How do I Download from Itunes store using the Apple Lossless format?
I use my music on a home sterio and import locally from CD's to Windows using the Apple Lossless format only, to achieve the Highest quality sound. However, When I buy from Itunes store I can only get AAC format, which is low quality. How can I get Itunes to give me only Apple Lossless format?
@jojolafrite : I used to feel the same way, feeling that a quality encoder (like LAME) at 256K or higher was indistinguishable from lossless. That is until one day I compared the song "Nothing But Flowers" (Talking Heads, Naked) in both formats. The introduction has a very quiet snare part. In Apple Lossless format, you hear all of it consistently all the way through. In 256k MP3, it drops out periodically.
I will not use AAC because I need to be able to burn MP3 CDs and you cannot do that directly (why can't iTunes change formats on the fly when burning.
I think the reason that people aren't flocking to sites that offer lossless downloads is that the content is indie stuff for the most part. In other words, for me, it's a content issue. I want the content I want, not some indie approximation.
@Apple: What would it really cost to offer Apple Lossless downloads. A little effort to convert the files, then it's all gravy. Sure, charge a bit more to cover the increase in bandwidth needed for the download.
The real answer is probably the RIAA. Those creeps seem intent on giving music lovers crippled low res music so no one will want to copy it.
BTW, Rhino offers some lossless downloads (in Apple Lossless format!). Gratefuldead.com offers some FLAC downloads. Neither offers everything in lossless though.
