 1 to [file location]
FLAC Retrieving metadata from AMG failed! [dDSP::RetrieveMetadatFromAMG]

The usual AMG metadata pop-up box is not presenting, the rip appears to start on Track 1 then quickly fails and the moves on to the next track, which rips okay, as do the remaining tracks.

If I remove the Meridian XML encoder from the Multi Encoder all tracks will rip without difficulty (but obviously only in the conventional FLAC format and not the Sooloos format). The same is true if I do a conventional FLAC rip not using the Multi Encoder.

The problem appears to be a difficulty the Meridian XML plug in has in communicating with the AMG database to present the AMG pop up box.

Is anyone else experiencing this problem?

Is this with the same disc each time, or different discs? Perhaps AMG is down?

Does the metadata appear when not using the XML encoder? Which metadata providers have you selected in dBpoweramp?

Is it a Sony BMG CD from about 10 years ago? It could just be a copy protected CD.

To answer both questions, it has happened on seven consecutive discs - labels Decca,Chandos, RCA Red Seal, Phillips

Metadata providers on dBpoweramp are AMG, Sonata DB and Freedb and are all appearing fine.

Track 1 is appearing within my Sooloos folder structure but only as a very small file (eg 100 kb - ie clearly it won't play)

The info.xml file is appearing but the amg.xml file is not being written to the folder.

I can't load anything to the system at the moment (waiting for M to fix my QNAP problem), so couldn't tell you what it looks like on the system itself.

All rips yesterday were fine - last one at 18.38. All rips today fail on the first track - no change to settings.

In which case it sounds the same issue that had when it first came out. One minute the XML rip works; the next it doesn't. Same folders. No changes.
I couldn't make head nor tail of it. I gave up trying to figure it out.

Decided there was no advantage for me to rip XML and restore. Was easy to rip then import for me(drag and drop)

Coincidentally, I am having the exact same problem. It has never manifested itself before now.


Tried a different disc. Same deal. I then decided to try a different drive. Still no joy. Googling a bit led to the suggestion of increasing the spin-up time and to recalibrate AccurateRip. Did all this to no avail.
What is odd is that I can play the first tracks from within dBpoweramp, I just can't rip them.

Edit: Removing the Meridian XML encoder, as AltusLiceor did, does enable first track ripping again. So, as has been pointed out, it is a problem with the plug-in. What a pain.

Really sorry you've got the same problem, but at least it proves it is not isolated.

The problem is baffling but seems to me to be an issue at the AMG end. Has someone at AMG made some minor change overnight in the way the database is presented such that the plug-in is no longer able to present the pop up window and this is somehow stopping the first track being ripped and the metadata transferred?

Anyone else having a similar problem?

Hi,

I'm having the same problem. Just came here to see if it was just me or if others were having a problem too. Thanks for the tip on removing the plug-in. Nice to see we are a fast bunch here.

Problem still present.

Could I ask if anybody has managed a successful XML rip using the dBpoweramp plug in since Thursday, so that we can assess whether this a widespread problem?

Many thanks

I have had the same problems for week. Very frustrating.

I have tried with different computer systems including Meridian's own ImportFour - but the problems have persisted making dBpoweramp ripping impossible.

I have informed my Meridian dealer and they confirmed that they have noticed the problems and have reported to Meridian. No responses yet.

I too emailed Technical Support at Meridian a few times in the past weeks but they have completely ignored my emails.

This is unacceptable especially given the cost of the full Meridian Sooloos systems - which I have four sets.

Why not just skip using the M plug in for dBpa and use dBpa as a stand alone? Many HHer's did this pre M plug in and there is a method that works quite well.

The plug-in does have the advantage of adding on rips straight to Sooloos restore format.