bigshot
Headphoneus Supremus
He said the bass levels were different, didn't he? Maybe it's Sound Check. ITunes might not have had a chance to scan one of the files.
He said the bass levels were different, didn't he? Maybe it's Sound Check. ITunes might not have had a chance to scan one of the files.
OK, here's the latest. Started with an AIF, created a 320K mp3. From that I created a 192K AAC, and a 192K AAC voice-optimized (just in case).
Next, I opened them in Audacity and plotted the spectrum of each file (first 238 seconds at least), then layered the plots to see if there were any spectral differences.
Not even a dB difference anywhere between any files. No point in showing the plots because they all stack perfectly on top of each other, except of course for the slight loss at the extreme top.
Again, all files generated in iTunes.
I see no reason for a bass loss.
I just want to save people some time and agree with what i read a lot, that 320 aac is very worth it as an Apple option for portable devices. 256 AAC was not as pleasing to me, no matter what graphs are presented. I learned my lesson the hard way (e.g. 50+ hours of watching my computer convert files.) My way now is cd to lossless to 320 aac because I went to 256 and the sound was noticeably less worthy. I'm sure there's lots of other/better ways but I'm no expert, I just like to rock out and know what my music should sound like. All my songs have been with me for a long time. i only use ipod so I don't have to change and scratch up my cds all the time, because I have ADD lol.
The difference in bitrates in AAC above 128 isn't an overall sound like sharpness or lack of bass. It's the frequency and severity of random artifacts. At a certain point, the occasional compression artifact disappears and the sound becomes audibly identical to the source. If you'd said that there was a strange digital gurgle in audience applause or a moment where the sound broke up a bit, it might be because the bitrate was too low. But an overall lack of bass indicates one of two things.... Volume level differences and just plain old placebo.
The only option I seem to have in iTunes is for 256 kbps (we have music match). I have 3 (hopefully simple) questions if anyone can help.
1. Is 256 kbps the best I'm going to get from iTunes or is there a way to download them at a higher resolution?
2. Do you guys convert them to a lossless format in iTunes before you sync them to your iPods?
3. Can you really hear a difference between 256 AAC and Lossless on an iPod (with amp of course)?
The only option I seem to have in iTunes is for 256 kbps (we have music match). I have 3 (hopefully simple) questions if anyone can help.
1. Is 256 kbps the best I'm going to get from iTunes or is there a way to download them at a higher resolution?
2. Do you guys convert them to a lossless format in iTunes before you sync them to your iPods?
3. Can you really hear a difference between 256 AAC and Lossless on an iPod (with amp of course)?
Most people who do contolled tests fiind that above a certain bitrate, there is no difference between MP3 or AAC and lossless like FLAC, WAV or the original CD. Most people who believe they can hear a difference haven't taken the time to do a controlled test.