iPod Compression
Posted by: Greg Beatty on 09 August 2004
Calling All iPod Users...
I recently got an iPod (one for me this time...my wife also has one) and so far have only loaded uncompressed files. I know this takes up the most space, but I want the honeymoon period to sound as good as possible
I have wired the iPod through the hifi and my wife and I both enjoy having our iPod music available through the hifi. Her files are at maximum compression and they sound flat and with poor timing compared to my uncompressed files.
My question to the iPoders out there is what compression is best to use? I want the result to sound very close to the uncompressed result since I will be playing the iPod through the hifi.
Your sage advice is anxiously awaited.
- GregB
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Posted on: 09 August 2004 by garyi
BAsically Greg your best bet will be the apple lossless compression, as this takes nothing away from the file (In effect it zips the file)
This will reduce the files by around half
Posted on: 09 August 2004 by Bruce Woodhouse
On a related theme-my wife has suggested she buy me an ipod for my next birthday. I have iTunes on my laptop and it occurred to me that I could start saving CD's to the laptop so once the iPod arrives I can just transfer everything across. However what file format do I store them in for least quality loss when I transfer them? Capacity at this stage not an issue but i assume that saving in one format and then swapping to another will cause data loss.
Bruce
Posted on: 09 August 2004 by Greg Beatty
Bruce -
"but i assume that saving in one format and then swapping to another will cause data loss."
I'm not positive, but I believe that you choose the format when you "rip" the CD. So if you want to change formats, you have to re-rip the CDs you want in the different format.
My concern is that ANY processing of the data may mess up the timing. My wife's fully compressed files (which, to be fair, really isn't the recommended compression unless you MUST put 10 gazziollion songs on the iPod) sound decent in a quick A-B, but I find that I can't listen to them and keep switching songs. In contrast, I can listen to my uncompressed files all day, even through the stock earbuds. More evidence for me against the quick A-B type dem.
I will try Apple Lossless as Garyi suggested and see.
- GregB
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Posted on: 10 August 2004 by j8hn
EAC/Lame/VBR can't beat it
Posted on: 10 August 2004 by Greg Beatty
Ross -
Thank you for your thoughts on this. Are you using a Mac or a PC? You mention WAV, and I am ripping to AIFF on an iBook. AIFF played through the hifi sounds very good - better than my aging mid-fi CD player in some respects.
"I often get exactly the same sense of satisfaction and pleasure from the iPod that I do from my main system, proving that it's the music, not the medium."
Yes...I have the sense that the iPod is a very well balanced source component. It gets the music right, offers up enough dynamics to be engaging, and then gets out of the way.
I read that firmware update 2.1 improved the sound quite a bit, so anyone reading this who hasn't heard an iPod recently may want to try one again. Oh, and the files in the demo iPods in the stores are usually compressed files, so I really didn't hear the iPod sound good until I loaded uncompressed files on mine.
- GregB
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Posted on: 11 August 2004 by Bruce Woodhouse
Which format is actually the 'smallest' ?
Bruce. Confused
Posted on: 11 August 2004 by Not For Me
Don't mention Ogg Vorbis to the Ipod generation. They can't have it yet (or ever?)
DS
OTD - Fuzz DJ & Unit 700 - Acid Burns NYC
Posted on: 11 August 2004 by Greg Beatty
Ross -
I will undertake a comparsion at some point. Its time consuming though...was hoping for a clear answer
Bruce -
"Smallest"? Probably MP3 at 16kbs (in iTunes on a Mac). Files would be miniscule compressed this way...you could literally hold up to 10,000 songs on one iPod this way (I think).
David -
What in blazes is Ogg Vorbis?
- GregB
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Posted on: 11 August 2004 by Dan M
quote:
Originally posted by Greg Beatty:
What in blazes is Ogg Vorbis?
Another compression standard. I listen to KVCU's Ogg-Vorbis stream, (
http://www.colorado.edu/StudentGroups/KVCU/) and at the high bit rate it probably the best net radio sound I've heard.
Dan
Posted on: 11 August 2004 by Greg Beatty
Ross -
"Use the MP3/Lame settings (such as alt-preset-standard)"
I don't see these listed as import options in iTunes. iTunes has MP3, and I clicked to the options page, but noting about LAME or alt-preset-standard, etc. Just options for adjusting bit rate and such.
- GregB
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Posted on: 12 August 2004 by Greg Beatty
"but you might need to ask the geeks on iPodlounge.com about that."
You mean there is a group geekier than us???
Thank you for your advice
- GregB
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Posted on: 12 August 2004 by Not For Me
Greg,
As mentioned above, Ogg Vorbis is an encoding method which is widely accepted to offer a better sound quality and results in smaller files than MP3 etc.
It also has the advantage that it is very free, and nobody in the production or listening chain has to pay royalties to anybody.
For more info :
http://www.vorbis.com/DS
OTD - Dr Walker - Psychedelic Kitchen
