Lossless Apple Music library sharing

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Lossless Apple Music library sharing

I have a Mac mini (M1) attached through USB to my amplifier. The Mac mini is only used to play (lossless) music through library sharing, since my (rather large) collection is on my iMac. Before 11.6 Music on the Mac mini lets me always listen to the collection on my iMac in lossless version when the album is available as lossless (thanks to Apple Music).

Since 11.6 Music refuses to give my the lossless versions of the shared library. Only the songs I purchased in iTMS are available as lossless.

It seems that Apple only gives you the lossless version when you bought it on iTMS; when you buy the cd and you rip it to aac Apple doesn't let you listen to it in lossless since 11.6.

Has Apple changed politics since 11.6 or does anyone know a solution? I've checked my preferences and everything is set for lossless audio so I can only guess Apple has changed something.

Posted on Sep 23, 2021 12:40 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

ed2345

Level 9

62,852 points

Sep 24, 2021 12:46 PM in response to Corradomac

Corrado,

If you have an Apple Music subscription, you should be able to download any lossless track that is available in the catalog. It does not matter if you previously bought it or not.

However, if you already have a non-lossless version of the track, you need to delete it (or at least remove it from your library) so that the lossless version can download. Maybe this is what you are seeing with your previously-ripped tracks?

See more information in here

About lossless audio in Apple Music - Apple Support

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Answer 2

Corradomac Author

Level 1

22 points

Sep 26, 2021 10:50 AM in response to ed2345

Thanks for your help! For example: since I am a huge U2 fan I bought the physical version of "All That You Can't Leave Behind (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) [2020 Remaster]" and ripped it to my iMac. Through library sharing I am able to play it on the Mac mini which is connected to my Hegel H120 amplifier over USB. I think that before 11.6 when I started playing that album Music automatically started streaming the Hi Res Lossless version. Since 11.6 I have to search in Apple Music (I have a subscription) for the album and start playing it to have the Hi Res Lossless version. It makes no differences if I copy the album to the library of the Mac mini.

It's not a big issue but I think it is a change in behavior of Apple Music.

It also makes me wonder if I should continue buying a physical version or only buy music in the iTMS. However, since I am a collector and fan of a few groups I still prefer the physical version, but it's only limited to a handful artists because I only take the cd by hand one time just to rip it and after that it stays in the cupboard.

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Answer 3

ed2345

Level 9

62,852 points

Sep 26, 2021 5:31 PM in response to Corradomac

Corrado,

Yes that may be a change in behavior of Apple Music. (I do not have an active subscription so cannot experiment with it.)

As for continuing to buy physical versions and downloads, it is really a question of what makes you comfortable. Tracks in the streaming service are only playable as long as they remain in the catalog and your subscription is active. For certain artists that you love, a physical copy or a purchased download may be worthwhile.

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Lossless Apple Music library sharing

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