---
title: feat: lossy sources in the archive
status: open
labels: []
created: 2026-09-14
closed:
---
the archive is flac only. an album containing an mp3 is now refused up front with a message saying so, which is better than the old behaviour (accepted by the plan, then failed deep inside metaflac after the files had been copied), but it still means an mp3 release cannot be filed at all. that is a large slice of what soulseek actually serves.

doing it properly needs two decisions before any code. first, does a lossy file belong in the archive as a master, when it is the best copy that exists? the archive is described as lossless masters, so this changes what it means. second, should the library copy be transcoded from it? mp3 to vorbis is a second generation loss, so copying the original through might be better than transcoding.

the rest is plumbing: ffmpeg can write id3 tags and attach cover art, and the verification already counts artwork for any format.