Z Gluhak wrote:

Hey thelizman do you know how quality of a codec Napster or Itunes uses

when

you pay the buck for a song from them? It definitely sounds better than

FM

to me.

He was referring to the encoding algorithm. That is, the compression
algorithm used to MAKE mp3s from cds. What you're referring to is

DEcoding

the "universal" mp3 code, which should (theoretically) be the same across
players.




I understand - so was I. When you buy a song from Itunes or Napster, they
made the MP3. It's 128K. It sounds very close to cd quality.

I was wondering what codec, or encoding algorithm they use to make quality
Mp3s at 128K.

Z Gluhak wrote:

Hey thelizman do you know how quality of a codec Napster or Itunes
uses when
you pay the buck for a song from them? It definitely sounds better
than FM
to me.

Apple offers a tool for the record companies to encode their own
files--the "Music Store Encoder Tool." I haven't run across a copy
yet...

iTunes uses a 128 kbps bitrate, but they use AAC format instead of MP3.
They say it's roughly equivalent to a 160 kbps MP3, but on
complex/fast/detailed songs I've found that I want a higher bitrate.

Here's some info:
http://www.apple.com/mpeg4/aac/

Stuff like Jack Johnson or Norah Jones generally sounds fine to me; it's
fast punk rock--especially the drums and cymbals--that start sounding
"syrupy" to me. (That's the only way I know to describe it.)

From what I've read, Apple tries to rip the file from the original
studio masters/tapes which explains the high sound quality. If only
they'd offer songs encoded at 160 or 192 kbps...


HTH,
Adam