Low quality files on itunes store

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Level 1

4 points

Low quality files on itunes store

I have bought a handful of music tracks from the iTunes store that do not match the quality standards one would require when purchasing music files. I usually analyze every track I buy in order to attest to sound quality and was surprised at the low quality on a few of them. Honestly, they were sometimes inferior to tracks ripped off from YouTube, which is saying something. At first, I thought it was due to recording technologies as some of the first tracks where I noticed it were quite old, but later I found this on more recent recordings as well. Apple has refunded me on each occasion, which is fine.

My questions are:

Why does this happen?
And should I buy multiple recordings of the same track until I find one that is high quality?

I still want those tracks I got refunded in high quality.

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Nov 7, 2023 8:33 PM

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Answer 1

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ed2345

Level 9

62,828 points

Nov 8, 2023 8:49 AM in response to goulartclan

Goulart Clan,

OK, understood. By the way, "we" in my post is the user community, not officially speaking for Apple!

Apple does have recommendations for providing high-quality files, which you can read about here => Apple Music - Apple Digital Masters - Apple , and follow some of the links. However, especially in the case of small labels or vintage material, the good quality simply may not exist. (Your case of the same song from different albums having equally bad quality seems to be an example of this.)

Apple receives new material from labels at the rate of around 5 million tracks per year, and I doubt they will know what is going on with quality of a particular track. It would be interesting to follow up with one of the labels where the track had a problem, and see what they have to say.

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Answer 2

ed2345

Level 9

62,828 points

Nov 8, 2023 5:14 AM in response to goulartclan

Goulart Clan,

We can't speak to why it is happening, but do feel free to shop at stores that reputedly provide better quality downloads, such as HDTracks, Qobuz, Beatport, or EClassical. You can download from other sources and add them to your iTunes/Music library.

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Answer 3

goulartclan Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 8, 2023 7:48 AM in response to ed2345

Thank you for your answer ed2345. When you say "we", do you mean Apple or the community? Anyway, I'm aware of other platforms. The thing is, most of the songs I purchase are Brazilian music, which can't be found on the platforms you mentioned. I still would like to pursue a resolution where Apple simply loads better quality AACs which I suppose is only the right thing to do, since I believe all the music available on their platform is legal and in direct accord with record labels, why wouldn't they have the best quality files?

That said, I'm afraid my questions still stand.

I would still browse multiple versions of the same song though, if I were sure I could find a good quality track. But the only time I did this, I came across the same low-quality file, though they were issued as different albums and even had different prices.

Thank you for your time, it is really appreciated!

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Answer 4

goulartclan Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 8, 2023 9:19 AM in response to ed2345

Thank you again ed2345!

I will do exactly as you told me and see if I can get a reply on the issue from the labels themselves. And also check Apple guidelines.

On a side note, it's interesting to notice that on the Wild West of Torrents, there are communities that are really mindful of the quality of their uploads, whereas record labels themselves would deal so carelessly about the products they sell, isn't it?

Once again thank you!

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Answer 5

ed2345

Level 9

62,828 points

Nov 9, 2023 5:03 AM in response to goulartclan

...record labels themselves would deal so carelessly about the products they sell, isn't it?

Once again thank you!

Yes. But keep in mind that "label" can mean a lot of things. It can be an international conglomerate like UMG. Or it can be a little outfit who acquired the rights to some material when another little outfit went bankrupt, and they can barely afford studio time.

Anyway, you are quite welcome, and good luck in your investigations!

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Answer 6

goulartclan Author

Level 1

4 points

Nov 9, 2023 8:39 AM in response to ed2345

Thanks a lot!

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Low quality files on itunes store

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