[IDK]

i have many low bitrate files in itunes that i would like to encode to a higher bitrate or to another file type like AAC....my question is:

Would that Improve the actual sound of them? and if not is there any way to improve the sound of low bitrate mp3's?

 

[Halftrack]

Sadly, no. By re-encoding to any lossy codec, you are recompressing (and therefore losing more SQ), while re-encoding to lossless results in no gain. There is no way to improve the sound of low-bitrate MP3s, unless you count re-ripping from a CD.

Also, this reminds me of a bash quote I read a (long) while back:
Quote:

#153519 +(1386)- [X] <{eCholaLia}> u know if u have a 56k modem , u can save time buy d/lin songs with the smallest amount of bitrate and changing em after wards with a convertor <Natus> i think you may be legally dumb

 

[IDK]

one other question:

What is the easiest, fastest, best and completely free way to convert from FLAC to Apple Lossless?

 

[Duggeh]

Use dBPoweramp. Youll need to install a couple of plugins though as it doesn't work with ALAC out of the box.

 

[IDK]

what is the name of the plugin?

and....how does ALAC sound on most ipods....is it worth the file size?

 

[Duggeh]

The plugins are clearly available and labelled in friendly words on the dbpoweramp website.

I use ALAC because I don't have the space to, and prefer not to, maintain a duplicate library in MP3 or AAC. Only you can decide if its worth the extra space to you. The battery life difference is a non issue with a flash based ipod. With a hard drive based ipod youll kill the battery life.

 

[IDK]

how much of an effect does alac have on the hd based ipods...how fast could it drain the battery life?

 

[Duggeh]

If you play whole albums through, id say at least 50% less. More if your lossy files are more lossy. Say half the battery compared to 320k mp3. 1/4 compared to 128 or 160.

Even less battery life if you fuss and fickle and shuffle. The more the hard drive has to spin up the lower the battery.

 

[Reighlok]

I have been concerned the other way around. Rather that re encoding a lower bit rate file into higher one (especially of a different codec) would hurt the sound. It seems like it can only make matters worse, unless for some reason your dac or dap is just phenomenally better at decoding one type of file compared to an other.
But... I do not trust my knowledge on this and I do not think you should either.

 

[Armaegis]

I have a slightly reversed question: will a higher end DAC make a low bitrate file sound better or worse?

 

[earthpeople]

My guess is worse since it will bring out the flaws of it better.

Halftrack; are you a DJ Max fan?

 

[etiolate]

ya i've noticed that itunes has a "convert to apple lossless" choice when you right click a song. i think itunes is great, but this option is pretty useless.

 

[krmathis]

Nope. The audio data lost (thrown away) when encoding to MP3 can not be recovered.
So you either have to live with your current MP3 files, or re-rip to Apple Lossless from CD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by etiolate /img/forum/go_quote.gif ya i've noticed that itunes has a "convert to apple lossless" choice when you right click a song. i think itunes is great, but this option is pretty useless.

Useless for MP3 and AAC files, but great for WAV and AIFF files.

 

[Duggeh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by etiolate /img/forum/go_quote.gif ya i've noticed that itunes has a "convert to apple lossless" choice when you right click a song. i think itunes is great, but this option is pretty useless.

That option will change to whatever you set your import settings to.

 

[etiolate]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duggeh /img/forum/go_quote.gif That option will change to whatever you set your import settings to.

Ahhh that makes more sense.