I usually download CDs to iTunes and, I think, they are converted into AAC files.
Recent CDs tend to include MP3 and WAV downloads.
On the music, which version should I download and how will they differ to the AAC files?
Also, there are JPGs of the CD booklet - is it possible to download these to iTunes too and view them?
Jerry,
If you are talking about using iTunes to rip a CD, the resulting format will be whatever you have set in your iTunes Import preferences. The default setting is AAC, but you can change it to MP3, WAV, AIFF, or Apple Lossless.
If you are talking about downloading tracks from online music retailers, you will get the format that they sell. The iTunes Store provides AAC, while Amazon Digital Music and Google Play Music provide MP3. There are also a number of specialty online stores that supply lossless and hi-def music downloads.
The MP3 & WAV files are downloaded from the album label's website. iTunes is set to download CDs as AAC files.
Which is the most appropriate format for iTunes and what are the pros and cons of AAC v MP3 v WAV?
I presume WAV is the best quality as it is the largest file.
Which is the most appropriate format for iTunes and what are the pros and cons of AAC v MP3 v WAV?
Jerry,
Any of those three formats will play fine in iTunes.
Most people nowadays prefer either AAC (if they use only Apple players) or MP3 (if they want compatibility across multiple players). Audiophiles who have good equipment, and who don't mind the larger file size required for better audio quality, go with a lossless format such as WAV.
I presume WAV is the best quality as it is the largest file.
Yes, of those, three, WAV will have the best audio quality, equivalent to a CD.
Are there any implications of having some (mostly) AAC files and some WAV files within the iTunes library? Presumably it just means the quality of playback could be vary between tracks.
Also, what about the artwork booklet which is in a JPG? I have album covers in my iTunes library but this is a full booklet - is it designed to work in iTunes or be accessed separately?
Many thanks
Jerry,
In iTunes, you can freely mix audio types. In my library, I have all the ones mentioned, plus even a few MIDIs. The main limitation will come if you ever need to burn an MP3 CD (e.g. for a car), as iTunes can only burn an MP3 CD from files already in MP3 format, and other formats would need to be converted first.
Regarding booklets, JPGs and PDFs can be added into the folders where the song files are, so they will be easy to find. As far as I know, iTunes does not do anything with them.
Download CD, MP3 or WAV?
