Topic: ipod question

[jmerin]

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.
 

[bgalizio]

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.

[bluntforcetrauma]

For what its worth I just play FLAC  on the ipod.  I do hear that difference.

[jmerin]

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

[stantheman1976]

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.

[jmerin]

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

[eric.B]

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..

[jmerin]

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

[evilchris]

AAC (aka ".m4a") is a superior codec in almost every aspect, but transcoding from one lossy format to another is never a good idea.

[jmerin]

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

[sunjan]

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

[bluntforcetrauma]

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

[jmerin]

does not work with the new ipods.

[bugg100]

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...

[jmerin]

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