[Jc]

So I am refining my music library now that I just bought an external HD. I've heard of a lot of formats that music can be saved as and I'm wondering which one is likely the best. Obviously for compatability MP3 wins and since I own an iPod some of my music is in the protected M4A format or ones related.

iPods won't play VORB or OGG which are open source (which interests me). But I want to know is really what is the best format?

[Art]

Ogg Vorbis is superior to MP3 in every way... except compatibility. Apple is lame for not including it.

[RipVanWinkle]

But if the files are already mp3's, converting them into another format (again) wouldn't gain you much.

[JerryLove]

If you are after the best in quality.. .and lets face it, we have space... I'd recommend "anything lossless and with a sampling rate at last as high as your source material". You can then convert to any other format you need for (for example) player compatability without loosing quality more than once.

Personally, I'm using a lossless WMA, because I do most of my listening in Media Player.

[+SEAL+]

Originally Posted by Art

Ogg Vorbis is superior to MP3 in every way... except compatibility. Apple is lame for not including it.

It's open-source and Apple, surprise, surprise...

[Giga Hertz]

FLAC - Lossless, open source - It owns. :P And if not, at least OGG.

[tht00]

Originally Posted by Art

Ogg Vorbis is superior to MP3 in every way... except compatibility. Apple is lame for not including it.

Yes. Ogg is amazing. This is my biggest beef with Apple right now -- the neglect of open formats.


You can use Ogg/FLAC 3rd party software (like Rockbox) on an iPod. That's what I do with my Mini.

Ogg is definitely in the top-tier of audio codecs when looking at quality vs filesize (bitrate). It's probably similar to m4a in performance.

[slap_j]

.wav

[Art]

Originally Posted by tht00

You can use Ogg/FLAC 3rd party software (like Rockbox) on an iPod. That's what I do with my Mini.

I will be looking into that.

[Jonodude]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

If you are after the best in quality.. .and lets face it, we have space... I'd recommend "anything lossless and with a sampling rate at last as high as your source material". You can then convert to any other format you need for (for example) player compatability without loosing quality more than once.

Personally, I'm using a lossless WMA, because I do most of my listening in Media Player.

Yessir. A lossless format is objectively the best music format. Which one picked is down to user preference, as each one has its strength and weaknesses.

Originally Posted by slap_j

.wav

I'll say... no. Because they don't support tags natively.

If they do, it's certainly news to me.

[tht00]

Originally Posted by slap_j

.wav

You can do better.

Flac (what I'm familiar with) is lossless, compressed, open source, and supports tags.

Pwns wav in every count except for portability.

[slap_j]

I just wanted to post something. Don't hate.

:-(

[ApparentlyNothing]

For the best compatibility with iPods and Apple software/hardware, Apple lossless is the best quality, but you pay in file sizes. Personally, I use 256 kbps AAC. Better than MP3's in quality, smaller in size, not TOO noticeable degradation from the original CD. Yes, it's not open source. But if all you're using is an iPod and iTunes, it's the best, easiest, and most compatible solution, period.

Also, you better be re-ripping from the original sources if you're planning on switching from MP3s. Converting from one lossy codec to another is a big no-no, as you loose quality every time, even if you convert from one lower kbps to a higher. Even if you convert to a lossless codec, you basically get the same quality you had in your mp3 at a much bigger file size. You're just better off reripping from the source.