Best Lossless to Encode With?

[Pangaea]

I am thinking about making another push with my CD Collection (from 256VBR AAC to lossless). Can someone explain the differences between the options I have on iTunes: AIFF, Apple Lossless & WAV. Advantages, Disadvantages... Thanks.

 

[krmathis]

Well, I will try...

WAVE and AIFF are container formats, usually used to store uncompressed PCM data (identical to the data on a audio CD).
Apple Lossless are an audio codec which compress without data loss. It compress the audio data anywhere between 0 and 100%, but usually in the 65% area.

Apple Lossless have some advantages over PCM in WAV or AIFF:
* Smaller files.
* Tag and album art support (AIFF support tags though).

Apple Lossless also have some disadvantages over PCM in WAV or AIFF:
* Limited software and hardware support (Quicktime (iTunes, QuickTime Player, etc...) and/or iPod).
* Requires more processing power (both encoding and decoding).

I personally use Apple Lossless...


Edit: They all sound identical.
So base your choice on features or software/hardware support.

 

[Pangaea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Well, I will try... WAVE and AIFF are container formats, usually used to store uncompressed PCM data (identical to the data on a audio CD). Apple Lossless are an audio codec which compress without data loss. It compress the audio data anywhere between 0 and 100%, but usually in the 65% area. Apple Lossless have some advantages over PCM in WAV or AIFF: * Smaller files. * Tag and album art support (AIFF support tags though). Apple Lossless also have some disadvantages over PCM in WAV or AIFF: * Limited software and hardware support (Quicktime (iTunes, QuickTime Player, etc...) and/or iPod). * Requires more processing power (both encoding and decoding). I personally use Apple Lossless... Edit: They all sound identical. So base your choice on features or software/hardware support.

Actually, that was very informative. I use an iMac, iPod, iMod and I don't see Apple going anywhere so Apple Lossless it is. SQ is the main thing.

 

[Pangaea]

Thanks Krmathis!

 

[krmathis]

You are welcome!