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mp3 vs. AAC vs. apple lossless

I'm new to the world of Mac and don't really understand the difference between importing music as an mp3, aac, or apple lossless. I just assumed that mp3 was the encoder I should use when importing my cds but I'm starting to think I was wrong. Could someone explain the difference between the encoders and what would be best for someone who wants to have a large library of songs in itunes? Which format takes up the least space on my hard drive but doesn't lose the audio quality? Also which format is best for uploading music to an ipod mini? Thanks for the help!

Posted on Aug 18, 2005 9:19 AM

Best reply

Michael Allbritton

Level 6

16,951 points

Posted on Aug 18, 2005 9:33 AM

Michelle, it really depends what you want to do with your music. If you want to listen to it on an iPod, or other digital music player then MP3 is the best bet because more digital music players support that format. Since you say you want to use your music with an miniPod then I suggest you use AAC. You will get slightly better sound quality, at lower bit rates like 128 Kbps, with slightly smaller files than if you used MP3.

Both AAC and MP3 are what are called "lossy" file formats. When you encode music in these file formats part of the music is being discarded so that the file can be made as small a possible. In general the part that is thrown away is inaudible to the human ear so most people cannot hear what is lost. Apple Lossless, as the name tells us, is a "lossless" file. No data is thrown away and the full CD-quality audio is retained. The drawback to this is that lossless files are considerably larger than lossy formats.

Full quality CD audio will take up about 10 MB per minute of song (this is a rough estimate). So a 4 minute song will be approximately 40 MB. An Apple Lossless file of this song will be about half that, say 20 MB. An MP3 or AAC of the same song will be about 1 MB per minute of song, so roughly 4 MB.

And that, in a nut shell, is all about the different file formats. 🙂

If you want compatibility go with 160 Kbps MP3. If you want better quality and file size go with 128 Kbps AAC.

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25 replies

Oct 26, 2005 12:16 PM in response to Boss McGillicutty

continued:

Hmmm, so I need to change the setting to ensure that iTunes doesn't change what I already have, huh? Right. My fault, clearly.

Where did your guys' logic go? I wanted to import my mp3s. Your beloved iTunes (ohhhh, look at me, I have an iPod and love iTunes, aren't I kewwwl?) changes format by default. Clearly the logical thing is to leave my freakin' mp3s as mp3s. If I want my mp3s to be something else, I should have to take action to change them. It defies logic to have them automatically changed without my permission, and then have the burden on me to stop iTunes from doing that. Rubbing salt into the wounds, you Kool-Aid drinkers seem to think this makes sense. They don't teach you guys logic at Apple Community College, do they? "Watch the ticking clock, you're getting sleepy, sleeee-eee-ppyyy...[now, Steve, pour the Kool-Aid down their throats, do it, before they snap out of the trance!]"

Why is it so hard for you guys to admit that it's a jack to CHANGE MY mp3s to another format (the AAC format, as it was...) without first checking with me?

p.s. U2 is the lamest band ever

p.p.s. Michael wrote: "we will do our best to help solve problems if that is really what you want to do."
--yeah, solve this: make iTunes not hijack my music by changing its format into their AAC thing. What's so hard about keeping it in the format I have it, rather than changing it without my permission?

varjak paw

Level 10

170,206 points

Oct 26, 2005 12:19 PM in response to Boss McGillicutty

Boss, you persist in misunderstanding, and no, I didn't contradict myself at all. The point we're all trying to make is that iTunes did not do anything to your original MP3s. They are still there, unchanged in MP3 format, on your external drive. iTunes made copies; it did not change your original tracks.

So again, delete the AAC versions and use the Add To Library command to add your tracks from your external hard drive into iTunes. And set the iTunes Importing preference to MP3 so that nothing you import from a CD in the future comes in as any other format.

And just FYI, no one here works for Apple. Everyone is a volunteer, helping out as we have time and knowledge. So if you want help, try to be a bit more polite, since no one here owes you one minute of their time. I understand how you might be frustrated and how you might disagree with how iTunes does things, but if you just want to rant, then there are a lot of independent forums where you can do so to your heart's content, but it's not appropriate nor allowed (per the Terms of Use for the Discussions).

Oct 26, 2005 12:54 PM in response to Boss McGillicutty

--Yes, it did happen. You're wrong. Get it right, you're a Level 3 tech, this ain't little league no more.

I'll be ignoring you from now on, since you can't conduct yourself in a civilized manner. And you get negative votes from me.

Oct 26, 2005 1:05 PM in response to Boss McGillicutty

Yes, it did happen. You're wrong.

No, you are completely wrong, but apparently also immune to logic or reason.

you're a Level 3 tech

No, we are all fellow users. Level are an indication of how long we've been here, and how many posts we have.

If you want help, you have been given many answers, all of them correct. Avail yourself of them. If you want to argue, while clearly in the wrong, please go elsewhere.

Oct 26, 2005 1:07 PM in response to varjak paw

Thanks, Dave. So, in other words there's no mp3 versions of my imported music on my Apple, like lurking in my hard drive. Rather, what Bossy needs to do is re-import his music, using the "Add To Library" command to bring them in from his external hard drive.

And since I haven't added any new music to my iBook since that fateful day when I first imported my music from my external hard drive, I might as well just delte my entire iTunes library, wipe it clean, get a fresh start. To delete everything, is it just as simple as "select all" (highlighting all tracks) and dragging to the trash? So, once that's all erased, then the Bossman sets the importing preferences to mp3 (just did this) and imports everything again -- right?

And if the Bossman does this, then all his music will be in mp3, so he can speed on down the highway listening to the mp3 CDs he burned from iTunes -- yes?

Thanks a ton, I'll buy ya beers someday and we can zoom around in my Camaro, listening to my sweet mp3s, and head to the strip clubs!!!!! iTunes rules.

Oct 26, 2005 1:10 PM in response to Michael Allbritton

What??! Negative votes?? This is a travesty. How do I file a protest? Negative votes? Well, I tell you, next time I'm sitting in my parents' basement playing Dungeons and Dragons, I'm gonna cast a spell to give YOU negative votes.

You're the one who gets negative votes.

Oct 26, 2005 1:27 PM in response to Bruce Hoover

How am I "clearly in the wrong" when I'm saying that my mp3s shouldn't be automatically changed to Apple's AAC format when I import my music? And, indeed, upon importing my music, all my mp3s now became this worthless format. Worthless for my ability to make mp3 discs to play on my car stereo -- I have them in mp3 format for that very reason, it's my music, and it should be my choice of the format I want to have it. Now, before you start with the "it IS your choice" bit, remember that, by DEFAULT, iTunes changes my mp3s to AAC. Man, that's SO underhanded. It's like those b.s. places that have the box checked, by default, to send you spam or junk mail. In no way is it logical or decent to change MY music format by default. I bought this iBook, it is mine. I have my mp3s, they are mine. But iTunes changes them on MY Apple. Lame. Worse yet is that you guys defend it. Unreal.

Despite all the denial by you tech guys (some of you -- some say yes, some no), the fact remains: I plugged in my external hard drive, brought in my mp3s to iTunes, and without first checking with me, iTunes CHANGED format on my mp3s, rendering my music useless for my mp3 player. THAT is LAME. But I'm "clearly in the wrong?" You don't like my approach, that's one thing. But being in the wrong about iTunes hijacking my music format? Oh, do elaborate, please.

varjak paw

Level 10

170,206 points

Oct 26, 2005 1:29 PM in response to Boss McGillicutty

To delete everything, is it just as simple as "select all" (highlighting all tracks) and dragging to the trash?

No, since that will leave the tracks listed in the iTunes library (it's rather like a library's card catalog; you need to delete the entry as well as trashing the book). What you should do is select all the tracks in iTunes and delete them there. You'll be asked if you want to also send the tracks to the Trash; answer yes.

So, once that's all erased, then the Bossman sets the importing preferences to mp3 (just did this) and imports everything again -- right?

Setting the Import preference will affect anything you import from CD. To bring in the tracks from your external hard drive, first make sure that the setting to "copy files to the iTunes Music folder when adding to library" option (iTunes Advanced -> General preference) is set. The use the Add To Library command (under the File menu) and select the main folder containing your tracks on your external hard drive. iTunes should then copy (and not change) the tracks onto your iBook's hard drive.

varjak paw

Level 10

170,206 points

Oct 26, 2005 1:37 PM in response to Boss McGillicutty

We've explained this several times now, Boss, including how to avoid the problem in the future. So please stop with the rants. It's accomplishing nothing, and is completely unfair to the person who started this thread. If you want to complain to Apple about the way iTunes does things, use one of the feedback pages (for now, the Mac OS X page will probably be most appropriate) or write Apple directly. But persisting in ranting and arguing, particularly since your post was a threadjack to begin with, will most likely just get your posts deleted by a Discussions Moderator.

If you persist in having problems getting your MP3s into iTunes (and don't just want to complain further), please start a new thread with your issue. As I said, we're being very unfair to the person who started this thread.

BTW, the ITunes Help states clearly that the default import format is AAC. And it also says how to bring in tracks from other applications or drives. So the information is there; it wasn't some big dark secret.

That's all I'm going to say on the matter here. Again, if you continue to have problems and don't just want to rant more, start a new thread and, if you're polite, I'm sure that folks will try to help you sort it out.

Nov 15, 2005 9:05 PM in response to Lita Kaufman

Hello, I'm not sure if this is the appropriate way to post but it seems I'm in the right place. I have been reading all of these posts but right now im interested in just getting more songs on a friends new nano. All my songs are /were imported from cd's as MP3s @ 160. I would like to downgrade the files to 128 mp3. just for a set of 1000 songs. In a step by step fashion, how can this be done?

mp3 vs. AAC vs. apple lossless