Background Hissing on Matched Tracks

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Background Hissing on Matched Tracks

I have digitized my vinyl collection using audible and used iTunes Match to successfully match much of my collection. However, some of the matched tracks contain a contant not-so-subtle background hiss. I get this background hiss on both my iMac (the original location of the digitized tracks) and on my iPad where I have enabled iTunes Match and Downloaded the tracks. I thought iTunes Match was supposed to replace my version with the higher quality digital version for matched tracks.

Two questions:

1. Does iTunes actually download the matched tracks and replace those on my iMac with the higher quality tracks? If not, Is there something I need to do to download the matched tracks so that I am getting the higher quality version on my iMac?

2. Is the matched digital version of the same sound quality as I would receive if I purchased the track through iTunes and downloaded it?

MacBook, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Aug 29, 2013 7:52 AM

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Answer 1

mracole

Level 4

1,102 points

Aug 29, 2013 8:43 AM in response to eaharper

Answers are:

1. No. iTunes Match would not replace your original Songs in your library. The hiss is your original recording. To gain a matched Song you would need to backup your current Song files, confirm you have a match ny looking at the iCloud Status field in Song view, if so, delete the current library Song, iTunes will then allow you to download the matched Song.

2. Yes.

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Answer 2

Aug 29, 2013 10:10 AM in response to eaharper

Hi,

Are you sure that the tracks have been matched? Matching vinyl rips can be very hit or miss.

Add iCloud status column to song view. What is iCloud status?

Jim

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Answer 3

eaharper Author

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Aug 30, 2013 1:45 PM in response to mracole

I have backed-up and deleted the subject tracks. Then I redownloaded the files from iCloud. I still get the hissing sound. This is only a problem with some of the matched tracks -- not all. But it is a problem with all of the tracks on this particular album. I don't hear the hissing when I sample one of the tracks in the store. Any other suggestions?

And Yes, Jimzgoldfinch, it definitely matched and I am able to download from iCloud.

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Answer 4

mracole

Level 4

1,102 points

Aug 30, 2013 5:24 PM in response to eaharper

A puzzle! If the iCloud Status for a Song is Matched and you have downloaded the Song, it will be the latest from the iTunes Store.

From your comment it seems you found an apparent difference compared to the limited play back from the store samples - can think of no obvious explanation for this. Jim is highlighting that whilst some Songs may Match on an album, others may fail match and be Uploaded, downloading a prior Upload would of course reproduce any hiss from the original recording.

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Answer 5

Aug 30, 2013 10:57 PM in response to eaharper

eaharper wrote:

And Yes, Jimzgoldfinch, it definitely matched and I am able to download from iCloud.

Have you enabled the iCloud Status column in iTunes? If not you are simply making an assumption the tracks are "matched" and not "uploaded." To make certain you need to enable this column by pulling down View > View Options and select iCloud Status. Then close the small window. After doing that you can definitely see if the tracks in question are "matched" or "uploaded." If uploaded, then the hiss is on the original track.

From your description of what you are hearing you will most likely discover that the original tracks in the iTunes library will have been "uploaded" and not "matched." So there won't be anything you can do about the hiss.

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Answer 6

eaharper Author

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Aug 31, 2013 9:11 AM in response to Michael Allbritton

As you can see from the screen shots below, show iTunes in Cloud is enabled, and all tracks on the Album is showing as matched.

I am beginning to wonder if this has something to do with multiple Apple IDs. When I upgraded my IOS -- I believe it was last March to version 6.1.3 I got the message that I needed to create a new Apple User ID that would be the same as my email address. Since then I have struggled with these multiple Apple IDs. I notice now that if I switch to my old Apple ID in the iTunes Store the iCloud status changes. For these particular tracks the iCloud status goes back to 'waiting'. When I go back to my new Apple ID I have to turn on iTunes Match again and the iCloud status returns to 'matched'. Has anyone heard of this before?

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Answer 7

eaharper Author

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Aug 31, 2013 9:12 AM in response to Michael Allbritton

Other Image as noted in the previous message:

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Answer 8

Aug 31, 2013 9:46 AM in response to eaharper

Hi,

I think the hiss problem is due to the age of the recordings. Artur Schnabel recordings are pre 1951! No matter how good modern technology is, I doubt that you can completely remove his without destroying the dynamic range of the original recording.

With regard Apple ID, you can only use the one that you used when you signed up to match. When you sign in using your other ID, the iCloud status will show as waiting and will not change as match does not apply to that ID.

Jim

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Answer 9

eaharper Author

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Aug 31, 2013 9:59 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Thank you for trying to help. Understanding that the original recording was in 1951, still the sample of these tracks on the iTunes store is substantially free of the hiss.

For some reason what is stored in my iCloud account is my original ripping of my copy of the vinyl record (from 1951) even though iTunes reports that the tracks were matched.

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Answer 10

Sep 1, 2013 2:58 AM in response to eaharper

Hi,

I believe that the recordings were made in 1934 and I doubt that you have matched on your original rips. There are several versions available from different record companies. I believe you may have been matched to an inferior version which shows up hiss more than the other versions.

There are two sets of the Complete Piano Sonatas - it is clear that the quality is different between each version. I have Spotify and was able to compare Sonata No.1 from each source.

Jim

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Answer 11

mracole

Level 4

1,102 points

Sep 1, 2013 3:45 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Jim,

Excellent detective work. Old recordings used as masters will always be limited. Glad to see such a simple explanation - the tracks are 'matched' but to a version that has reproduction issues due to the age of the master.

The only anomaly remaining is why the iTunes Store sample aparently sound so much better - there are many potential explanations - suspect Apple Support would need to explain the true source used for the real answer to emerge.

- eaharper, can you provide the reference to the specific Songs in question within the iTunes Store?

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Answer 12

eaharper Author

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Sep 1, 2013 7:25 AM in response to mracole

Excellent work in deed. Thank you Jimzgoldfinch and Mracole.

I did not realize there are multiple versions of this recording in the iTunes library -- and clearly verified my version against a newer version in the iTunes Store.

I can see now from the info dialog box that my recording matched to the 1934 version. Since I ripped my vinyl recordings a good while ago I no longer have the vinyl record or cover to verify what I originally had, but I suspect it was the older recording.

Thanks for your persistence!

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Answer 13

mracole

Level 4

1,102 points

Sep 1, 2013 7:47 AM in response to eaharper

Good to see it solved.

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