How to convert WAV to Apple Lossless?

Question

How to convert WAV to Apple Lossless?

I just bought an Ipod and have all my music on my computer in WAV format. Could someone please describe how do I convert to Apple Lossless? It isn't descrtibed in the manual.
Gerry

30gig Ipod, Windows XP

Posted on Jul 5, 2006 2:16 PM

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Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Jul 5, 2006 2:58 PM in response to stupidityPolice

Any reason you want to convert to Apple lossless and not AAC?
You can also, leave it in WAV.

iTunes prefs -> Advanced - Importing. Set it to Apple Lossless.
Select OK.
Go to File -> Import and select what you want.

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Answer 2

Jul 5, 2006 3:35 PM in response to stupidityPolice

Although the AAC format gives excellent audio reproduction with minimal compression a word of warning: if you have any other mp3 players (non ipod) it is unlikely that they will recognise and therefore be able to replay this fairly apple specific format. Further more if you wish to play these files on a pc which is not running itunes, it is likey that you will have to download an aac codec in order for them to be recognised. Although recognised as an "inferior" format mp3 (lame)is a much more portable compression and therefore will play on 99% of pc's/mac's/mp3 players. If you convert your wav files to a mp3 bit rate of >192kb/s I don't think you will notice a difference in audio quality. iTunes allows you to rip to an mp3 encode, just select it from the drop down list rather than the aac and select a bit rate of 192kb/s (or more) from the setting tab, the default is 128kb/s. Your mp3 encoded files will also take less space on your ipod.
Just thought you may like to know of further options...

MB67

Fujitsu Siemens Amilo 2.8GHz. 1GHz. RAM Windows XP 5G 60Gb

Fujitsu Siemens Amilo 2.8GHz. 1GHz. RAM Windows XP 5G 60Gb

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Answer 3

Jul 5, 2006 3:30 PM in response to Chris CA

I was under the impression that if I wanted to preserve full CD quality I needed to use WAV or a lossless compression (Apple lossless). The problem is that I followed the normal ipod instructions and, using AAC, imported a playlist I had made for my Squeezebox (WAV files). It worked fine but then I deleted everything in my library (to start from scratch) and changed my "preferance" to Apple Lossless. Now I can't import anything and keep getting the message that file.m3u cannot be imported and that an unknown error occurred (-50). Now I can't import anything, even if I change back to AAC. I'd sure appreciate some help.

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Answer 4

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Jul 5, 2006 3:34 PM in response to monkeyboy67

the AAC format gives excellent audio reporduction with minimal compression
It does not have "minimal compression".
It compresses the heck out of the file. The compression is almost identical to MP3 at the same bitrate.

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Answer 5

Jul 5, 2006 4:46 PM in response to Chris CA

AAC is NOT an Apple codec.
AAC is an industry standard put out to replace the old mp3 codec.

Info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AdvancedAudioCoding

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Answer 6

Jul 5, 2006 4:54 PM in response to Johnathan Burger

It is an industry standard but has primarily only been adopted by apple and hence my point re. AAC encoded files are not very "portable". As yet it has failed to replace the mp3 lame codec and probably never will. FLAC is another lossless std (that won't play on an ipod) which is increasing in popularity.

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