Best encoding options on Itunes

john dozier · 2nd April 2011, 05:57 PM

Itunes gives a number of encoding choices. Which do you suggest as providing the best SQ? Thanks

N-Brock · 2nd April 2011, 08:51 PM

I think most would agree it's between WAV and AIFF. I prefer wav because it works with every player I have tried, while I have had some compatibility issues with aiff. The only downside to using these is they take up a ton of space on your drive, but by now you can buy a 1tb hard drive for less than $100 so it's an easy fix.

(All my CDs are ripped to my computer in WAV format using Exact Audio Copy.)

-Nelson

Cal Weldon · 2nd April 2011, 10:53 PM

Not meaning to sound dumb but is iTunes "Lossless" only an Apple thing or is that available on PC's too? That's what I use.

pleiades · 3rd April 2011, 01:29 AM

Apple lossless is a proprietary format, following Apple's general trend of not being compatible with anything else. It basically only works with iTunes and the iPod family of devices.

FLAC, APE, and WavPack are "non-iTunes" lossless formats, supported by a myriad of software players and portable devices. FLAC is the most popular.

I would recommend not using iTunes. If you have a PC, try mediamonkey. It supports the iPod, and will even re-encocde your FLAC files to a format the iPod supports for transfer.

Cal Weldon · 3rd April 2011, 04:31 PM

OK thanks for that. I actually thought it was most useful when up loading and then burning CD's but I don't change the settings when I do the iPod, I just let it do it's thing.

2nd April 2011, 05:57 PM	#1
john dozier diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: columbia sc	Best encoding options on Itunes Itunes gives a number of encoding choices. Which do you suggest as providing the best SQ? Thanks

2nd April 2011, 10:53 PM	#3
Cal Weldon Speakerholic diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: British Columbia	Not meaning to sound dumb but is iTunes "Lossless" only an Apple thing or is that available on PC's too? That's what I use. __________________ Next stop: Margaritaville Some of Cal's stuff \| Cal Weldon Consulting

3rd April 2011, 04:31 PM	#5
Cal Weldon Speakerholic diyAudio Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: British Columbia	OK thanks for that. I actually thought it was most useful when up loading and then burning CD's but I don't change the settings when I do the iPod, I just let it do it's thing. __________________ Next stop: Margaritaville Some of Cal's stuff \| Cal Weldon Consulting

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2nd April 2011, 08:51 PM	#2
N-Brock diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cambridge, MA	I think most would agree it's between WAV and AIFF. I prefer wav because it works with every player I have tried, while I have had some compatibility issues with aiff. The only downside to using these is they take up a ton of space on your drive, but by now you can buy a 1tb hard drive for less than $100 so it's an easy fix. (All my CDs are ripped to my computer in WAV format using Exact Audio Copy.) -Nelson

3rd April 2011, 01:29 AM	#4
pleiades diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2008	Apple lossless is a proprietary format, following Apple's general trend of not being compatible with anything else. It basically only works with iTunes and the iPod family of devices. FLAC, APE, and WavPack are "non-iTunes" lossless formats, supported by a myriad of software players and portable devices. FLAC is the most popular. I would recommend not using iTunes. If you have a PC, try mediamonkey. It supports the iPod, and will even re-encocde your FLAC files to a format the iPod supports for transfer.

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