apple itunes

[2008 IQ is unacceptable]

I was wondering if all downloadable itunes tracks can be ripped to the hard drive in any format.

For example, if I download a 256kbps (the max I think) track, can I rip it to my HD as a lossless format (e.g. FLAC, wav), or no?

 

[willardjuice]

I was wondering if all downloadable itunes tracks can be ripped to the hard drive in any format.

For example, if I download a 256kbps (the max I think) track, can I rip it to my HD as a lossless format (e.g. FLAC, wav), or no?

You could but you wouldn't gain any quality (in fact transcoding from any lossy format will actually decrease quality).

 

[2008 IQ is unacceptable]

Thanks=]

Why are they so popular if they're only in 2 lossy formats?

That sucks.

Another question: where can I purchase and download tracks in a lossless format?

 

[Albuquerque]

I thought iTunes provided tracks in FLAC format? Maybe I'm thinking something else...

 

[2008 IQ is unacceptable]

I thought iTunes provided tracks in FLAC format? Maybe I'm thinking something else...

I just read that apple was expected to use alac (similar to flac) but they haven't said anything.

1 TB hard drives serve no purpose, but that's not the hdd makers' fault.

Also, what format do most games for windows use? Devil May Cry 4 did NOT sound anywhere near cd quality to me. Dynamic range was awful and voice samples lacked any punch. So I have no idea how it could be using wma lossless.

It uses dolby digital for 5.1 audio, so is it safe to assume the audio for 2 channel was encoded in mp3 format?

The ps3's BD-ROM drive allowed it a huge advantage over the x360 and PC versions because it used LPCM for 5.1 rather than lossy out-of-date dd.

 

[Albuquerque]

I just read that apple was expected to use alac (similar to flac) but they haven't said anything.

I don't use iTunes, so it's pretty much meaningless to me either way. Just something I thought I'd read somewhere -- maybe it's just that iPods support the FLAC codec. Hell who knows, I know that I really couldn't care less...

1 TB hard drives serve no purpose, but that's not the hdd makers' fault.

I'm not really sure how this comment is even relevant. Are you somehow trying to make an argument for uncompressed data? I have several uses for 1TB of harddrive space, like VMWare images, SQL databases, what seems like a million pictures from my DSLR, and of course lots of games.

Also, what format do most games for windows use? Devil May Cry 4 did NOT sound anywhere near cd quality to me. Dynamic range was awful and voice samples lacked any punch. So I have no idea how it could be using wma lossless.

It uses dolby digital for 5.1 audio, so is it safe to assume the audio for 2 channel was encoded in mp3 format?

The ps3's BD-ROM drive allowed it a huge advantage over the x360 and PC versions because it used LPCM for 5.1 rather than lossy out-of-date dd.

You can have a perfectly lossless compression audio file (or even, if you wanted to make the argument, an uncompressed raw WAV) that still sounds like complete shit -- compression (or lack thereof) cannot make up for a poor source.

An absolutely terrible painting will look equally terrible in JPEG, PNG or BMP formats within reason. I think you need to understand the difference between source art flaws and compression flaws before you continue making these sorts of posts.

 

[nutball]

1 TB hard drives serve no purpose, but that's not the hdd makers' fault.

This is an incorrect statement. I think you mean that 1TB drives serve you no purpose. Some of us have racks full of them and they still aren't enough

 

[Skrying]

If you get DRM free tracks from iTunes then yes they can be transcoded but even to a lossless format that's going to cost you in quality, it's not even a direct translation. Also, the reason why iTunes is so popular is because it's Apple and they're the darling of electronics these days.

Personally I would buy only from Amazon, a number of the tracks are cheaper on Amazon, their selection is just as wide, every track is DRM free, and they're in higher quality. Apple probably hasn't acted on lossless formats because hardly any of their consumer base cares.

The ps3's BD-ROM drive allowed it a huge advantage over the x360 and PC versions because it used LPCM for 5.1 rather than lossy out-of-date dd.

For the Xbox 360 that can be the case, but I'd venture to guess the actual data amount used hardly matters. To be honest unless you're using very high end equipment a good MP3 rip at high quality VBR is extremely hard to tell from lossless, or so I've found from doubleblind testing. Also, on PC it doesn't matter at all. Data on a PC release is compressed and then uncompressed (lossless, of course) onto the hard drive, it can carry a number of discs and the up in costs is very small. A PC release can have far higher asset qualities because of this. It just stands audio is one of the least cared about aspects of games, sad really.

 

[2008 IQ is unacceptable]

I don't use iTunes, so it's pretty much meaningless to me either way. Just something I thought I'd read somewhere -- maybe it's just that iPods support the FLAC codec. Hell who knows, I know that I really couldn't care less...


I'm not really sure how this comment is even relevant. Are you somehow trying to make an argument for uncompressed data? I have several uses for 1TB of harddrive space, like VMWare images, SQL databases, what seems like a million pictures from my DSLR, and of course lots of games.


You can have a perfectly lossless compression audio file (or even, if you wanted to make the argument, an uncompressed raw WAV) that still sounds like complete shit -- compression (or lack thereof) cannot make up for a poor source.

An absolutely terrible painting will look equally terrible in JPEG, PNG or BMP formats within reason. I think you need to understand the difference between source art flaws and compression flaws before you continue making these sorts of posts.

How did I give a false indication that I didn't know the difference between art and tech? I definitely know the difference between technical quality and art quality=]

The tunes and effects were fine. The audio wholly sounded very compressed because highs and lows weren't very high or low.

 

[cal_guy]

I just read that apple was expected to use alac (similar to flac) but they haven't said anything.

1 TB hard drives serve no purpose, but that's not the hdd makers' fault.

Also, what format do most games for windows use? Devil May Cry 4 did NOT sound anywhere near cd quality to me. Dynamic range was awful and voice samples lacked any punch. So I have no idea how it could be using wma lossless.

It uses dolby digital for 5.1 audio, so is it safe to assume the audio for 2 channel was encoded in mp3 format?

The ps3's BD-ROM drive allowed it a huge advantage over the x360 and PC versions because it used LPCM for 5.1 rather than lossy out-of-date dd.

The PS3 only supports Dolby Digital 5.1 or Dolby Pro Logic II for games, the LPCM that you get from the PS3 is only the Dolby Digital or Dolby Pro Logic II format being converted into LPCM. No improvement of sound quality.

 

[willardjuice]

Another question: where can I purchase and download tracks in a lossless format?

I know this might sound like a blast from the past, but one can rip audio from a CD/DVD Audio/etc into a lossless format. I'm not aware of any place that let's you download (legally) songs that are lossless.

 

[2008 IQ is unacceptable]

I know this might sound like a blast from the past, but one can rip audio from a CD/DVD Audio/etc into a lossless format. I'm not aware of any place that let's you download (legally) songs that are lossless.

I found one: music giants.

It's quite obscure, but I found it.

 

[eastmen]

I know this might sound like a blast from the past, but one can rip audio from a CD/DVD Audio/etc into a lossless format. I'm not aware of any place that let's you download (legally) songs that are lossless.

Watch out with cds . If you read about the new metallica cd you can see that cds aren't allways untouched and high quality

Thanks=]

Why are they so popular if they're only in 2 lossy formats?

That sucks.

Another question: where can I purchase and download tracks in a lossless format?

Because the primary means of playback for itunes are through crappy pc speakers or crappy head phones. It allows you to buy single tracks so you can get the new hit song for $1 instead of $15.

 

[Skrying]

Watch out with cds . If you read about the new metallica cd you can see that cds aren't allways untouched and high quality

Eh? It's the highest quality you can find, which I would assume is the point. Now actual recordings are not always that great and in today's mainstream music (which Metallica is so proudly a part of now) often use of techniques in order to sound better on poor car systems or bad ear buds. The concept of making a track "hot" for instance by draining all the dynamic range. Partly to blame for teenagers obsession with raising the volume "because it sounds better." Really it's rather sad in whole.

 

[eastmen]

Eh? It's the highest quality you can find, which I would assume is the point. Now actual recordings are not always that great and in today's mainstream music (which Metallica is so proudly a part of now) often use of techniques in order to sound better on poor car systems or bad ear buds. The concept of making a track "hot" for instance by draining all the dynamic range. Partly to blame for teenagers obsession with raising the volume "because it sounds better." Really it's rather sad in whole.

http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1217931&postcount=47

apears that the guitar hero 3 verison is the best you can get of that ablum

 

[willardjuice]

http://forum.beyond3d.com/showpost.php?p=1217931&postcount=47

apears that the guitar hero 3 verison is the best you can get of that ablum

Yes but can I listen to the Guitar Hero 3 version in my Honda Accord or on my touch?

Unfortunately the Red Hot Chili Peppers (my favorite band) pull the same shit with their CD's. Although thankfully their vinyls are still mastered correctly. So while I own all their CD's, I always make sure to grab their vinyl rips too.