iTunes Plus audio file settings (Encoding with third party such as XLD)

Question

iTunes Plus audio file settings (Encoding with third party such as XLD)

Hello All,

Can someone please confirm what settings one should use from XLD to create iTunes Plus quality files from FLAC files - There seems to be a lot of discussion on this and I have researched this over the weekend, but I cannot get a firm answer on which to use between the different formats of CBR, VBR or CVBR.

I guess the big question, is WHAT DOES APPLE use as this does not seem apparent from my purchased files as they simply show 256Kbps with a profile of Low Complexity but never revealing whether they are VBR, CVBR or CBR.

Thanks in advance!

Vin.

Mac Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Feb 3, 2014 6:39 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 3, 2014 6:52 AM in response to Vincenzo Baldacchino

Hi,

iTunes plus uses VBR. The default settings in iTunes is 256 Kbps VBR.

I don't really think it matters about whether it is VBR Or not. I doubt that you will notice any difference.

If you are concerned about quality why not use ALAC if you want to retain a lossless file.

Jim

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Answer 2

Feb 3, 2014 7:34 AM in response to Jimzgoldfinch

Thanks Jim.

OK, then the problem becomes whether to use constrained VBR or True VBR which are the two options I have available via the encoder - yes, why couldn't it be simple with one option! 😀

I am not concerened with quality as I have the original FLAC lossless files that I use in another music library - I am simply trying to create the smaller iTunes Plus version file to play on my iOS devices on the road and wanted to ensure that I was encoding to the Apple equivalent standard.

Cheers,

Vin.

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Answer 3

Feb 3, 2014 9:03 AM in response to Vincenzo Baldacchino

Difference true constrained: http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=14815360&postcount=10

What iTunes uses: http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1632429

How I found these: https://www.google.com/search?q=xld+constrained+true+vbr

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Answer 4

Feb 3, 2014 9:19 AM in response to Limnos

Thanks - I too found all these before posting and it stil wasn't obvious to me as to which one to use! There is a lot of talk between one versus the other but there is no definitive 'THIS IS THE ONE...' that I saw... maybe I am missing the point in some of these postings...?!

It seems Constrained VBR 256 is the one to use from everything I have read so I will go with that at this point - unless someone kindly has another idea/recommendation...

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Answer 5

Feb 3, 2014 12:22 PM in response to Vincenzo Baldacchino

If you can't find it easily then it probably means people don't know the exact settings used. It seems Apple's iTunes Producer is what you use to prepare content for submission to the iTunes Store. You have to be a registered seller to download it (though there are posts on the web from a few years abck about it being open then). I'm guessing it has some pre-designated settings that are not really disclosed.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/content-providers/faq.html

"iTunes Producer: This free software application allows you to prepare your music for direct delivery to iTunes. Use it to encode your music in AAC format; enter album, song, and cover art information; and send your prepared files directly to Apple for consideration."

This is starting to split hairs. As others have mentioned, you probably can't tell the difference and maybe Apple uses neither setting but has their own tweaked AAC encoder. You'll have to start writing songs if you really want your encodes identical.

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Answer 6

ed2345

Level 9

63,804 points

Feb 3, 2014 4:02 PM in response to Vincenzo Baldacchino

The songs sold in the iStore as iTunes Plus are AAC/256 CBR but the ones you rip with iTunes from a CD with the iTunes Plus setting are AAC/256 VBR.

Strange I know, but it has been that way for years.

Feel free to choose either. Or if you want a little fillip of extra audio fidelity, use AAC/320.

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Answer 7

Feb 3, 2014 6:27 PM in response to ed2345

Thanks for the feedback. Apple are definitely using some odd which doesnt make it very aparent as to what method they are using. I am looking at a purchased 'Made for Itunes' sone by Rhye and which the info screen shows that it is 256 kbps @ 44 100 Khz with the Profile of Low Complexity. However, when I look at the actual file using a tool called MediaInfo, it gives the following info:

Overall Bit Rate Mode: Variable

Overall Bit Rate: 285 kbps

Max Bit Rate: 417 kbps

Format: MPEG-4

So, there is no mention of CBR in the poperties of the analysis which seem to point to VBR and also, it seems to be of a higher bitrate value than 256kbps as it has a max of 417 kbps.

I am thinking of going with True VBR at this point with a setting of 110 which was recommended by someone in one of the posts which I think may be the closest to what Apple is probably using given what I found.

Cheers,

Vin.

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