Which File Type Is Best For My Ipod Classic 160GB?

[admin_exported]

I've not got Apple Lossless on my files but a slightly larger file size (can't remember offhand what it's called!) playing through a B & W Zeppelin. Can anyone recommend the best way to store the music files on said ipod please for the system i'm playing it on?

 

[professorhat]

Assuming this other format is incompatible with your iPod, I would opt for Apple Lossless myself.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Prof, i'll check my settings and get back to you with the file format. However, is Lossless the best way to rip cds with no loss of clarity?

 

[professorhat]

Well, the best way is a subject of huge debate for some reason. However, for my purposes, ripping CDs into Apple Lossless (with the error correction option ticked within iTunes preferences) suits me just fine.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks Prof, i'll have to re-rip my 230ish cds again!!!!

Most tracks are stored in an AIFF format, i notice the sizes are bigger than lossless so does this mean they're better quality? Soz if i'm being dim, i'm enthusiastic but not very tech-aware!!!!

 

[professorhat]

Pretty sure you can just import AIFF into iTunes as it's supported so should be no need to re-rip. Use the File > Add to Library option to try it out.

Sizes of files with lossless formats vary mainly down to the compression algorithms used - in theory there shouldn't be any difference between different lossless versions in terms of sound quality, but many people have reported they can hear differences (including in a Big Question article done in WHF a couple of months back). Having never done any comparisons, I can't comment personally, I'm just happy with Apple Lossless as I'm an Apple Mac, iTunes using, iPod owning kind of fella!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks prof you're a star! I should have said that i ripped them into itunes using AIFF not lossless & also that i've heard a slightly better quality with lossless as opposed to AIFF as i've got some Shure 530-PTH phones too. When all's said & done it's ultimately down to the listener i spose......

i want to put some videos taken by me on a camera & can't seem to convert them for ipod, d'ya know how to do this too? Please send an invoice for your invaluable time!!!!!

 

[idc]

Hi davewolton. AIFF is a lossless format, like Apple Lossless. I think that the only major difference is that AIFF files are slightly larger than Apple Lossless. But with your 160gb ipod you will still be able to store hundreds of CDs.

As for videos, I have no experience. But on itunes the downloads I have which included a video, the video is on an MPEG4 file. So I would presume that the format you want to convert to is MPEG4 or MP4.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks IDC, so i won't necessarily have to convert from AIFF to lossless as this is actually a bigger file?

By definition of being a bigger file does this mean that AIFF will sound better than lossless?

Many thanks.

 

[professorhat]

davewolton:i want to put some videos taken by me on a camera & can't seem to convert them for ipod, d'ya know how to do this too? Please send an invoice for your invaluable time!!!!!

No worries, all part of the service!

For converting videos for the iPod, easiest way I know is the Red Kawa software - just pick the version that suits your iPod.

 

[idc]

davewolton:

Thanks IDC, so i won't necessarily have to convert from AIFF to lossless as this is actually a bigger file?

By definition of being a bigger file does this mean that AIFF will sound better than lossless?

Many thanks.

Both are lossless formats, it is just that the AIFF file is slightly larger. In the same way different forms of compression produce different size files. So Ogg Vorbis 128kbps files are smaller than AAC 128kbps files. But the difference is insignificant when you have PC and ipod storage capacities now available.

As for is bigger better? Well, some say they can hear the difference between different lossless formats, but others say they cannot and indeed no one can. Many say that a lossless file will produce better SQ than a compressed file. But others say they cannot tell the difference and others again prefer the sound of compressed files. I particularly like the sound of Ogg Vorbis files streamed by Spotify and rate is as sounding as good as, if not better than Apple Lossless. You, on the other hand may find it to be different.

 

[Alec]

idc:davewolton:

Thanks IDC, so i won't necessarily have to convert from AIFF to lossless as this is actually a bigger file?

By definition of being a bigger file does this mean that AIFF will sound better than lossless?

Many thanks.

...some say they can hear the difference between different lossless formats, but others say they cannot and indeed no one can...I particularly like the sound of Ogg Vorbis files streamed by Spotify and rate is as sounding as good as, if not better than Apple Lossless. You, on the other hand may find it to be different.

Y'what?

EDIT - ignore this post. Tried to delete it but there was a problem with that page.