AIFF or ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) for ripping cds songs into iTunes.

Question

AIFF or ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) for ripping cds songs into iTunes.

I did lots of time on the internet about which Audio Format was or is best for iTunes while ripping songs from cds that I have. So it took forever to find a good site or a good comment from someone or some kinda good site to explain which was better to use for iTunes on Mac. So the 2 options I’m locked in on are AIFF and ALAC to rip cds songs into. Y iTunes Library on my MacBook Air 2013 model.

Does anyone know which is better or which one is used for ripping CDs songs from iTunes? Cuz I’ve read tons of definition and explaining about the 2 formats from different sites and I still can’t just figure out and or decide which is best to use. Because a site mentioned about the 2 formats that

ALAC is good for ripping songs if you want to hear the same maximum quality of the song from the album, artist and type of music that the CD can reach to while importing it to iTunes using a SuperDrive disc product from Apple that I currently own.
Then you have AIFF explaining that u take the CD that u want to use, import it to iTunes at either AIFF-Custom- Auto settings or at AIFF-Custom- whatever setting u pick to use as good sound quality (as in highest quality).

So in the end does anyone know which format is the best to use for ripping cds songs into iTunes Library?

thnks for your answer and advice about my question.

MacBook Air 13", macOS 10.15

Posted on May 12, 2020 2:37 PM

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Answer 1

ed2345

Level 9

63,584 points

May 12, 2020 4:28 PM in response to Kirkthe_Weatherman

To add to Mr Hoffman's info, note that ALAC and AIFF give equivalent audio quality but ALAC files are around half the size. They achieve this through a process called "lossless compression."

AIFF files with normal (CD-quality) settings will be about 10 MB per minute of music.

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Answer 2

May 12, 2020 3:13 PM in response to Kirkthe_Weatherman

Just rip it into whatever sounds good to you, and get on with your life?

You're ripping 44.1 KHz sampled input from the CD media, which means any discussions of higher bitrates and lossless formats and whatever is just silly. 44.1 KHz in, 44.1 KHz out.

Audio aficionados can argue endlessly over the relative audio benefits of digital audio transmitted over "plain" and over gold-plated Ethernet cables.

It's about what you can hear, and what you like, and what you can afford.

But you're still not going to do better than 44.1 KHz sampling when ripping CD input.

That works out to ~176 KBps (bytes), and MP3 recording will then provide 128, 160, or 192 Kbps (bits).

Lossless formats are great, if you have input that matches that, and are best for folks with better hearing and better equipment and bigger budgets than many of us have.

Apple iTunes Match and Apple Music can get you higher-sampled audio, if Apple has matching music. That'll usually get you 256 Kbps.

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AIFF or ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) for ripping cds songs into iTunes.

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