Resolve file, output and restoration problems

A file cannot be selected or inspected

Unsupported extension

Use WAV/WAVE, AIFF/AIF, FLAC or M4A containing ALAC. MP3, AAC and other lossy formats are not supported.

Wrong codec in M4A

An .m4a container can hold AAC or ALAC. VinylRest accepts only ALAC; create a lossless source outside VinylRest.

Unsupported channels

The source must be mono or stereo. Convert multichannel material to an intentional mono/stereo master before restoration.

Unsupported depth

WAV/AIFF must be 16-, 24- or 32-bit PCM. FLAC/ALAC must be 16- or 24-bit.

File access

Copy the source to a local folder you can read. Avoid a disconnected network volume, unavailable cloud placeholder or read-protected directory.

Noise reduction is unavailable

NR supports 32, 44.1, 48, 64, 88.2, 96, 128, 176.4 and 192 kHz. If the file uses another accepted restoration rate, the interface reports that noise reduction is unavailable.

1. Disable Noise reduction and run DeClick/DeCrackle at the original rate; or
2. make a carefully converted lossless copy at a supported production rate in another audio application, then select that copy.

VinylRest deliberately does not insert an invisible sample-rate conversion step.

NRNG cannot acquire a noise profile

NRNG searches only from 1 to 10 seconds and requires the first run of four consecutive 250 ms windows between −80 dBFS and the selected maximum. It fails closed instead of learning music or falling back to another engine.

1. Use a transfer that includes a quiet lead-in or other true surface-noise interval inside the search range.
2. Raise the default −55 dBFS acquisition maximum only when the record is too noisy to qualify.
3. Do not raise it unnecessarily: values closer to −30 dBFS increase the risk of accepting quiet music.
4. Read the acquisition diagnostics in the error or repaired report for exact rejected-window reasons.

The destination is rejected

Same as source

Choose a different filename. The source and destination must never resolve to the same file.

Container mismatch

Keep the source extension/container: FLAC to FLAC, ALAC to M4A, WAV to WAV or AIFF to AIFF.

Output already exists

Review the warning and explicitly choose Replace, or choose a new destination. Terminal mode requires -d.

Unsafe output

The existing destination must be a replaceable regular file, not a directory, symbolic link or special filesystem entry.

Changed after confirmation

Another application modified or replaced an authorized output. Start again and review the new manifest.

A folder shows Failed or Ignored rows

• Select a Failed row’s message and correct that source format, codec, channel count or access problem.
• Ignored -restored, -clicks, -crackle, -nr and -noise-all names prevent recursive processing of generated audio.
• Subfolders are intentionally not shown. Select each subfolder separately if it should be processed.
• If a source changed after folder discovery, choose the folder again to rebuild the immutable plan.
• If two names collide after case or Unicode normalization, rename one source unambiguously.

Processing is slow

1. For a diagnostic speed comparison, turn Noise Reduction Off and process one file with Paranoid. DeClick and DeCrackle remain independent.
2. For a folder, open Settings → Processing and select Use Recommended, or reduce Files processed at once.
3. Use fast local storage with enough free space. FLAC and ALAC require temporary PCM decoding and re-encoding.
4. Close other CPU- or storage-intensive applications and allow the Mac to cool.
5. Avoid Debug output in terminal mode unless inspecting the algorithm.

Processing time varies with the Mac, source duration, format, sample rate, enabled stages, profile acquisition and folder concurrency.

Cancellation appears to take time

Cancel is cooperative. The active decoder, analysis or restoration stage reaches a safe point, then VinylRest removes temporary files and restores any pre-existing destination that had not crossed a successful publication boundary.

• Do not force-quit merely because the button changes to Cancelling.
• In folder mode, already completed files remain published.
• If a removable or network volume vanished, reconnect it and allow cleanup to finish when possible.

Comparison Player is silent

1. Confirm that the Mac’s selected output device and volume are correct.
2. Stop other playback, then select Source, Clicks or Output and press Play again.
3. Verify that Source and Output play in another trusted audio application.
4. Confirm that the job completed and that neither the source nor restored destination was moved or deleted afterward.
5. Re-select the source and process again if the completed result was cleared by a setting change.

Clicks can be very quiet when little signal was removed. Compare Source and Output first, then raise monitoring carefully if you need to inspect Clicks. Use your normal editor, player or mastering environment for detailed level-matched work.

The result sounds over-processed

• Return to Paranoid.
• Turn NR Off or choose conservative S150 to determine whether the artifact comes from continuous-noise treatment.
• Turn DeCrackle Off and compare; dense transients are usually most sensitive to this stage.
• Isolate DeClick and DeCrackle one at a time.
• Use Manual mode at a lower sensitivity only after identifying the responsible stage.

Clicks or crackle remain

• Keep the same profile and raise only the relevant Manual sensitivity in small steps.
• Move from Paranoid to Light, then Mid, comparing each result.
• For a stable defect pattern, try Manual sensitivity in small increments.
• Severe skips, repeated samples, clipping and missing waveform sections are not isolated impulse defects and may require an audio editor.

The grade seems unexpected

The grade is derived from detected reference-event rate, not from visual condition. Percussive or synthetic program material can affect detection, and a quiet-looking record can contain locally dense defects.

• Check which profile was active; Custom boundaries change grade labels.
• Read the analysis JSON for the exact rate, grade description and recommendations.
• Use the grade as a diagnostic summary, not as a buying, selling or archival authenticity claim.
• Remember that local Automatic correction is independent of the global grade.

Settings or Custom disappeared

Only a complete valid table is saved as Custom. If Apply never became available, the draft was not persisted. Restore Defaults reselects Paranoid but intentionally preserves an already saved Custom table.

1. Open Settings and check the profile menu for Custom.
2. If absent, enter a complete valid table and select Apply.
3. If all preferences unexpectedly reset, verify that the application is running from Applications and that macOS can write its normal user preferences.

Collect useful diagnostic information

Before reporting a reproducible problem, record:

• VinylRest File version and build;
• Mac model, macOS version and free storage;
• source container, codec, channels, sample rate, bit depth and duration;
• method, profile, both stage modes, S150/S200 choice, global maximum and P65 acquisition maximum;
• the exact on-screen error and whether the same source succeeds with Paranoid and Noise Reduction Off;
• for folder problems, the concurrency value and whether the source is compressed.

Advanced terminal users can create the Debug artifact set described in Outputs and command line. Do not share copyrighted audio or personal paths without permission.