Apple looking to switch to 24-bit audio?

[BStecke]

Source.

Apparently Apple may be looking at upgrading iTunes quality again, by utilizing 24-bit tracks instead of the current 16. Definitely a step in the right direction, I'd say. I don't buy a whole lot off of iTunes almost expressly due to the lack of quality, and I'm sure there are many that feel the same way.

Of course, if this happens, they'll probably be offered at a premium compared to current iTunes Plus tracks, but I'd imagine that, like iT+, they'll eventually become the standard.

[SeanMF]

Originally Posted by BStecke

Source.

Apparently Apple may be looking at upgrading iTunes quality again, by utilizing 24-bit tracks instead of the current 16. Definitely a step in the right direction, I'd say. I don't buy a whole lot off of iTunes almost expressly due to the lack of quality, and I'm sure there are many that feel the same way.

Of course, if this happens, they'll probably be offered at a premium compared to current iTunes Plus tracks, but I'd imagine that, like iT+, they'll eventually become the standard.

They do this and allow for 24/96 off apple tv 2 then I'm buying another one. Otherwise I'll have to buy a mac mini and use my old one for my music server (current apple tv only supports 16/48 I think).

[Hammie]

The issue with the article is whether these will be lossless. These could be nothing more than 24-bit AAC files.

However, maybe Apple wants to go cutting edge and these may be the newer HD-ACC format, which is based off the MPEG-4 SLS standard. It basically has an ACC core (lossy) with a full lossless layer in one package. It allows the playback capability for both devices that only support lossy and those that also support a lossless format.

I have not done much research, so I cannot tell you who or what supports this codec and how playback for lossless would be supported.

[Chevypower]

Originally Posted by Hammie

The issue with the article is whether these will be lossless.

Hopefully they are uncompressed, and not a compressed lossless format. But I think at best, it will be Apple Lossless (m4a).

[botley]

I already use 24-bit ALAC files on my iPod touch; hopefully plenty of titles in the iTunes music store will be offered in that format soon!

[richteer]

If they use lossy compression, it doesn't matter whether they use 16 bits, 24 bits, or a million bits. With lossy compression musical information is irretrievably thrown away, so what would be the point (apart from marketing to the unknowing masses...)?

Now, if they embrace 24-bit audio at a decent sampling rate and either don't compress it or (much more likely) use lossless compression, THAT would be something interesting. Even better if they used an open format like FLAC, rather than their own propriatory CODEC.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by richteer

If they use lossy compression, it doesn't matter whether they use 16 bits, 24 bits, or a million bits. With lossy compression musical information is irretrievably thrown away, so what would be the point (apart from marketing to the unknowing masses...)?

Now, if they embrace 24-bit audio at a decent sampling rate and either don't compress it or (much more likely) use lossless compression, THAT would be something interesting. Even better if they used an open format like FLAC, rather than their own propriatory CODEC.

Even 16-bit lossless would be better than what they offer today.

[Chevypower]

Originally Posted by botley

I already use 24-bit ALAC files on my iPod touch; hopefully plenty of titles in the iTunes music store will be offered in that format soon!

Where do you get 24 Bit music, and how do you rip it?

[thelonecynic]

Originally Posted by BStecke

Source.I don't buy a whole lot off of iTunes almost expressly due to the lack of quality, and I'm sure there are many that feel the same way.

That goes for me too, only that while I'd have had no problem buying 16-bit files, I never buy music from iTunes because of the fixed 128kbps bit rate. An option to buy at 320kbps is what I would've wanted, with pdfs of the cover art and inserts included. For the lack of these, I continue to buy CDs.

[BStecke]

Originally Posted by thelonecynic

That goes for me too, only that while I'd have had no problem buying 16-bit files, I never buy music from iTunes because of the fixed 128kbps bit rate. An option to buy at 320kbps is what I would've wanted, with pdfs of the cover art and inserts included. For the lack of these, I continue to buy CDs.

iTunes upgraded most of their songs to 256kbps awhile ago, man But yeah, still not enough of an upgrade for me to be interested. 320 is my minimum threshold.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Chevypower

Where do you get 24 Bit music, and how do you rip it?

HDTracks.com has 24-bit FLAC files. I use Max on my Mac Mini to convert them to 24-bit ALAC.

[Chevypower]

Originally Posted by Hammie

HDTracks.com has 24-bit FLAC files. I use Max on my Mac Mini to convert them to 24-bit ALAC.

Thanks, I have never heard of that before. Noticeable difference over CD quality?

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Chevypower

Thanks, I have never heard of that before. Noticeable difference over CD quality?

Only about the difference between a black and white snapshot vs a colour medium format photo!

CD quality ain't THAT good, ya know...

[BStecke]

Am I missing something on HDTracks? I searched for quite a few artists and got no results.

Sent from my Droid X

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by BStecke

Am I missing something on HDTracks? I searched for quite a few artists and got no results.

Sent from my Droid X

They have limited artists. It may be easier to browse by Genre.

[Chevypower]

Originally Posted by richteer

Only about the difference between a black and white snapshot vs a colour medium format photo!

CD quality ain't THAT good, ya know...

Yeah i've been wanting something better for a long time. I believe vinyl often sounds better. I noticed it when I bought an LP that I already owned on CD. I only bought it for nostalgia. But I thought I would play it, and I was shocked. I tried SACD, and was pretty impressed with that. I might try a 24 Bit album download next time.

[Jodi]

Originally Posted by Hammie

HDTracks.com has 24-bit FLAC files. I use Max on my Mac Mini to convert them to 24-bit ALAC.

Hi "Hammie"!
I am wanting to start listening to 24-bit music on an iPod (iPod Touch, more precisely).
I currently have a MacBook Pro that's nearly 18 months old. I am a HUGE Mac fan!!! You said you're using a Mac Mini as well as a "Max" to convert 24-bit FLAC files to 24-bit ALAC files.
Please tell me exactly how you do this. I have found some albums at HDTracks.com (24/96) that I would love to purchase and download.
I actually would like to get a Mac Mini sometime.

Please help

[BStecke]

Originally Posted by Jodi

Hi "Hammie"!
I am wanting to start listening to 24-bit music on an iPod (iPod Touch, more precisely).
I currently have a MacBook Pro that's nearly 18 months old. I am a HUGE Mac fan!!! You said you're using a Mac Mini as well as a "Max" to convert 24-bit FLAC files to 24-bit ALAC files.
Please tell me exactly how you do this. I have found some albums at HDTracks.com (24/96) that I would love to purchase and download.
I actually would like to get a Mac Mini sometime.

Please help

Max is a free program for converting audio files. You can download it here.

Once you get it installed, open it up and you'll get a window where you can add files. Open up preferences and you can select the output format of files you convert. Select Apple Lossless. After that, click the + button to add files to the previously mentioned window, then click convert, and you're done. If you want to edit the metadata/cover art there are tabs across the top of the files window that allow you to do so.

Hope that helps, and honestly I'm writing off of memory, so if I'm not 100% correct, it should be close.

[Clock]

Originally Posted by Hammie

The issue with the article is whether these will be lossless. These could be nothing more than 24-bit AAC files.

Would 24 AAC sound better than 16/44 CD?