Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

headbirth · Sep 19, 2003, 09:33 AM

Hi, I've been riping my audio files as mpeg 4 using iTunes, but was wondering if I should be using the more widely supported MP3?

Thain Esh Kelch · Sep 19, 2003, 09:41 AM

Originally posted by headbirth:
Hi, I've been riping my audio files as mpeg 4 using iTunes, but was wondering if I should be using the more widely supported MP3?

Well.. Thats your own decision... Mp4 dont use as much disk-space as Mp3 (Half as much actually), so Mp4 would be the wisest choice..
But of course, if you like to share your music with the world and be a pirate (P2P), then Mp3 would be the best choice since there arent many programs on PC's, that plays Mp4. (I think)

Powaqqatsi · Sep 19, 2003, 10:37 AM

Originally posted by Thain Esh Kelch:
Well.. Thats your own decision... Mp4 dont use as much disk-space as Mp3 (Half as much actually), so Mp4 would be the wisest choice..(I think)

bzzzt wrong ! MP3 and AAC use exactly the same space when encoded at the same bitrate. What you mean is that you can get away with a lower bitrate with AAC and achieve the same sound quality, this lower bitrate results in less hard drive space being used.

VEGAN · Sep 19, 2003, 10:44 AM

Originally posted by Powaqqatsi:
bzzzt wrong ! MP3 and AAC use exactly the same space when encoded at the same bitrate. What you mean is that you can get away with a lower bitrate with AAC and achieve the same sound quality, this lower bitrate results in less hard drive space being used.

Isn't this exactly what people usually mean?

memento · Sep 19, 2003, 11:51 AM

Originally posted by headbirth:
Hi, I've been riping my audio files as mpeg 4 using iTunes, but was wondering if I should be using the more widely supported MP3?

That depends on what you're going to do with them. If it's just for you to listen to, then I recommend mpeg4. Better quality at the same bitrate or same quality with lower bitrate. Either way you win. But if you share your music with people who can't use mpeg4, then it should be mp3 for their benefit.

For me and my ipod, I immediately re-ripped my collection to mpeg4 when my ipod was updated to support it. It was a no-brainer.

headbirth · Sep 19, 2003, 11:57 AM

One other question ... if I convert an mpeg4 to 3 how much of the quality, if any, am I losing?

Is it a pretty good conversion?

VEGAN · Sep 19, 2003, 12:10 PM

Originally posted by headbirth:
One other question ... if I convert an mpeg4 to 3 how much of the quality, if any, am I losing?

Is it a pretty good conversion?

You always lose with conversions... but how much... Why not take this as a home assignment and try it out and tell us too

dreilly1 · Sep 19, 2003, 12:53 PM

Originally posted by VEGAN:
You always lose with conversions... but how much... Why not take this as a home assignment and try it out and tell us too

I've taken Apple Store files, burned them to CD, then re-ripped them as MP3 (192kbps), and to my tone-deaf ear, these files sound just as good as MP3 files ripped from a CD.

I imagine that doing the conversion directly wouldn't have any more of a quality loss. It's all about Math, anyway!

memento · Sep 19, 2003, 01:15 PM

There will be a loss in quality, but it is up to the individual to figure out if they can live with it or oeven if they can tell the difference.

wataru · Sep 19, 2003, 02:00 PM

Originally posted by VEGAN:
Isn't this exactly what people usually mean?

What people say and what's actually true isn't always the same. AAC is only half the size of MP3s if you use half the bitrate. But clearly not many people understand this, so it's best to use more precise wording.

To address the original poster's question: I would go with AAC unless you know you'll need to be listening to the files on something other than a Mac or iPod.

bmedina · Sep 19, 2003, 11:52 PM

There are plugins for people to listen to mp4s on a PC, so sharing isn't a big issue, IMHO.

The real issue is compatibility with portable players. But as people have said, if you have a portable that can play mp4s, it will save you some space to rip to mp4 rather than mp3 at the same quality.

Devin Lane · Sep 20, 2003, 02:36 PM

Go with AAC (m4a) if you want high quality songs and the coolness factor of using a new format.

Go with MP3 if you want to share your songs with others (particularly PC users), are ok with slightly less quality (at the same file size), and like faster imports. (The MP3 codec takes less time to encode than the MP4 codec does.)