AAC burning and copying?

[Patrick]

If I have AAC files in my itunes and I burn a copy for a friend, will there be quality loss on that second disc?

[RRobar]

Well, by using AAC you've created a lossy version of what you ripped. So, I'm guessing the answer would be yes. That is if your comparing to a store bought CD or burned CDR from a lossless source. It's probably not going to be that noticeable especially if it's encoded at a bit rate and if it's a studio release probbaly not noticeable. But in short yes, there is quality loss.

[Patrick]

Well, by using AAC you've created a lossy version of what you ripped. So, I'm guessing the answer would be yes. That is if your comparing to a store bought CD or burned CDR from a lossless source. It's probably not going to be that noticeable especially if it's encoded at a bit rate and if it's a studio release probbaly not noticeable. But in short yes, there is quality loss.

That makes sense.  My question was mainly directed toward shows.  When ever I do trades, it's better (or required) that I burn the WAV files instad of the AAC files.

Thanks for the reply.

[RRobar]

Well, by using AAC you've created a lossy version of what you ripped. So, I'm guessing the answer would be yes. That is if your comparing to a store bought CD or burned CDR from a lossless source. It's probably not going to be that noticeable especially if it's encoded at a bit rate and if it's a studio release probbaly not noticeable. But in short yes, there is quality loss.

That makes sense.  My question was mainly directed toward shows.  When ever I do trades, it's better (or required) that I burn the WAV files instad of the AAC files.

Thanks for the reply.

No problem, One thing though you should not be trading files sourced from a AAC file. Your better off archiving the shows in FLAC/SHN and then burning your audios. Unless, I'm missing something here. It sounds like your sending out stuff you burned out of itunes. Which iTunes is great for listening but unless, your using Apple's Lossless codec (not AAC) your polluting the gene pool of that recording. I would get in the habit of decompressing the archived flac shows and burning straight .wav files using Nero or what not. I guess Nero will birn audios of flac files directly which will save time but I have no experience with doing that  (sorry, I'm a mac guy).

[Patrick]

Well, by using AAC you've created a lossy version of what you ripped. So, I'm guessing the answer would be yes. That is if your comparing to a store bought CD or burned CDR from a lossless source. It's probably not going to be that noticeable especially if it's encoded at a bit rate and if it's a studio release probbaly not noticeable. But in short yes, there is quality loss.

That makes sense.  My question was mainly directed toward shows.  When ever I do trades, it's better (or required) that I burn the WAV files instad of the AAC files.

Thanks for the reply.

No problem, One thing though you should not be trading files sourced from a AAC file. Your better off archiving the shows in FLAC/SHN and then burning your audios. Unless, I'm missing something here. It sounds like your sending out stuff you burned out of itunes. Which iTunes is great for listening but unless, your using Apple's Lossless codec (not AAC) your polluting the gene pool of that recording. I would get in the habit of decompressing the archived flac shows and burning straight .wav files using Nero or what not. I guess Nero will birn audios of flac files directly which will save time but I have no experience with doing that  (sorry, I'm a mac guy).

I don't use Nero, I run OSX as well.  I haven't traded any discs burned from AAC yet, and I figured I wouldn't because this was bad practice.  I just wanted to make sure that was the case.

i really wish that OSX has Toast, or something similar, because extracting audio in itunes is such a pain, especially when you are just going to delete the files after you're done burning the discs!

Anyways, thanks for the help

[greenone]

Well, OSX does have Toast...it's just not free. You can use xACT to extract the files - drag and drop, pretty damn easy. But it sounds like you want to burn discs on the fly - that's never a good idea...

[willndmb]

you will get a small gap with aac files in itunes too
even if you set the gap at 0, there will be one with any compressed file in itunes

[Patrick]

you will get a small gap with aac files in itunes too
even if you set the gap at 0, there will be one with any compressed file in itunes
[/quote

I've never run into that problem before.   

[RRobar]

Yes, I recommend the method above. Use xACT it's your best friend on a mac. Scott Brown did make a little app. Called Flaac that would convert FLAC files to AAC. WOrked pretty good. I think he still has it up somewhere. But if your trading shows, avoid using itunes. Buy Toast and your life will be much easier. If i'm making stuff for iTunes for listening on the iPod, I'll use Flaac or just burn audios with toast and then import into iTunes. That way I can update or use the CDDB for track listings. I'm always suprised on how many shows have tracklists there. If they don't I always update so others don't have to. I'm sure others have their own methods.

[willndmb]

you will get a small gap with aac files in itunes too
even if you set the gap at 0, there will be one with any compressed file in itunes
[/quote

I've never run into that problem before.   

maybe its fixed in new versions, but in older versions you got a gap (like a .05 sec), just like if you import into ipod there is a gap
its small though and unless you burn live shows you might not notice it
even then its hard to hear sometimes