Soundtrack DLC: Non-MP3 Format Inclusion and Store Descriptions

[internisus]

I was just told by a developer that the reason why they don't include FLAC files in their Steam soundtrack is that the Steam Music Player only supports MP3s. I'd like to see Steam update the Player with support for other file types in a push for developers to provide parity with other digital music distributors.

It would also not be unwelcome from this consumer's perspective to see guidelines for publishers on what file formats should be included in a soundtrack purchase on Steam and how the prospective customer should be informed of them. Too often the Store page description lists artists and track names but doesn't even say what formats are or are not included; in other words, we have no idea what we are buying. Then we have to ask on the forums whether it's MP3-only or there is also a lossless option, and half the time it turns into an argument.

Increasingly I find myself avoiding digital deluxe editions and soundtrack bundles when I make game purchases on Steam because I either don't know what I'm going to get or because I know I'll receive better quality music for the same price elsewhere. The primary competitor for digital game soundtracks seems to be Bandcamp, where customers always receive the following options for downloads: MP3, FLAC, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, ALAC, WAV, and AIFF. It is my suggestion that Steam should ensure support and inclusion of these file formats both as a matter of consumer rights and as smart, competitive business practice.

I hope you'll "sign" this thread in support of this position.

[Hippie]

+1 YES PLEASE

[Astranarsk]

+1 I support this

[murla]

FLAC, Vorbis OGG, M4A (both AAC and lossless) support was added to Steam Music back on September 1st 2015
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta/announcements/detail/52144327686735794

Didn't it get to stable branch since then?

If it did Valve is too busy or lazy to update their FAQ on Steam Music. If it didn't - too busy or lazy to merge into stable branch.

---------

Other than that I support your incentive. The way scores and soundtracks are released on Steam is terrible and totally depends on developers and/or publishers. Afaik Valve doesn't provide any guidelines on how to do it. And Bandcamp has been being my personal golden standard on how to release music for many years.

[internisus]

Interesting. If those file formats are supported on the stable branch, developers and publishers certainly don't know about it—and they're making decisions based on that which affect what the customer receives upon purchase.

[⚡Ninjun⚡]

+1

[AMOR]

+1

[Jehuty]

+1

[𝕙.𝕓𝕒𝕣𝕜𝕒𝕤]

At least FLAC should be an option the Steam player is no metric as there are far superior players like VLC.

[internisus]

h.barkas の投稿を引用：

At least FLAC should be an option the Steam player is no metric as there are far superior players like VLC.

I agree that, even if the Steam Player indeed only supports MP3 files, it is still a lousy reason to only provide MP3s when a customer buys a soundtrack on Steam. I and many other people use external programs instead of the Steam Player. In fact, I've never even tried it! I use foobar for all of my music.

If Steam would provide consumer-protecting guidelines for what formats should be included in soundtrack DLC and for what information should be displayed on their store pages, publishers wouldn't have to look to the irrelevant Steam Music Player for clues—or hide behind its limitations as an excuse to provide the bare minimum.

[murla]

murlakatamenka の投稿を引用：

FLAC, Vorbis OGG, M4A (both AAC and lossless) support was added to Steam Music back on September 1st 2015
https://steamcommunity.com/groups/SteamClientBeta/announcements/detail/52144327686735794

Didn't it get to stable branch since then?

Yeah, It did. Support of those formats got to the stable branch. But it seems Nobody Suspects a Thing[ianmckinney.bandcamp.com]. Anyway almost never used Steam Music Player, why would I?

"h.barkas" の投稿を引用：

there are far superior players

[murla]

(Small addition to my previous post)

Stable branch of Steam client officially supports FLAC since October 7, 2015:
http://store.steampowered.com/news/18747/ (listed in the very end)

[murla]

MP3 audio quietly fades into history[www.techhive.com]

[PredeitoR]

Other than that I support your incentive. The way scores and soundtracks are released on Steam is terrible and totally depends on developers and/or publishers. Afaik Valve doesn't provide any guidelines on how to do it. And Bandcamp has been being my personal golden standard on how to release music for many years.

[Heruka]

Old thread, but still largely relevant. Steam needs to improve the way it handles music.

1. All soundtrack containing DLCs listed in a special dedicate area (like Apps are), with the ability to download any soundtrack DLC to a user defined location (eg C:\Steam\OSTs\) without having to download the base game.

2. Ability to directly stream music we own without having to download.

3. Seriously clean up Library> Music. Add Directories and sundirectories. I have no idea what tracks belongs to what game.

4. Add playback support for Flac, Ogg, Alac, Wav.

If Steam cannot do this themselves inhouse, employ the author or AIMP, MediaMonkey. Foobar, DbPowerAmp, XRecode, or some other good program.

5. Where soundtracks are sold, provide accurate information: formats/s, bitrate, sampling rate, bit depth,

6. Mandate that publishers release music in at least one lossy format and at least one lossless format, properly tagged with appropriate metadata. The easiest way for this to happen would be the publisher uploads studio master audio to Steam, and Steam has a setup that converts it to multiple formats (like Bandcamp does).

7. Ability to download video game music without owning the game (eg played it before on console, or purchased the game from other store like UPlay or Gog or Epic).

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Heruka の投稿を引用：

Old thread, but still largely relevant. Steam needs to improve the way it handles music.

1. All soundtrack containing DLCs listed in a special dedicate area (like Apps are), with the ability to download any soundtrack DLC to a user defined location (eg C:\Steam\OSTs\) without having to download the base game.

6. Mandate that publishers release music in at least one lossy format and at least one lossless format, properly tagged with appropriate metadata. The easiest way for this to happen would be the publisher uploads studio master audio to Steam, and Steam has a setup that converts it to multiple formats (like Bandcamp does).

7. Ability to download video game music without owning the game (eg played it before on console, or purchased the game from other store like UPlay or Gog or Epic).

1. https://steamdb.info/blog/steam-music-download-soundtracks/

6. Everything is up to the game devs and Valve will not force it upon them.

7. Without a proper ownership license on your Steam account, no. This prevents piracy.