Posted by NRen2k5 on 12/08/05 20:38

news wrote:
> NRen2k5 said the following on 08/12/2005 02:06 am:
>
>> news wrote:
>>
>>> CES said the following on 07/12/2005 09:25 pm:
>>>
>>>> All,
>>>> I'm in the process of re-ripping all of my CD's and I have a few
>>>> Questions before I start... I have always stayed away from AAC and
>>>> WMA because of copy protection and their for I have encoded at 328kb
>>>> in an MP3 format...
>>>>
>>>> If you encode using AAC is the file tied to the computer (ie: is
>>>> copy protection added)? If so is their a way of getting around that??
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> If you rip them to .aiff that is a format used by pro apps, and is
>>> supported by most things you would come across. It's lossless, but so
>>> is apple lossless and windows lossless. The main thing is that with
>>> either you may lose some compatibility.
>>
>>
>>
>> Same goes with .aiff. .aiff is an Apple format. Anf FYI, it isn't
>> lossless compressed. It's *not compressed*.
>
>
> Not the same by a long chalk. It was developed by Apple and Electronic
> Arts, the documentation and source is released free. There is another
> file format called AIFF-compressed. I wasn't talking about that. I
> didn't say AIFF is compressed.

You used the terminology incorrectly. "Lossless" implies "lossless
compression", because if you're not compressing the original recording,
then there's not even any question as to whether you're losing anything!

>>>> If you use one of the programs available to remove AAC copy
>>>> protection do you lose sound quality?
>>>>
>>>> If I encode using the AAC Lossless Encoder is their a way of
>>>> reconstituting the file back into the wav format without losing
>>>> sound quality?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> CDs use .cda format.
>>
>>
>>
>> No they don't. The format doesn't use files at all. It's just a stream
>> of digital audio with a table of contents.
>
>
> nitpicking, .cda is a pointer.

Okay, good, you understabd.

>>> The only easy way to keep them in this format would be to rip the
>>> entire Cd to a .DMG in finder. So long as the format is lossless it
>>> doesn't really matter, except that wma and aac both narrow down the
>>> compatibility field a bit. AIFF is fine.
>>
>>
>>
>> AIFF is not fine. Unless you're on a Mac (blech) or using some very
>> specific studio software, you're better off with WAV.
>
>
> This person uses a mac, and could easily convert to wav in the few
> occasions he wants to give a file to someone with a PC that has no
> programs on it that can read .wav, which would be extremely rare. Wav is
> not an open, format AIFF is. Interesting though, windows media player
> tells me the aiff format is invalid! Arrogant bastards!

Right, I didn't notice until now that he crossposted to some Mac groups
:P (advocacy? is that some sort of Mac propaganda group?)
Mac *just isn't* the right platform to be working with pre-recorded
audio on, i.m.o.
I'm replying from alt.music.mp3 by the way.

>> The OP didn't make any mention of iTunes or iPod. Sure, they're
>> popular, but don't just go out and assume that the OP would want to
>> use such garbage if he could just as easily avoid it.
>
>
> I didn't assume anything. The OP didn't say what he was using. Without
> any other info, on a mac it's mostly iTunes, and particularly with
> mentioning aac (where else would he get these legally?)

"Get these legally?" We're talking about making them, not acquiring
them. There are a number of AAC encoders available to Windows users,
including but not limited to FAAC, Psytel and iTunes (to Apple's credit,
iTunes has the best AAC encoder out there right now). Presumably with a
little work you can even get some of these libraries or CLI encoders to
work on your Macs. I've heard of people replacing iTunes' garbage MP3
encoder (a relic from its SoundJam days) with LAME.

> I thought it would be as well to mention the flac plugin, and then
> thought I might as well say I don't know about iPods. just in case.

You're right. Most definitely. Apple's practice is to restrict you as
tightly and often as possible to their own unpopular, closed formats.
Supporting FLAC on the iPod is completely inconsistent with this and so
I really don't see it happening.

BUT ANYWAY - BACK THE THE ORIGINAL TOPIC:
Mac users will prefer ALAC, and PC users will be fine either way, the
amateur ones tending more towards ALAC and the more advanced ones
leaning towards FLAC.

As for yourself... ALAC is easier for you, but since there are many more
PC users out there, THEY may be happier with FLAC.

Either way, rest assured that the music isn't trapped on your PC. You
aren't forced to use DRM with either format and I have my doubts that
either of them even *support* DRM.

- NRen2k5

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