ipods & mp3's

malc1 · 07-12-2003, 8:03 PM

I'm new to the forum so I'll apologise in advance if you've heard my questions before. I've been reading about ipods in this weeks' newspaper but, are mp3's as good as cd audio and if so, what do Iuse to change cd audio to mp3.

Frankie_D · 07-12-2003, 9:25 PM

mp3s can be as good as CDs as you can change their quality, but even at normal quality most people cant tell the difference between cd and mp3.

You can use iTunes to convert songs from cds onto mp3s on your computer, that software should come with your iPod.

Frankie

malc1 · 07-12-2003, 9:58 PM

Thanks Frankie_D, but if cd audio is "ripped" to mp3 at a lower bitrate, how can it be restored to "better" mp3, isn't information lost on each conversion? As I only listen to mp3's on a Pc and have no way of comparing that with the cd sound from my hifi, I'm sceptical until I've done so. What I'd really like to try is to rip cd to mp3 and then "unrip" it to see if I can tell the difference. If I can't then everything is cool and I can move to mp3 and feed those into my hifi.(with some additional hardware)

Frankie_D · 07-12-2003, 10:01 PM

well you cant unrip them only delete but after that you can re-rip them at a higher bit rate and compare then

malc1 · 07-12-2003, 10:34 PM

So, there is no way of converting mp3 to cd audio?

Frankie_D · 07-12-2003, 10:37 PM

no because you have already taken out alot of the data

malc1 · 07-12-2003, 11:14 PM

Thanks again Frankie_D, that has closed one avenue, going back to ipods, isn't it one of the sad facts of life that all hard drives fail eventually, is it better to wait until card capacity is raised enough to have an "ipod with no moving parts?

andy572 · 08-12-2003, 6:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by malc1
So, there is no way of converting mp3 to cd audio?

Yes, you can convert mp3 files to CD audio. However, depending on the listener, 'severity' of the mp3 encoding and hardware used, they may not sound as clean as an original CD track.

Why not follow your earlier thoughts and go through the CD > mp3 > CD process and see what you think? Your own ears are the best, after all!

N.B. If that needs clarification, what sounds good or bad to one person may be quite the opposite to yourself.

So, go on - give it a go!

Frankie_D · 08-12-2003, 9:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by malc1
Thanks again Frankie_D, that has closed one avenue, going back to ipods, isn't it one of the sad facts of life that all hard drives fail eventually, is it better to wait until card capacity is raised enough to have an "ipod with no moving parts?

Well i think hard drives last for ever really ive still got a computer 8 years old which still has a working one, and it wont be years and years until sold state catches up if ever.

Frankie

malc1 · 09-12-2003, 6:41 PM

Andy I would try it if I could find some software that will do mp3>cdaudio.

Frankie_D The reliability of hard drives is something I've read. I had two hard drive failures but it was on new drives but the replacements were okay.

Frankie_D · 09-12-2003, 8:25 PM

Well hard drive failiures are usually due to pc manufacturers buying the cheapest possible eaning poor quality but you can rest assured apple always chooses quality over price, just look at their computers!

malc1 · 09-12-2003, 8:33 PM

Fankie_D. I've little experience of Apples but the odd one I have used has been OK. The report I read was in the Telegraph on Saturday and the emphasis was on functionality and what it means to the cd industry rather than sound quality and reliability. Has anyone done a review that concentrates on all aspects of the ipod?

cwick · 09-12-2003, 8:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by malc1
Has anyone done a review that concentrates on all aspects of the ipod?

This review is pretty comprehensive.

malc1 · 09-12-2003, 9:38 PM

It is pretty comprehensive, unfortunately I'm part of the 90% of computer owners who uses a PC, if I've understood the article it praises the AIFF which is only available to Apple users. As you say, it may be possible that the mp3 is perfectly good enough for my ears but up to now mp3's don't have the sublety of well recorded cdsalthough I haven't yet heard them through my system to get a good comparison. This may be where we started but thanks a lot Frankie_D for the info and your views.

cwick · 09-12-2003, 9:47 PM

malc1,

Just re-read your posts. I'd suggest you try downloading Apples iTunes and playing around with it. It will support AIFF and AAC formats on your PC, it will let you rip to whatever format you choose (MP3 also), play them back for comparison, and burn CDs of your compilations.

It's a free download from here

Cheers, Carl.

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