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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: jmerin on July 21, 2008, 09:10:53 AM

Title: ipod question
Post by: jmerin on July 21, 2008, 09:10:53 AM
hey everyone i have an ipod question. i downloaded a few mp3s for ipod and i converted them to m4a. do you think that there is a huge audible difference between mp3s and m4a. they are both compressed to begin with.  thanks. just having m4a saves me so much space.
 
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: bgalizio on July 21, 2008, 09:12:29 AM
I don't think you should reencode a lossy format to another lossy format. That's just asking for more quality degredation. If they're in mp3 format to begin with, just keep them that way.

However, give them both a listen and see if you can tell a difference. Depending on the playback environment, you may or may not.
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: bluntforcetrauma on July 21, 2008, 09:20:00 AM
For what its worth I just play FLAC  on the ipod.  I do hear that difference.
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: jmerin on July 21, 2008, 09:24:25 AM
For what its worth I just play FLAC  on the ipod.  I do hear that difference.

you can't play flac on ipod. and of course i would rather have flac on ipod. but you can't
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: stantheman1976 on July 21, 2008, 09:39:07 AM
Doesn't Rockbox have a version for the iPod?

AFAIK iPods do play normal MP3 (at least my nano does) so there is no need to re-encode.
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: jmerin on July 21, 2008, 09:42:20 AM
Doesn't Rockbox have a version for the iPod?

AFAIK iPods do play normal MP3 (at least my nano does) so there is no need to re-encode.

yeah, ipods do play normal mp3s, but i always tried to keep my ipod the same format. i will start to just leave the files as mp3s. i have backed up all of the mp3s that i have downloaded. there may be 15 albums that i converted from mp3 to m4a. plus its hard for me to tell teh difference between the 2. both are compressed music
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: eric.B on July 21, 2008, 09:42:57 AM
yes there is no reason to "re-encode" an mp3 file.. if it's an mp3 to start with, I'd keep it that way..

when it comes to quality of mp3 over m4a..   I prefer the m4a encoding that itunes performs over 192 mp3..
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: jmerin on July 21, 2008, 09:45:10 AM
yes there is no reason to "re-encode" an mp3 file.. if it's an mp3 to start with, I'd keep it that way..

when it comes to quality of mp3 over m4a..   I prefer the m4a encoding that itunes performs over 192 mp3..

i think i will re do some of my music. i need a bigger ipod. i have a 80 gb fileld up. thanks again. just re do any music that i converted from mp3 to m4a
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: evilchris on July 21, 2008, 11:15:00 AM
AAC (aka ".m4a") is a superior codec in almost every aspect, but transcoding from one lossy format to another is never a good idea.
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: jmerin on July 21, 2008, 11:45:23 AM
AAC (aka ".m4a") is a superior codec in almost every aspect, but transcoding from one lossy format to another is never a good idea.

cool thanks. i will just redo my ipod.  it is not too many albums
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: sunjan on July 21, 2008, 01:32:00 PM
you can't play flac on ipod. and of course i would rather have flac on ipod. but you can't
Stan is absolutely right. They sure can, at least up till Ipod ver. 5.5:
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodPort#Rockbox_Status
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: bluntforcetrauma on July 21, 2008, 08:19:29 PM
For what its worth I just play FLAC  on the ipod.  I do hear that difference.

you can't play flac on ipod. and of course i would rather have flac on ipod. but you can't

yes you can

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodPort

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WpsGallery#iPod_WPS_config_file_gallery

your welcome

Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: jmerin on July 22, 2008, 09:01:07 AM
does not work with the new ipods.
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: bugg100 on July 22, 2008, 10:34:10 AM
AAC (aka ".m4a") is a superior codec in almost every aspect, but transcoding from one lossy format to another is never a good idea.

cool thanks. i will just redo my ipod.  it is not too many albums


If you "redo", you are transcoding, which is never a good idea for sound quality. Have a listen at the cymbals in the transcoded atuff you have now....

Transcoding is the same problem as editing a photo that started as a jpeg and then saving as a jpeg again. You will notice the squarish blocks of wrong colors...
Title: Re: ipod question
Post by: jmerin on July 22, 2008, 10:50:50 AM
cool thanks, i am glad that i can just put the mp3s back on with out worrying.  i just started to get mmp3s when flacs were not available