Dumb iPod Question Amnesty

[I-SIG]

Okay, like some of you on here, I only run my iPod with ALE files in my efforts to maintain as much quality as possible from my iPod.

As such, I think I finally want to start downloading stuff from the iTunes, but I couldn't figure out how to search by titles available in ALE format. Or is everything available in ALE?

Can someone point this feature out to me?

Thanks,
Wes

[unc2701]

Not available as of now, but people have been making noise about this for years. I think the storage capacity & bandwidth have caught up to where this will happen in the next year or so if the RIAA doesn't get its panties in a wad.

[Kris Siegel]

What is the ALE format? Is this the DRM-less format from Apple?

[unc2701]

Apple Lossless Encoding. Like FLAC, but only works w/ apple products (and maybe some random others?)

[Kris Siegel]

Apple Lossless Encoding. Like FLAC, but only works w/ apple products (and maybe some random others?)

Ah ok. I really wish there was a more universal, lossless way of storing audio other than WAVE. Most of the main products (WMP, iTunes, etc) don't really support a consistant format, AFAIK (maybe WMA lossless?).

[Hilbert]

Apple claims, do they not, that iTunes Plus tracks are of "cd quality."

I've downloaded several, and they sound fine to me, but I've never compared an iTP track with the same track on a CD.

[I-SIG]

Apple claims, do they not, that iTunes Plus tracks are of "cd quality."

I've downloaded several, and they sound fine to me, but I've never compared an iTP track with the same track on a CD.

How do you find these "plus" tracks?

Wes

[Hilbert]

Example: Dave Brubeck, "Indian Summer". The phrase "iTunes Plus" appears near the price.

In a list of albums, one column willl have "+" as the header, and the iTP albums will have a matching "+" in that column.

I'm relying on memory---present computer is iTuneless---but I think that's correct.

ps iTP tracks seem to be about twice the size of ordinary iTunes. Not sure how that compares to ALE.

[zingo]

I don't know where to download the "plus" files, but if I remember right, they are 256kb instead of 128kb... woop-ti-do.

[Hilbert]

I don't know where to download the "plus" files, but if I remember right, they are 256kb instead of 128kb... woop-ti-do.

I'm looking now at iTunes---on the right, at the bottom of the "Quick Links" menu, there's a link to iTunes Plus.

Zingo is correct about the 256kb. "Woop-ti-do" is precisely my point, in compressed form. The plus files are still considerably smaller than redbook cd files---at least I suppose they are---how do they sound, compared to cds? I can't hear much or any difference, but I've never done a direct comparison.

[I-SIG]

I don't know where to download the "plus" files, but if I remember right, they are 256kb instead of 128kb... woop-ti-do.

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks for the responses, guys.

Wes

[John30_30]

Apple claims, do they not, that iTunes Plus tracks are of "cd quality."

I've downloaded several, and they sound fine to me, but I've never compared an iTP track with the same track on a CD.

If it's aac, it's lossy, even if aac is a very superior lossy format. So it's not quite cd-quality, no matter what they spin, although it will likely take superior ears and equipment to discern the difference. AAC is quite good, and 256k is markedly better than 128.
Apple lossless, I believe the format is also called ALAC, is supposed to be lossless, but I've seen gripes about their codec.

The now-defunct Rio Karma, which is the DAP equivalent to Polk speakers- i.e. the best- plays FLAC, and its dock has RCA-outs.
I'm a big fan of the Rio Karma, if you couldn't tell.;)