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There was a short window when albums showed the Apple Digital Master badge when browsing titles in Apple Music. This no longer the case. I do see the badge when browsing titles on iTunes. An example is the 50th anniversary release of Abbey Road. iTunes shows it as an Apple Digital Master, while Apple Music does not. This the case for all Apple devices.
Will the badge return to Apple Music, or are all Apple Music titles Apple Digital Masters?
I’d like to know this, too. Since the announcement on ADM Apple has been so quiet I’m starting to think it was just to sour the launch of Amazon Music HD.
The big question for me is will Apple convert the older albums in the Apple Music catalogue? There are some glaring ADM omissions (Fleetwood Mac, the entire Steely Dan catalog, and don’t get me started on the classical, soundtrack and jazz genres) - are these going to be converted? If Apple is serious about audio quality and genuinely believes that higher bitrates or High Res aren’t the answer then it should do so much more than issue a press release.
I’d like to know this, too. Since the announcement on ADM Apple has been so quiet I’m starting to think it was just to sour the launch of Amazon Music HD.
The big question for me is will Apple convert the older albums in the Apple Music catalogue? There are some glaring ADM omissions (Fleetwood Mac, the entire Steely Dan catalog, and don’t get me started on the classical, soundtrack and jazz genres) - are these going to be converted? If Apple is serious about audio quality and genuinely believes that higher bitrates or High Res aren’t the answer then it should do so much more than issue a press release.
I would imagine so, but if you look at the iTunes Store there is little logic to what is an ADM. Why some Fleetwood Mac albums but not Rumours? Why no Steely Dan albums? Even new releases are hit and miss - Nick Cave’s Ghosteen isn’t ADM nor is the latest City & Colour release. Is it the labels or Apple? No idea
With regards to remastering older albums so that they meet the criteria for Apple Digital Masters - this is up to the artists and the labels. They need to remaster the albums so that they meet the criteria set forth by Apple to be an Apple Digital Master (formerly Mastered for iTunes). From 2012-2016 a lot of artists did this, but the pace has slowed for sure. The purpose of ADM is to create the highest quality masters possible for the lossy format, with improved dynamics, no clipping, etc. The fact that an album like Rumours by Fleetwood Mac that has been remastered for Hi-Def formats but is not considered an Apple Digital Master leads me to believe it did not meet the criteria set forth by Apple, while their other remasters did.
As far as iTunes Match, sometimes they are, and sometimes they aren't the ADM version. The best way to find out is to "Remove download" and then download the version from the cloud. If the file shows the ADM badge, then you have the ADM version. If not, then no. I have found some artists typically revert to this automatically (Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan) while other don't. It is up to the artists and their labels - they effectively control the content that is in the Apple Store.
As far as Apple Music files and ADM, it makes no sense to me why downloaded files that are Apple Digital Masters are not identified as such. Seems like a wasted opportunity. Particularly older albums where Apple may carry multiple copies of the album. Identifying Apple Digital Masters in Apple Music, as well as in the downloaded Apple Music files just makes sense and seems like it should be easy to do.
Hello? Anyone home? Apple Digital Masters on Apple Music would be a major selling point over Tidal and qobuz.
Does anyone know if iTunes Match tracks are apple digital masters?
Apple Digital Masters on Apple Music.
