[cruizin caleb]

So I use the plugin (Set Oggs) for iTunes that allows you to import and play FLAC files in iTunes. The thing is, this doesn't mean I can play FLAC files on my iPod. But i CAN play Apple Lossless on my Ipod... oh and does it matter? like can iPods properly deliver the soundquality Lossless audio has to offer?

So.... this may be a dumb question and i am a bit of a newbie but, am I losing anything by converting my approx1000kbps FLAC files into approximately 1000kbps Apple Losseless Files in iTunes?

Same goes for my CDs, am I losing anything by ripping them as Apple Lossless files instead of ripping them in FLAC format using some other program?


basically
FLAC vs. Apple Lossless

please excuse my noobishness...

 

[El_Doug]

theyre lossless, dude - you wont "lose" anything by switching between different lossless codecs

since decoding a lossless file yields the original uncompressed file, any algorithm for compressing/decompressing will give the same result

 

[roebeet]

Lossless means no data loss, so you aren't losing anything by converting from one lossless format to another.

As to whether ALAC actually sounds better than FLAC can be a very subjective question.

 

[ZoNtO]

Lossless is lossless is lossless.

 

[Malakai]

FLAC is a free and open codec. Apple's is not.

Go with FLAC.

 

[tds101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malakai /img/forum/go_quote.gif FLAC is a free and open codec. Apple's is not. Go with FLAC.

Since when does an iPod play FLAC (without RockBox)? The OP want's to convert for use on his iPod.

Convert between lossless codecs to your hearts content, there's no loss in quality. As everyone else has stated, lossless is lossless.

 

[Malakai]

Ah I was saying in general. I do not use an Ipod. I will only buy portable digital players that support FLAC and/or Ogg.

The thread title was apple vs flac lossless. Since both decoded yield the original file, the only thing that matters is stuff like freedom of the codec and such. And I prefer a freely available open codec to an apple proprietary one. Ipod is not the only DAP on the market

 

[tds101]

But the question posed by the OP must be considered. It's not what I, or you, use as a preferred codec.

 

[AdamWysokinski]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cruizin caleb /img/forum/go_quote.gif Same goes for my CDs, am I losing anything by ripping them as Apple Lossless files instead of ripping them in FLAC format using some other program?

Do you lose anything when converting from zip to rar? No. The same applies to lossless codecs.

 

[krmathis]

You will not loose any sound quality by transcoding from FLAC to Apple Lossless.
But you gain a not when it comes to software/hardware support, as Apple Lossless files is supported both in iTunes (natively), iPods, and more... For you that is.

 

[insyte]

@OP - just go for ALAC since it will be more convenient for you

 

[tds101]

Quote:

Originally Posted by insyte /img/forum/go_quote.gif @OP - just go for ALAC since it will be more convenient for you

ALAC is Apple Lossless Audio Codec,...................

 

[bba1973]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoNtO /img/forum/go_quote.gif Lossless is lossless is lossless.

No, it's not. With regular 2 channel 16 bit audio (normal CD to lossless), they're all going to sound exactly the same. Some formats don't support 5.1 or hi-res. Also, some lossless formats have better size compression than others. If lossless is lossless is lossless, iPods and Zunes would be able to play FLAC or SHN with their stock firmware.

 

[henryflower]

I don't think that ALAC not being "Free" or "Open" is much of an issue, given that there are free (and not Apple authored) software solutions for transcoding from one to the other.

One additional distinction between lossless formats which should not be overlooked is how they handle tagging.

 

[MCC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoNtO /img/forum/go_quote.gif Lossless is lossless is lossless.

Well... usually. I ran into a nasty bug in dbPowerAmp on Windows 7 that caused some FLAC-WMA Lossless conversions to go awry. ALWAYS VERIFY your lossless-lossless transcodings. Unless, of course, you enjoy having "lossless" files that sound like 128k MP3.