ITunes convert to ALAC - is it actual lossless?

So I was rearranging some stuff in iTunes yesterday when I right clicked on some songs I had purchased from the iTunes store and noticed that there was an option to convert to Apple Lossless.
Previously, I had to rerip all my CDs when I made the switch to lossless, and was dissapointed when I saw that all the songs I got from iTunes were 256 kbps, so I was kind of surprised when I saw that option.
Anyways, I got all my iTunes store purchases converted to ALAC (296 songs now takes up 8.5 GB on my iPod O_O ), but I was wondering, either how this conversion is made (wouldn't all the extra data lossless has be lost in the compression?) or is this an actual lossless conversion, or something similar to upscaling vs native resolution (upscale is an attempt at getting the quality of native resolution).
For anybody that knows >_>
Thanks guys.

Yes, they are lossless but what you have now is 256k quality in lossless format -- your upscaling. It is not the same as if you had ripped from full quality CD to lossless. If you convert those losslesss files back to AAC there will be dditional quality loss as there is whenever you convert any audio format to a lossy format. iTunes lets you convert from any format to any other format but that doesn't always mean it makes sense to do so.

Similar Messages

How can i convert from alac to mp3 and export to artist/album hierarchy

I am trying to populate a 32GB SD Card with music to listen to in my car. My itunes library is largely in apple lossless format, but the car stereo does not play that format.
I have created a playlist of all of the music I'd like to have on the SD Card (but its in apple lossless format).
So what I'd like to do is:
a)     Bulk convert a large number of apple lossless files to MP3.
b)     Export the MP3 files to an external Finder folder, organized in Artist/Album hierarchy
c)     Delete the MP3 files from the itunes library so as to have just the apple lossless version maintain in the itunes library
Sounds pretty simple, but I'm having a devil of a time trying to figure it out.
I can find a way to do the conversion and export the MP3 files (and subsequently deleted from the itunes library), but they will not be organized by Artist/Album in the Finder folder.
Similarly, I can export a bunch of files from itunes to a Finder folder and have it be organized by Artist/Album.
I just can't do one followed by the other.
I suppose this would also work if instead of exporting the newly created MP3 files, it would establish a new playlist in itunes with these. Then, I could just export them and have them then organized by Artist/Album; and then I could delete all of the MP3 files in the playlist.
Any thoughts or ideas on how to accomplish this goal? (I do know the manual way of doing this, but am trying to figure out a faster, more elegant way).
M

I ask because you wrote, "I just can't do one followed by the other".
You can. Just do one followed by the other.
Convert the files to mp3.
Put them all into a playlist. A smart playlist with Kind is MP3 and added in last one day will do it for you.
Select the songs in teh smart playlist
Run Export to Album Folders script.
Select all the songs in the playlist then Command Delete to remove them from iTunes.

Can iTunes convert a file and replace the old file with the new one?

I am trying to convert my wav files to Apple Lossless to save some space. How can I convert the files and make them replace the old files? Right now it just converts new files so that I end up with two files. I have thousands I want to convert and just replace the old ones.
I have an external program that will do it for me, however if I go that route then when my ITunes files are converted to lossless files I need to re-link the files as they show up with the ! showing they are missing. That would mean manually re-linking every song, which would take forever unless there is a way to mass re-link all the files.

iTunes does not see the newly created files as the same file because they are not the same file. They are new, different files. If you have a track that is 1234.wav and you create 1234.mp3 it simply isn't the same file and you can't trick iTunes into thinking it is. iTunes will handle it as a brand new file.
Check Dougscripts web site for scripts which help modifying tag data. However, I suspect you won't find any doing exactly what you want doing. Some tag data are only accessible by iTunes itself.
As for playlists, there's things you can try though they may be more effort than they are worth. For example, you could add a special code for each playlist to some element of a tag (e.g., grouping). Convert the file, then make a smart playlist selecting for the code you added to the group of tracks in the old playlist. If you have hundreds of playlists with a dozen tracks each this will be a grand nuisance. If it is a handful of playlists with hundreds of tracks each this might be worth it.
Another way to preserve playlists would be to edit the .xml copy of the iTunes library file, replacing ".wav" with ".mp3" or whatever format you are using. However, this won't help with play counts because that is only stored in the .itl copy of the file which you cannot edit.

HT201209 Can you use an iTunes gift card to purchase something actually in an app? (Like buy coins in the app and use your gift card)

Can you use an iTunes gift card to purchase things actually in an app? (Buy "coins" using the gift card?)

No idea, but it seems like you should be able to. You can give it a try, but will have to figure out some way around the automatic 1-click ordering that the App Store now does by default.
It certainly seems like something deserving of a feedback form submission, though ...
FEEDBACK FORM
http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html

Does iTunes match need to locate the actual files or just see its record in your library database? I am currently traveling in US and I have US and Australian iTunes accounts. But all my music files are on a hard drive in Australia.

Does iTunes match need to locate the actual files or just see its record in your library database? I am currently traveling in US and I have US and Australian iTunes accounts. But all my music files are on a hard drive in Australia. Can I start using itunes music match while I am travelling without the actual music files attached to my itunes?

In your situation I strongly recommend you read over that KB article. The international iTunes Stores are not cross-compatible.
My understanding of how it would work is that when activating iTunes Match on your US Store account, any songs you have in your iTunes Library that were purchased from the AUS Store account will NOT be matched. As I understand it, those files will be uploaded (which means you need the files on a local HDD). I also do not think it is possible to have iTunes Match active on more than one store ID on the same computer. But since iTunes Match is not available internationally yet, that point is moot for the moment.
To be honest you might want to wait until the service is available internationally so you can guage how will it will serve you.

I plugged my ipad 2 into the computer for the first time and all the music from the itunes converted on however now it wont delete it comes up with 'ping' next to the song

i plugged my ipad 2 into the computer for the first time and all the music from the itunes converted on however now it wont delete it comes up with 'ping' next to the song

Have you carefully worked through each and every single suggestion in this Apple support document?
iPod not recognized in 'My Computer' and in iTunes for Windows
B-rock

Does iTunes convert your music when transfering to iPod?

If I have a .wav, .aac, or .mp3, does iTunes convert them to one unified format and bitrate when it get's transfered to the iPod or do the files basically stay as they were?

No they don't get converted. Whatever the files/bitrates are that are imported into into iTunes are the same as get transferred to the iPod.

When iTunes converts one song format to anothet eg from AAC to MP4 where is the MP4 version?

when iTunes converts one song format to anothet eg from AAC to MP4 where is the MP4 version?

Hello tomspoon
Check in the Music Folder of your computer to locate the songs there, then just drag it back onto iTunes.
Where are my iTunes files located?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1391
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
Regards,
-Norm G.

Help - iTunes Converting mp3s automatically into VBR - Low Bitrate?

Hi Forum Members: New kid on the block. I've been very lucky not to have too many problems with iTunes.
I just placed several mp3s into iTunes via the folders/file selection. For some unknown reason it converted all those mp3s into VBR mp3s with a lower bitrate.
There is nothing unusual about these mp3s. Their bitrate is mixed at around 196 kbps to 256 kpbs.
I didn't use Import or ask iTunes to convert?
Any clues as to what is going on? Or how to fix the problem.
Thanks, katydidit

Hello CasperGemini:
In answer to your first question, no it didn't ask me?
My Preferences > Advanced Tab > mp3 encoder, good quality, 128 kbps
With iTunes changing the format to 114 kbps(VBR) at 44.100 KHz is quite close to the 128 kbps, however, it's rather odd that it would do it without asking (as you mentioned).
My idea was to keep the files at their existing kbps per second and then convert within iTunes using the "right-click" option.
I've also had problems with iTunes converting on import. If I take files/folder from my computer (not CD - already on system) and bring them into iTunes via the Import method (I've specified the importing size, etc.) it doesn't convert them to the specified encoding, e.g. m4a to mp3?? I end having to convert within iTunes (right-click).

Trying to login to my itunes from my moms computer and it only comes up with her itunes,anyone know if i can actually do this?

trying to login to my itunes from my moms computer and it only comes up with her itunes,anyone know if i can actually do this?

The only content that's associated with your account are songs, etc. that you've purchased from the iTunes Store. Everything else (material imported from CD, bought from other sources like Amazon, etc.) is stored on your computer (or your mom's). So, even though you've logged into iTunes with your Apple ID you are still seeing the content of your mom's library (which implies that your running iTunes under the same Windows user account). I believe that iTunes Match (which I don't have - its an add-on service that you have to pay a subscription for) allows your "local" content to be uploaded to Apple's cloud servers and shared in the way that you describe. if your computer and your mom's are on the same network you may be able to access your songs by turning on network sharing (not Home Sharing) while both machines are on and running iTunes.

Does itunes convert sample rates before burning to disc?

Question:
If I set up a playlist that incorporates tracks that have a 48kHz sample rate, does itunes convert to 44.1kHz during the process - or is the pre-existing sample rate retained?
Thanks.
-ptfigg.

I think it leaves it as-is if you burn as an mp3 or data disc. As an audio cd I believe it converts them to audio cd standards.

Converting from ALAC to AAC: A question of quality?

I'm trying to back up my music electronically. I have all of my CD's on a rack in my entertainment center. However, I'm upgrading to a flat panel TV (YES!!!) finally, and with my old tube TV, the entertainment center is going, and being replaced by something much smaller.
Anyways, I'd like to make copies of my CDs, so I can store them away in the attic. I was told Apple Lossless is essentially the same as having the actual CD on your computer (so no loss in fidelity at all). However, I was wondering if this is true.
And if it is true, does this mean that I can rip CD's to my external HD in ALAC, and then convert them to AAC without any additional loss of quality??? (i.e. Does converting a song in ALAC format to AAC have the same quality as converting from the actual CD to AAC?)

Any lossless format - Apple Lossless, FLAC, etc., - should be identical to the original in sound quality.
I have found this to be this case in listening tests on fairly high quality stereo equipment. However, the best way to answer your question is to test this yourself. Rip a cd to Apple Lossless, and, I would suggest, to 320 bit AAC, and then see if you can hear a difference between them. I'll bet that you would be hard pressed to hear a difference even at 320 bit. After ripping my cd's I now regard my cd's as my backup, and the digital copies my actual collection, since that's what I actually listen to. So in that sense you always have a perfect backup, as long as you still have the cd.
I frequently convert FLAC's to AAC with outstanding results, and would expect the same with Apple Lossless. I think the bit rate you choose to convert to will be much more significant than whether you
convert from CD or lossless. Again, try it and see if you can hear a difference. (If my memory is correct - not always the case - the lossless format will be decoded first and then will be recoded to AAC - meaning you are essentially creating the AAC files from cd's in either case. Can't find a source on this tho to point you to).
One last thing, is storing them in the attic your only alternative? I just remember storing records in the attic and, well, they just never were the same with the summer heat. Cd's are more durable but I'd still be worried (unless it was a finished attic).

ITunes library mysteriously dissapeared (not the actual files where they are stored) and once I transfered songs back to iTunes, some purchased songs had been corrupted (missing tags

Last week, I purchased around 9-10 songs. The previous day, I had played songs from my iTunes library... everything working normal. The day after purchasing those 9-10 songs... I noticed that my entire songs in my library (and playlist) where gone, essentially being re-set like new. I updated my iTunes version, re-started my PC and still... nothing was showing up except those 9-10 songs. I did the next logical thing which was to check the actual music folder that stores the songs. They where all there. It did not make any sense as I had not done or noticed anything unsual while using iTunes before. Now, I want to mention that I use a DJ software (mixvibe) with the ION Discovery DJ that pulls tracks from iTunes. For the past couple of months they both have worked great. Fast forwarding to my issue, I went ahead and copied all the music back to iTunes. I spent a good hour making sure that everything worked and re-created my playlists. One thing that struck me as odd was that while checking everything... some songs that I had purchased recently and even a couple of months ago that I've used on my mixvibe software... had the track info deleted. The only information was the track name, ex. (01 - Bird One). For some reason, they were dumped into a "Unknown Artists" file. There was a good 20-25 songs that had this issue. The one thing that I noticed was that when I would highlight the song within the Uknown Artist folder... All of the information including cover art was showing up at the bottom of the folder (if you are familiar with Windows 7 you know what I'm talking about). How can it be that all of the actual information was still there yet not showing up in iTunes? I had to manually go one by one of those 20-25 songs and add all of the track info (as much as I could). I was also able to recover some of the cover art but not all. It seems like the files got corrupted. Can I re-download these tracks again or how can I get them to how they were originally? HELP!

I find the best way to do this is to right click on the song in iTunes and convert then select convert ID3 tags to V1.1 this usually completes the tag and adds all the missing info, provided it is in iTunes corectly.
Were these songs you Dled or ripped form a cd directly?

How do I import wav files from an external hard drive into itunes converting to aac?

I have 270 gig of wav files on an external hard drive. I am having trouble finding a way to import these into itunes while converting to aac

Note that .wav files do not carry a tag. If you import files of the form ..\<Artist>\<Album>\## <Name> into iTunes it will fill in the name property as the filename ## <Name> and all other fields will be blank. Assuming there is useful data in the path to capture, use Edit > Preferences > Avanced and disable the Keep... and Copy... options before adding the tracks to iTunes. You can then use the script TagFromFilename to fill in the blanks. Once this information is there you can convert the files to their new format and the converted files will inherit the track details.
You might want to consider initially converting to Apple Lossless which could halve the physical size of the collection with no loss of quality, and permanently embed the tag details. You can then choose to make a downsampled collection while retaining the full quality lossless copies and completely discarding the .wav originals.
tt2

What audio format does iTunes convert to and use?

I got an ipod touch 4 a few months back, and it had to convert many of my songs to a different format. I need to put some songs on a rewritable cd/dvd to work in a cd player. I think it is an MP4 format. We tried it on a rewritable DVD-RW and a CD-R. Neither work. We tried on two different cd players. They act as if nothing was there. I need to know if Mp4 format is the problem and if iTunes can convert it to the right format. I can't find what format it converted my other songs to. Thanks for suggestions!

iTunes does not convert the audio format unless you ask it to, either by ripping from an audio CD or using the conversion process. (In iTunes for Windows it also does a conversion when a WMA file is added.) Other than that, it leaves files in the audio format they are in.
When it does convert, it uses the format that you have selected in the "Import Preferences." That value defaults to AAC, but also allows selection of MP3, Apple Lossless, WAV, or AIFF.

ITunes convert to ALAC - is it actual lossless?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for