What format on IPOD?

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:35 am

First, I love my CD walkman, and use it on the train everyday, as well as when driving the back roads to retrieve my kids from the ex's visitation.

That said, I've been considering an IPOD, even though I lose the fingertip reference of the CD booklets.

But I hate "Empty3", finding it fine for reference when collaborating over the internet, or to sample an artist's work, or for live "bootlegs", but *.wav, to me, sounds so much better.

Hence, this thread...

Is anyone using "waves" on their IPOD, then, or is that for some reason not a good or not a practical idea?

Any alternatives to suggest?

(I tried but couldn't post this as a poll?)

leftofthedial · Post by **leftofthedial** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:59 am

I too just recently jumped on the iPod bandwagon and I just love the thing. And I really hate the sound of MP3s too. But honestly, on the little earbuds, using iTunes at 192K, I don't notice much of a difference.

If that is not to your taste, you also can set iTunes to rip songs as uncompressed waves or iTunes lossless compression (which renders 32Meg files for a 4 minute song).

mingus2112 · Post by **mingus2112** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:01 am

leftofthedial wrote:I too just recently jumped on the iPod bandwagon and I just love the thing. And I really hate the sound of MP3s too. But honestly, on the little earbuds, using iTunes at 192K, I don't notice much of a difference.

If that is not to your taste, you also can set iTunes to rip songs as uncompressed waves or iTunes lossless compression (which renders 32Meg files for a 4 minute song).

Agreed. . .almost. . .

I started ripping most of my stuff in apple lossless format and quickly found that i ran out of room. I only use my ipod in the car, so i figured i could get away with 192k.. . .and i did. . .sort of.

192 is fine for some things and crappy for others. I, as a rule, rip everything that's not top priority at 320k. All my high priority stuff, reference material, etc i rip lossless.

-J

Dave Nutz · Post by **Dave Nutz** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:13 am

IMO,
Itunes' AAC encoder sound MUCH better at 320k than the MP3 encoder at the same resolution. Less aliasing, fewer artifacts(if at all), and only a moderate file size increase(11mb AAC ~= 5mb MP3) when compared to .wav, .aiff, or apple lossless format.

Jeff White · Post by **Jeff White** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:43 am

Apple AAC at 224 kbps. iTunes store is AAC at 128 kbps as a comparison. MP3s sound nowhere near as good as AACs in my opinion.

Jeff

John Jeffers · Post by **John Jeffers** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:08 pm

For casual listening, I'm fine with MP3 @ 160. 90% of my iPod use is in my car, so I can barely hear the obvious artifacts over the road noise, much less the subtle differences of high-bitrate encoding. Another benefit of sticking with MP3 is that you know they'll play *anywhere*, so I don't have to worry about re-ripping or transcoding later on.

lapsteel · Post by **lapsteel** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:29 pm

Why don't you save some money and get something like a Creative or SanDisk. They are just as good without the hype. With those you won't be limited by having to put everything into one program (itunes). Also, I'd suggest using good headphones. I hate the buds. They hurt your ears.

Meriphew · Post by **Meriphew** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:18 pm

I finally bought an 8 Gig iPod Nano (2nd generation) earlier this year. I had put off buying one because I thought it would sound crappy. I;ve been very pleasantly surprised at how good it sounds (using AAC). One of my best purchases in a long time.

@?,*???&? · Post by **@?,*???&?** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 3:35 pm

vvv wrote:First, I love my CD walkman, and use it on the train everyday, as well as when driving the back roads to retrieve my kids from the ex's visitation.

That said, I've been considering an IPOD, even though I lose the fingertip reference of the CD booklets.

But I hate "Empty3", finding it fine for reference when collaborating over the internet, or to sample an artist's work, or for live "bootlegs", but *.wav, to me, sounds so much better.

Hence, this thread...

Is anyone using "waves" on their IPOD, then, or is that for some reason not a good or not a practical idea?

Any alternatives to suggest?

(I tried but couldn't post this as a poll?)

mp3s are data compressed audio files. The lossless compression removes about 90% of the original data of the audio file- if you start with a 44MB .wav file, then you end up with a 4.4MB mp3. The joy of the portable hard drive device such as a Walk...er, iPod is that you can get a zillion songs on it if and only IF you data compress them. .wav files are fine to store on them, but you'll be storing way less songs on the iPod if you do.

vvv · Post by **vvv** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 3:53 pm

Yes, I know Empty3 is a compressed format, and it is a wonderful invention that I isten to as little as possible, certainly not for pleasure.

"Creative or SanDisk"; I shall research!

ctmsound · Post by **ctmsound** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:23 pm

IPOD with AAC. It sounds great.

ballpein · Post by **ballpein** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 11:32 am

at moderate bitrates AAC does sound better than mp3, but then you're trapped on ipod or mac. I've been using Lame variable bitrate mp3 encoding for a long time now, the "v0" preset comes in at ~256k, and to my ears it sounds as good as AAC, and much better than default itunes encoding. There are a number front end apps for Lame encoding (I sometimes use Lamebrain for ripping CDs on mac) and there is a lame v0 plugin for itunes which is quite handy.

For archiving, FLAC is the best lossless format by far... smaller than waves but truly lossless... when I rip my CDs I make a FLAC archive and rip a lame v0 for the ipod... I use a FLAC player (VLC) on my desktop when I want to hear a really good reference or am just feeling like an audiosnob.

Incidentally, ipod doesn't lock you into itunes... itunes is the easiest way to manage your ipod but there a number of other ways to move audio to/from your ipod, and of course any player will play the files on your computer.

pandatone · Post by **pandatone** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 12:38 pm

just cause i didn't see anyone mention it.
ipods can't (as in can not) play back uncomressed .wav's or .aiffs.
it can try.. but it will stop and go on you. it can't buffer it.
if you really think you can hear it.. apple lossless is pretty good, and ipods CAN play it back with out studdering.

alas the ipod locks you into apple formats more or less. so no ogg, or flac (last i knew?)

160 VBR ACCs are good enough for me.. i mean. i use to rock out to K7s all the time. if your out in public rocking some buds.. imo.. above 320 is completely pointless.. i call bullshit on anyone who says they can hear it.. on the street.. on ear buds.. CD vs. 320 ACC

my 2 centsalones

panda

citystate · Post by **citystate** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 1:14 pm

i tried a few formats and settled on the lame encoder on the 'insane' preset. works for me.

heylow · Post by **heylow** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 4:05 pm

citystate wrote:i tried a few formats and settled on the lame encoder on the 'insane' preset. works for me.

Totally! Exactly what I do....CDEX is a great front end and it's easy. Insane is MP3 at like 320kbps. I won't even bother with less....not trying to be snobby, I just can't....I like music.....whaddayawant? Get a 60 or 80 gig and be done with it.

As far as AAC goes....some people seem to think that AAC is better but I don't hear it. I HAVE compared MP3 to AAC ripped out of iTunes and and it became clear to me that they somehow make sure to use a shitty MP3 coder and do NOT give you the option of choosing a better one....this makes AAC sound better....go figure, I guess. It's important to realize that all MP3 codecs are NOT created equally....particularly those offered in rival products.

In my humble opinion, MP3s ripped with LAME totally kill any AAC equivelant.

Just my experience...

heylow

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