[ThePope3290]

MP3 128kbps maybe? Because I remember using the default for so long because I knew nothing about high-end audio...but a year or so ago I switched to AAC 256kbps. I also converted all of my defaults to AAC 256kbps. Was that just a waste of space? Did they stay at the default quality but just grew in size? Or does switching from MP3 to AAC after the rip actually improve quality?

 

[LingLing1337]

When you convert your music from one lossy codec to another, it will always degrade in quality.

 

[kamcma]

Yes, converting one lossy codec to a larger lossy codec just grows the files size without gaining any sound quality, and actually degrades sound quality by re-compressing them. You should have left them be.

 

[krmathis]

The default is 'iTunes Plus', meaning ~256kbps AAC (VBR).

 

[paaj]

Too bad, but you better rip it again...

 

[etiolate]

apple lossless!
hard drive space is cheap man... I just upgraded my macbook pro to 320 gigs, with a faster hard drive than before, for $80.

 

[Duperman]

can ipod plays apple lossless files as well? what do you use to convert flac to apple's format? if so i think i'm just going to consolidate everything under itunes, i prefer its interface.

 

[chinesekiwi]

Yes, it can play ALAC but tbh, I wouldn't bother putting lossless on portables and would rather use 192kbps AAC on an iPod.
192 kbps AAC > 320 kbps mp3 for sound quality and uses less bitrate. (I've got scientific spectrogram evidence for this, thus it's not subject to a highly variable ABX test tbh. ABX tests have so many variables that can affect it, I dunno why people use it tbh).

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duperman /img/forum/go_quote.gif can ipod plays apple lossless files as well?

Yes, all iPods since some 4 yeas back play Apple Lossless. Except the iPod Shuffle that is.

Quote:

what do you use to convert flac to apple's format?

I use and highly recommend Max.
Does FLAC to Apple Lossless conversions without a hitch, complete with metadata and artwork transfer.

 

[Duperman]

crud, it's mac only, but it looks like a very good program

i suppose for pc is going flac->wav->alac is the best way?

 

[m1abrams]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duperman /img/forum/go_quote.gif crud, it's mac only, but it looks like a very good program i suppose for pc is going flac->wav->alac is the best way?

Check out dbpoweramp

 

[Crazy*Carl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duperman /img/forum/go_quote.gif crud, it's mac only, but it looks like a very good program i suppose for pc is going flac->wav->alac is the best way?

This is what I did. You loose all the metadata, and its kind of a chore to go back and re-input it. If its only an album its not to bad. An entire collection of music... I wouldn't dare attempt it.

 

[forgotten_hell]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinesekiwi /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, it can play ALAC but tbh, I wouldn't bother putting lossless on portables and would rather use 192kbps AAC on an iPod. 192 kbps AAC > 320 kbps mp3 for sound quality and uses less bitrate. (I've got scientific spectrogram evidence for this, thus it's not subject to a highly variable ABX test tbh. ABX tests have so many variables that can affect it, I dunno why people use it tbh).

...Really? I was using 320 AAC to rip my CDs but started using LAME V0 and am re-ripping everything because I heard it's better (and I needed to use less space). I can't stand listening to 192 kbps AAC, but I have a VERY hard time believing it's better than 320 kbps mp3. That makes no sense.

 

[Duperman]

As a follow up i've been using dbpoweramp to convert flac to alac [thanks! works great] but I read some people had compatibility issues playing the dbpoweramp's alac files on their actual ipod?

Now i won't have mine for a week

so I can't test yet but now i'm not sure if i should be concerned about having my entire alac library "unofficial", since it wasnt created with itunes own encoder. And a side thought, would creating new alac files in itunes from dbpoweramp's alac files (i.e. reconverting them with itunes encoder) safe-proof these alac files? I noticed when itunes creates new alac file it's actually a tad smaller. Ugh it'd probably be nicer to do away with this apple proprietary nonsense but i confess i just like ipod/itunes too much

edit: i think i'll just use dbpoweramp to convert to wma lossless, then have itunes itself convert to alac, a bit laborious haha but perhaps safer

 

[chinesekiwi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by forgotten_hell /img/forum/go_quote.gif ...Really? I was using 320 AAC to rip my CDs but started using LAME V0 and am re-ripping everything because I heard it's better (and I needed to use less space). I can't stand listening to 192 kbps AAC, but I have a VERY hard time believing it's better than 320 kbps mp3. That makes no sense.

What you have is placebo effect. Also AAC is the most accurate codec while Vorbis has the best compression. mp3 is a distant third in those three on both counts.
If I could choose, I'd use AAC but since my Fuze doesn't support AAC, I use Vorbis at ~210kbps (the point where it achieves the same accuracy as 192 kbps AAC).
Also it makes perfect sense as all use different algorithms and AAC and Vorbis uses more complex and much better, more efficient algorithms than mp3.