Mac Query

In itunes goto itunes-preferences

Then import settings, set it to AIFF or if space is tighter Apple Lossless.

And thats it.

For play back make sure EQ is off and so too is any sound enhancements in the preferences,

Consider turning the error correction on. Slows down the rip but might result in slightly better rips. Some say you should not have the Mac doing anything else during the rip, but I personally think that's rubbish.

You could consider downloading XLD an using this for ripping rather than using iTunes. Quality will be the same (in my experience) where your original CD is in a good, clean state, but XLD gives you the assurance that the rip is good.

When playing back, it's best to change the sample rate and bit depth in the Audio Midi utility to match the track you are playing. For CD rips this will be 16/44.1kHz but if you download high resolution material this will be higher. You need to Quit and restate iTunes after making the change.

Eloise

Dipak,

If you're going to play those tracks on an ipod, you might want to consider then re-ripping your new AIFFs or lossless files as 320 AACs. Lossless files or better can apparently knacker the battery of your ipod and I've found that 320AAC is good enough for casual ipod use. It sounds a pain but you'll have done all the re-labelling and so on the first time. If you're going to play itunes through your hifi, set up smart playlists that only consist of AIFFs or lossless files etc.

quote:

Originally posted by chaliapin:
Lossless files or better can apparently knacker the battery of your ipod

Is there something we should know?

I believe it's something to do with the speed or frequency with which the cache has to be refilled. You've startled me into checking my original assertion and there seem to be a fair few sites confirming that this is the case.

As far as my own experience is concerned, when I started ripping a year or so ago, I found that some AIFFs sometimes seemed to stutter - it's not a problem I've ever had with 320 AACs.

Well I did a quick google myself and all I could find was that larger files reduce battery life due to the hard drive spinning up more often to fill the cache.

Hardly knackering the battery?

Knacker, reduce - let's agree it's a potential issue, disagree about its possible impact and see how Dipak gets on.

I had this bookmarked from a couple of years ago.

nap-ster - thanks, this looks like a useful site. Was there a particular page that you had in mind?

quote:

Originally posted by chaliapin:
nap-ster - thanks, this looks like a useful site. Was there a particular page that you had in mind?

Well I guess you could try the iTunes/QuickTime set up pages.

If you do have files with differeing sample rates, it may be worth considering software like 'Amarra' it senses the chane in sample rate and automatically changes it,saves closing itunes going to Audio midi etc, and itsounds better than itunes too.

Thanks, nap-ster. For some reason I couldn't get past the first page yesterday but it seems to be working for me now. I certainly hadn't realised that itunes is based on QuickTime.

Hello gang

Just to say many thanks for all of the responses to my query. All very much appreciated.

Dipak