guys! which format do you prefer your files are saved? MP3 or AAC? i read on a magazine that AACs sound better than MP3s even when more compressed?! what do you guys think?

i just need comments to back up what i've read.

Thanks!

ipod_wnr@yahoo.com

personally, I use AAC, Since I use it in my iPod only.
But if you plan to use it for your other music devices then use MP3.
It has almost the same quality (not an audiophile). :)

halu, kaharian82! you might find answers in this thread:

what is the BEST music compression format? (http://philmug.ph/viewthread.php?tid=1262)

:P

oh...and to answer your question, i save in AAC format, hehe.

Originally posted by kaharian82
guys! which format do you prefer your files are saved? MP3 or AAC? i read on a magazine that AACs sound better than MP3s even when more compressed?! ipod_wnr@yahoo.com

If you use an iPod, 128 kbps AAC should be good enough for all but critical listeners, specially if you will be using the supplied earbuds. The only reason to use MP3 format is for compatibility with other devices like CD players, DVD players, other portable music devices.

I rip my CDs using at least 192 kbps AAC.

MP3. My iPod's windows formatted so I can share it with my windows-user friends.

Originally posted by jorweeck
MP3. My iPod's windows formatted so I can share it with my windows-user friends.

Windows-formatted iPods can use AAC. You can also ask your Windows-using friends to use iTunes for Windows so that both you and they can use the better AAC format.

[Edited on 12-19-2004 by maitani]

iTunes does not have an MP3 converter so there is no use using that format if the iPod is your primary music device. Also I did read somewhere that AACs are of better quality than MP3.

Originally posted by cyberprince
iTunes does not have an MP3 converter so there is no use using that format if the iPod is your primary music device. Also I did read somewhere that AACs are of better quality than MP3.

iTunes can convert Mp3s to AAC, Wav, Apple Lossless, and AIFF. But you should just re-encode to AAC from the original CD instead, if ever.

I always rip my CDs in MP3 at 320kbps. For me its the simplest, most compatible way of getting that CD quality sound from my iPod and to my CD/DVD players when I burn it on CDRs.

Originally posted by cyberprince
iTunes does not have an MP3 converter so there is no use using that format if the iPod is your primary music device. Also I did read somewhere that AACs are of better quality than MP3.

Hi.

I'm new to Philmug but I've been a Mac user ever since. I also know a lot about iTunes and the iPod (started with with the first gen).

Sorry, but I need to correct you cyberprince. I'll attach an image to this message to show that iTunes indeed has an MP3 encoder, and it's not called a converter.

i dug through the previous threads, ms. poink is right, this has been discussed before and that old thread is already very informative.

Personally, I use AAC, better sound over MP3 despite higher compression. But i sometimes use Apple Lossless, if the album I'm ripping is worth the extra space on my HD.

jorweeck, what you said is considered piracy. You're not supposed to 'share' music, especially not with windows-users! :)

/jonny

which is better sound and size wise when comparing AAC @ 320kbps or Apple Lossless Compression?

Soundwise, nothing beats Lossless. Drawback is these files are HUGE.

AAC @ 320kbps is a good compromise. As a non-audiophile I really don't notice much of a difference.

I tend to just listen to music with my iPod or my MacBook speakers. I imagine if you are using some pretty good home theater sound equipment, perhaps you might perceive a difference. Until I can afford to check it out for myself...:)

thanks for the input raf. :)

anybody know how big the diff in size is between AAC @ 320 and Lossless?

imo, if youre only using it on your ipod or any other pmp, above 256kbps is already overkill. especially if youre only using stock earbuds!

i would advise upgrading your earphones first, and then probably get a lineout/amp (since the internal amp of the ipod sucks) and then you can worry about using higher compression rates or lossless

AAC! it could probably just be me. but they sound better than my mp3s...never really got the chance to compare the two at the same bitrate though. i rip my cds using AAC 256 kbps VBR as well.

jorweeck, what you said is considered piracy. You're not supposed to 'share' music, especially not with windows-users! :)/jonny

Yes, 'sharing' your MP3s or AACs is considered piracy, regardless of platform. Please do not make it a religion by differentiating between Windows and Mac users. No one is more right than the other. Btw, I'm a Mac user too. I hate Windows but i don't segregate people by the OS that they use. ;) Peace!

Anyway, AAC is way better than MP3. Depends on the factors that matter to you.

I use AAC, since it has a wider range of sound than MP3.

iTunes does not have an MP3 converter so there is no use using that format if the iPod is your primary music device.

NOT TRUE. iTunes can convert AAC (or any other iTunes-readable format) to MP3. All you need to do is change Preferences/Advanced/Importing to any MP3 setting, and voila, when you have an AAC tune to convert, click on Advanced in the iTunes menu bar and it says right there -"Convert to MP3'.

I use AAC as well, eversince I started to use iTunes.

I usually rip my CDs 256kbps or 320kbps if its my favorite songs.

when i was into iriver players two years ago (i just loved the sound the bundled headphones gave), i was totally into the mp3 format for wider compatibility. then came the sony ericsson walkman hybrid phones/players a year ago, so i kept on using mp3s.

but now that i use the iphone as a primary music player, i shifted to aacs. they sound full and good even at 128 kbps, and they don't take up too much space. perfect for smallish 8-gig players like my iphone.

AAC format for me

AAC for me, ripped at 320kbps from cds whenever possible. For online stores like iTunes and 7digital, I try to download the highest bit rate files available.

Another caveat though: it is garbage in, garbage out. A lousy-sounding CD will translate into a lousy-sounding MP3/AAC file. I don't know if people noticed, but a lot of CDs, specially the pop ones now, sound really crappy compared to older-generation CDs. Seems like the record companies turned up the recording volume, and the CDs lost their dynamic range.

hi, just wanna ask how to switch songs to mp3 or AAC? :D

hi, just wanna ask how to switch songs to mp3 or AAC? :D

iTunes preferences > General > Import Settings

In the import using menu, choose AAC encoder, then choose whatever quality you like on the settings dropdown.

Go back to your library, then right click on any song you like to convert, then click Create AAC version.

For MP3, do the same, except that you choose MP3 encoder on the Import using menu.

Hope this helps.


To answer the topic, I use 320 kbps MP3, because I use it on many devices aside from the iPod. Sometimes, I use Apple lossless.

256kbps (iTunes Plus) AAC format for me because I also tend to buy a lot of songs @ iTunes.

@rolandiggy

thanks. big help. :D

AAC. if possible apple lossless

AAC for me at 192kbps on the average. btw, have you noticed that when you rip your CDs via itunes, (even at 256kbps) the file does not sound as good when compared to an itunes store downloaded file or from any other paysite? or from an aac file converted via LAME?

forget about aac... ogg yeah you know me... get down with mp3...

hmmm sounds like an old rap song....

also wonder why they call it LAME if it actually sounds better.:D

I Prefer AAC format, don't know why.

I also use AAC format...

AAC for me at 192kbps on the average. btw, have you noticed that when you rip your CDs via itunes, (even at 256kbps) the file does not sound as good when compared to an itunes store downloaded file or from any other paysite? or from an aac file converted via LAME?

Yep, true. Thankfully:

http://code.google.com/p/blacktree-itunes-lame/

246 kbps AAC i think is good enough. If you really want the best sound quality then you should be listening from your CDs. Unless of course the only way to get the highest quality is through the internet, like Radiohead's and NIN's new releases.

Yep, true. Thankfully:

http://code.google.com/p/blacktree-itunes-lame/

thanks for the link but I dont think I have the time to rip my CD collection again using the LAME converter. I have about a thousand CDs :) so that'll take me months just to do it all over again.

246 kbps AAC i think is good enough. If you really want the best sound quality then you should be listening from your CDs. Unless of course the only way to get the highest quality is through the internet, like Radiohead's and NIN's new releases.

the problem with the itunes converter is very noticeable when you compare an aac converted via LAME with another converted via itunes. same file source, same bit rate (128kbps for example) but the itunes converted file will sound inferior in terms of clarity, depth and resolution. I thought this was just something that Apple haters came up with during the early life of itunes but it's true.

I rip my CD's and convert to AAC format, always :)

I prefer AAC 320Kbps, VBR


according to wikipedia:

Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves better sound quality than MP3 at similar bit rates.