Comparing iTunes 7 VBR AAC to "CBR" AAC in iTunes 4.5

[Teqnilogik]

Awesome thanks for the alternative. I never liked the idea of needing to use Windows Media Player and ditch AAC. I guess I can try looking for solutions that'll allow me to play AAC on other equipment such as streaming it to my stereo system. I just started reripping to MP3 so I can stop as I did in the past, LOL. I have my reasons for wanting to switch, but then again, AAC has been working fine for me so I'm creating a lot of work for myself for essentially no benefit to me when 128 kbps AAC has enough quality. So, yeah, I probably make myself look like a fool a lot on this forum for switching so much but at least I got good people here to guide me in the right direction and offer other solutions, LOL.

[shabbs]

Originally Posted by Teqnilogik

I guess I can try looking for solutions that'll allow me to play AAC on other equipment such as streaming it to my stereo system.

An XBOX with XBMC can handle unprotected AAC audio files.

http://www.xboxmediacenter.com/info_project.htm

The Squeezebox can too:

http://www.slimdevices.com/pi_squeezebox.html

Cheers.

[melsmusic]

Interesting read guys, I enjoyed it.

With Teqnilogiks helpful EAC guide I got it working a while ago and this is what I do, and you can call me a freak after.

Because I look after my stuff really well, I rip my cds in WAV and burn them to a disc using Nero. This is so I can put the original away to stay new. (you can start the freak part about now).

Then I rip in iTunes at 128 VBR. I was using 160 but started to run out of room, and until I get myself another external HDD that's more handy than my current one, I will stay at 128.

I suppose my questions is, if I'm ripping from the non original source CD, but it's EAC WAV burnt CD, will it rip as cleanly as if I used the original source CD? I know I could just as easily rip both formats at the same time, WAV & iTunes AAC, but I'm using 2 computers, so I'd have to take the original to both and couldn't be bothered. It's also a method I use to check that my burnt CD has indeed ripped & burnt correctly in WAV.

And another thing, has anyone noticed iTunes 7 seems to rip a little louder, or have my ears finally stop ringing after concerts?

[shabbs]

Originally Posted by melsmusic

Because I look after my stuff really well, I rip my cds in WAV and burn them to a disc using Nero. This is so I can put the original away to stay new. (you can start the freak part about now).

Why don't you just make a clone of the original CD?

Cheers.

[melsmusic]

Originally Posted by shabbs

Why don't you just make a clone of the original CD?

Cheers.

Cool, but wanna share how I do that?

[shabbs]

Originally Posted by melsmusic

Cool, but wanna share how I do that?

I use SlySoft's CloneCD. By far the best CD cloning software on the planet. Worth it's weight in gold.

More info: http://www.slysoft.com/en/clonecd.html

Cheers.

[melsmusic]

Thanks Shabbsy. I'll keep it in mind, but I'll probably just keep doing what I'm doing as it seems to work, and it's free.

I really don't do much with DVDs, just decrypt out music videos I like and convert, so it would just be my CDs and knowing myself, once I start doing it, well I'd have to go and do them all, and I need to focus on work.

[shabbs]

Originally Posted by melsmusic

Thanks Shabbsy. I'll keep it in mind, but I'll probably just keep doing what I'm doing as it seems to work, and it's free.

No problem. But, how are you preserving ID3 tags if you are using WAVs? Are you creating a cue sheet?

Cheers.

[melsmusic]

Umm, not sure, but I get the track names from the database and make sure they are correct then click WAV. They go off into the Artists folder which I burn, making no changes like adding extra tracks. When I put the burnt CD in another PC, they display all the original information just like the original. Have I fluked it?

I do remember setting up the A% / blar blar bizo in the start though.

[paranoidxe]

For HD storage I like to use LAME, but for iPod I like 160kbps AAC.

[Teqnilogik]

Originally Posted by kornchild2002

Since I started using my gift cards, my music library is now mainly made up of AAC audio files. I just like to have continuity and I like everything to match. That and everything I have now plays AAC files. My Xbox 360, PDA, iPod, car CD deck (via a iPod input or AAC data CD), and cell phone. I just figured that, since all my friends have iPods and they all use the AAC format, everything I have plays AAC files, I have been using the iTunes store a lot, and the continued flow of gift cards, that I should just finally make the switch.

On this note, I'd like to say I, for the first time, have just bought some albums off the iTunes Music Store. And I liked it. It was quick, easy, and saved me money. I bought 4 albums I had been eying for a while. One I could only find for $17 at FYE and I got it on iTunes for $10. So I got 4 albums for $40 when if I would have bought them at FYE or at CD Universe those CDs would have probably cost me over $50. One album I bought was an imported album that I found for $20-30 at online stores and I got it for $10 on iTunes. I'm satisfied with the quality and I primarily listen to the music on my PC so my CDs usually just sit on my shelf collecting dust anyway. I may buy more music in the future off iTunes. Plus I like how I can burn unlimited CDs of the music and play my music on up to 5 PCs.

[kornchild2002]

The iTunes Store is pretty convenient, you are just one click away from getting the music of your choice. I tend to purchase music off of the iTunes Store that is hard to find, I don't like purchasing new albums that I could find at Best Buy (especially since Kittie's new album will be on sale for $7.99 at Best Buy but iTunes will probably charge $9.99).

You can copy your iTunes music to an unlimited number of iPods, play it back on up to 5 different computers, but you can only burn it to an audio CD 5 times. You can burn them to an unlimited number of data CDs but Apple restricts the amount of times you can burn the songs to audio CD.

[shabbs]

Originally Posted by kornchild2002

Apple restricts the amount of times you can burn the songs to audio CD.

I don't think they do. They do limit the number of times a playlist containing protected tracks can be burned to an audio CD to 7 (used to be 10) before you have to change the playlist.

Cheers.

[kornchild2002]

Ah, I thought that the tracks themselves could only be burned to an audio CD a limited number of times. I know other legal services that use the WMA format limit the number of times their tracks can be burned to an audio CD (I think Napster limits users to 3 times). Maybe I read the DRM thing wrong on Apple's website. Off to check it again.