MPEG-4 [AAC] encoding

[godcha]

I have been reading some stuff about MPEG-4 [AAC] and need a few suggestions/answers.

Apparently MPEG-4 [AAC] "beats" my via LAME in VBR APS encoded MP3s. Now I am considering to [again] rip my cds into this format using following procedure:

-rip audio CD to WAV using EAC
-encode WAV to MPEG-4 [AAC] using NERO6, most probably using the "VBR/Stereo - Audiophile, 160-250 Kb/s [LC AAC]" preset

This will leave me with *.MP4 files. I've read that I need to rename them to *.M4A files in order to upload them via EphPod to my iPod; not a big problem.

I have following questions:

-EphPod indeed uploads *.M4A files to the iPod without problems and my [Win]iPod will indeed play them?
-is there a [stand alone] program which allows tagging of *.MP4/*.M4A? I've read there's a foobar plugin which will do so but I just want to know if there's stand alone tagger. Not a big problem to use the foobar plugin since I need a player which is capable of playing MP4 files and I will probably use foobar.
-I've seen people saying that EphPod read the tags incorrectly from within MP4 files [Genre f.e.]. anybody else experiencing this?

I'll come back to this subject a little bit later. Currently I am reading up on the Hydrogenaudio forum, especially regarding command line encoding and tagging [f.e. via front/end EAC] for MPEG-4 [AAC] using Nero plugins.

As far as I can tell at the moment, the GUI side approach would be: EAC > NERO6 > foobar [> EphPod]

It would be nice to see how people experienced with MPEG-4 [AAC] encoding are doing all of this?! It would be very nice if you post how you rip your audio cds using MPEG-4 [AAC] all the way to playing it from your iPod, and with correct tag info inside the MP4/M4A file [on your pc]. Also which bitrate setting is used and is MPEG-4 [AAC] really better than LAME's VBR APS encoded mp3s.

Thanks for reading. I'll be grateful if MPEG-4 [AAC] Windows-users are sharing their experiences in conjunction with iPod.

---
Some interesting reads:

command line nero encoder wav->mp4 (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?showtopic=13056&hl=aac&st=0&)
mp4 command line tagger (http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?showtopic=12075&hl=tg&st=0&)

[ech3]

I did some research about tagging AAC files and was unable to reach a conclusion. If tagging is possible, it doesn't appear to be "standardized".

I also decided to use AAC for my iPod, but I key the info directly into Ephpod bypassing the tagging issue completely.

Do you like Nero 6? I've been using Nero 5 for ages, but haven't bothered upgrading yet (I think it costs $).

[godcha]

Indeed MPEG-4 [AAC] encoding and tagging is not standardized. I can use EAC+LAME [with everything configured] for automatic ripping of an audio cd with the click of the mousebutton, incl. correct ID3V2 tagging ad correct mp3 file format output. Not so with MPEG-4 [AAC] encoding, however using command line parameters could be the "solution" in doing a lot of things automatically, incl. tagging.

Bypassing tagging and let EphPod "tag" [put the info in the iPod's database] from getting the info from the mp3 filename is the easiest way I think, for the moment [again maybe not if tag.exe is the option].

My little problem is that 2 weeks ago [when I received my iPod] I started ripping audio cds via CDex using LAME at CBR 128 kbit. One week later I was banging my head against the wall why I didn't read up a little bit better before starting to rip my cd collection cos I found that using EAC with LAME encoding with APS preset [a VBR averaging between 170 - 230 kbit] was way better than my CBR 128 kbit via CDex [EAC front/end cos of the better error correction than CDex].

So after one week of ripping CDex/LAME 128 kbit [around 1,5GB] I started reripping with EAC/LAME APS preset [currently I am again around 1,5GB] and a few days ago I started up on reading MPEG-4 [AAC] stuff.

I am too tired to rerip my cd collection again [I am only at the half of my collection I think], so for the time being I'll stick to my EAC/LAME APS ripping standards. Maybe I'll be banging my head against the wall in 6 months time when I decide to rerip everything in MPEG-4 [AAC] when there are more GUI's using MPEG-4 [AAC] encoders...I'll see.

If I like Nero6? Don't see a real difference [except for some GUI stuff] but then again it has been a long time since I used Nero [5.0.x.x version or something; I'd almost forgotten how Nero works]. Prior to Nero6UE I used Padus DiscJuggler, but I like to change software now and again. I am pretty happy about Nero6UE; I won't be using it that often since I decided not to rip in MPEG-4 [AAC] and I don't burn a lot of stuff.

[Roots]

I use nero 5 myself, but i do not see an option to encode to .aac or .mp4 .. Ive been wanting to test out the quality, but I think im missing something from nero.. perhaps an addon i need??

[bracken]

Originally posted by Roots
I use nero 5 myself, but i do not see an option to encode to .aac or .mp4 .. Ive been wanting to test out the quality, but I think im missing something from nero.. perhaps an addon i need??

The Nero AAC plugin (http://www.ahead.de/us/631898256745469.html) is available for Nero 5.5.10.0 (or higher), Nero Express or NeroMIX 1.3.5.1 (or higher). It is included with Nero 6 Ultra Edition.

For the same price QuickTime Pro (http://www.apple.com/quicktime/upgrade/) will encode AAC, some say (http://www.cdfreaks.com/news2.php?ID=7355) it's the best AAC encoder.