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Issues with "Apple Digital Master" music

I bought the "Michael Jackson - Thriller" album in 2009, and it was not an "apple digital master". Now, in 2023, when I look at the album info in the "store", there is an "apple digital master" bar. But the files are the same!



[Edited by Moderator]

Windows, Windows 6

Posted on Jan 27, 2023 10:24 AM

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7 replies

Jan 27, 2023 12:00 PM in response to Talich

I'm a fellow user trying to make sense of what you're seeing. I don't know for certain what is happening behind the scenes. See Apple Music - Apple Digital Masters - Apple. This paragraph from the Apple Digital Masters (PDF) link is perhaps relevant:


Note: Apple Digital Masters replaces Mastered for iTunes as the name of the program to reflect the fact that these audio advantages are available to our entire music catalog across the Apple ecosystem, whether streamed or downloaded. All Mastered for iTunes releases are now badged as Apple Digital Masters and the Mastered for iTunes software tools are still usable for Apple Digital Masters creation.


It may also be worth noting that I've seen at least one user complaining that their (presumably redownloaded) music was now a remastered version when they preferred the original.


tt2

Jan 27, 2023 11:10 AM in response to Talich

Stream the tracks in the store and compare to your local copies. Are they really the same or are there subtle differences? It is possible your older purchase has been upgraded to current release, and removing your current downloads and then redownloading would upgrade the tracks in your library. Backup first in case you don't like the change.


tt2

Jan 27, 2023 11:18 AM in response to turingtest2

Yes, the songs are exactly the same. And the labels are the same. And the bitrate is the same. In addition, itunes does not offer me to buy the songs, but offers to play them back (because they are supposed to be already bought by me before). The question is, how can it be that the same track can be both apple digital master and not)

Jan 27, 2023 11:41 AM in response to Talich

iTunes Store downloads still come at 256K AAC even for remastered tracks. What might change, for example, could be the overall loudness or there could potentially be some subtle changes to the mix. Perhaps the original iTunes release qualified as an Apple Digital Master even though they weren't using it as an advertising term back then. If you have Apple Music the same album is available in Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res Lossless. Contact Official Apple Support and see if they can provide a more complete answer.


tt2

Issues with "Apple Digital Master" music

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