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Longstride · Feb 12, 2002, 06:49 PM

OK so now that QT6 has at least been announced (who know's when we'll get it due to the licensing issues), who thinks we'll have AAC support in iTunes/iPod shortly after QT6 is out the door? I've been hoping for that because I would be able to archive my CD's at a lower bitrate than MP3.

DeepDish · Feb 12, 2002, 09:58 PM

I have not started archiving my CDs into mp3 yet. I was waiting for my new iMac before doing so. But to archive them into ACC right off the bat would be better yet. Apple, please have iTunes rip CDs into ACC.

[ 02-12-2002: Message edited by: DeepDish ]

mattmarshall · Feb 12, 2002, 10:52 PM

what is aac?
acc?

never heard of either (though i'm assuming they are the same, and one of you made a typo)

[ 02-12-2002: Message edited by: mattmarshall ]

Longstride · Feb 12, 2002, 11:25 PM

AAC stands for Advanced Audio Coding (or Codec I'm not positive) and it is the most likley successor to MP3. Apple demostrated it today at Quicktime Live as part of the MPEG 4 support in QT6. From what I have read is that 92kbs AAC is roughly equivalent to 128kbs MP3 and 128kbs AAC should easily beat MP3 at 192kbs. I think it even has the ability to encode 5.1 audio information at 320kbs with excellent quality. If you would like to read up check out this page aac-audio.com

Sylvain Kioskmovie.com · Feb 13, 2002, 10:19 AM

I hope Apple will add AAC encoding days, weeks before QT6 is available. I would be able to then brodcast my encoded AAC files to QT6 clients ! But I don't know if it is part of the MPEG-4 licensing problems as AAC seems to be both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 specification

mitchell_pgh · Feb 13, 2002, 10:39 AM

I'm not 100% sold on AAC. I think it would be cool, but just think about all of the MP3 mucic out there! I guess since iTunes will play both, it's not such a big issue, but...

I am considering burning all of my music with AAC at high quality so I can say goodbye to my CD's and toss them into the basement forever!

Sylvain Kioskmovie.com · Feb 13, 2002, 10:43 AM

I need AAC because I need great quality and not great bitrate (to broadcast) I Hope they will allow MP3->AAC too, but I haven't seen it yet for Windows so...

mitchell_pgh · Feb 13, 2002, 11:03 AM

I'm 100% sure there will be a MP3-->AAC program...

I can't wait for QT6!!! But waiting three+ months!!! That's crazy...

jcarr · Feb 13, 2002, 12:08 PM

iTunes uses the QuickTime engine, so updating to QuickTime 6 should allow iTunes to take advantage of the AAC codec. Since the iPod uses a hardware decoder, that is a different story.

I'm sure after the licensing hurdles are overcome, and QuickTime 6 is oficially released, these questions will be answered.

mitchell_pgh · Feb 13, 2002, 12:35 PM

for the iPod, it's a simple thing of updating the firmware... it's not going to happen overnight, but it will happen if Apple is serious about AAC.

Mac Write · Feb 13, 2002, 09:03 PM

I legally ripped all my CD's into 320bps MP3's, and was going to start archiving them this year (on CD so I don't have to reripp if well my HD belly's),.

in about 2 years, when I am going to add a 200+GB HD to my Beige G3, and ripp all my CD's in AIFF format for maximum quality. Then I will archive the CD DB so that if I need to reripp the collection (HD failure) I can just insert and ripp (no fixing ID3 tags).

By then I should have around 100 CD's.

Then I will have a True CD Jukebox

mitchell_pgh · Feb 14, 2002, 01:02 PM

what if I were to tell you that you couldn't tell the difference between AAC and Original CD's? It's true. With MP3's, I can hear the difference. But with AAC, I can't... unless I encode it at the lower 64/kbps... At 128, it's like true CD quality...

Longstride · Feb 14, 2002, 10:28 PM

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
I'm 100% sure there will be a MP3-->AAC program...

Even if they have a converter it won't make the MP3's sound any better, you've already lost data in the 1st compression.

I think AAC will be on par or better than Sony's ATRAC used in for Minidisc. I cannot tell the differece between CD Audio and ATRAC (not MDLP modes, I can tell with those). I want to encode all my CD's into AAC for backup and LAN purposes, and also dub all my CD's to Minidisc to take on the road. That way I handle my valuable CD's very little and don't risk gettin them stolen out of my car or baking them to death in the summer sun!

mitchell_pgh · Feb 15, 2002, 08:58 AM

AAC is better then Sony ATRAC. Smaller files and higher quality. I couldn't tell the difference between CD quality and AAC @ 128kb/s.

Longstride · Feb 15, 2002, 02:43 PM

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
AAC is better then Sony ATRAC. Smaller files and higher quality. I couldn't tell the difference between CD quality and AAC @ 128kb/s.

Do you have any sources for AAC test files at different bitrates? How did you compare the audio, not on computer speakers I hope! The best way is to have the original CD and compare it to the AAC decompressed back into AIFF and burned to CD and tested on a high quality stereo and speakers. I think that is how professional sound tests are conducted.

ATRAC is pretty darn good though...it may take up a few more bits (full bandwidth is 292kbs) but some reviews have claimed it actually sounds better than CD audio (when taken from original source like DAT). Even at MDLP2 the bit rate is 132kbs and I cannot tell the difference on most stereo systems or portable headphones, but can tell on my home stereo. It could be that with a newer Minidisc deck it would encode even better with the new type R DSP that has some prediction built into the algorithm.

Either way I'm sure AAC rocks and can't wait to play around with it!

mitchell_pgh · Feb 18, 2002, 07:47 PM

Originally posted by Longstride:


Do you have any sources for AAC test files at different bitrates? How did you compare the audio, not on computer speakers I hope!
[/BQ]

That's how it sounds on my Rev. A iMac... Just kidding, it's from the sound studio at the university. It also sounds that way with my Bose headseat.

[BQ]
The best way is to have the original CD and compare it to the AAC decompressed back into AIFF and burned to CD and tested on a high quality stereo and speakers. I think that is how professional sound tests are conducted. [/BQ]

I did the same text that Apple preformed at Quicktime Live... There are also sound disks that test the limits of CD music disks. AAC preformed well.

[BQ]
ATRAC is pretty darn good though...it may take up a few more bits (full bandwidth is 292kbs) but some reviews have claimed it actually sounds better than CD audio (when taken from original source like DAT). Even at MDLP2 the bit rate is 132kbs and I cannot tell the difference on most stereo systems or portable headphones, but can tell on my home stereo. It could be that with a newer Minidisc deck it would encode even better with the new type R DSP that has some prediction built into the algorithm.

Either way I'm sure AAC rocks and can't wait to play around with it!