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View Full Version : iTunes: MP3 encoder sucks??



cprice
Jan 9, 2005, 07:37 PM
Okay, so you may have seen my other post regarding iTuned being unable to import using AAC encoding:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=103529

Well, I got fed up, completely reinstalled Panther, and the problem still remains. Frustrated, I decided to give the MP3 encoder another shot. Same as before, but I will readdress this topic from another angle: Does the MP3 encoder on iTunes really suck this bad? I encoded @ 192kbps and the highs are horrible. As I mentioned in my other post, it sounds almost as though the highs are "cassette quality"...What gives? Should I try encoding using some other program? Suggestions??

Thanks in advance
Chris


grapes911
Jan 9, 2005, 07:57 PM
I've never had a problem with iTunes encoding. I think its pretty good. How good are your speackers?
JeDiBoYTJ
Jan 9, 2005, 08:47 PM
I find iTunes mp3 encoding to be some of the best in the market. I encode all my songs in 224kb/s MP3, and all my CD Imports sound beautiful. I have a set of Bose Headphones, and im a HUGE audiophile when it comes to sound quality... so believe me ;)
cprice
Jan 9, 2005, 09:15 PM
Indeed. I would not expect any less from apple which is why I am baffled at my problems. Please check out my other post for additional information on my scenario as a whole.

p.s. Speakers are great - I have those new Bose headphones and they are great...if anyone has some suggestions please let me know. By the way, I tried importing from an external CD drive just to be sure and got the same thing, thus eliminating the possibility of hardware (CDROM) issues.

Thanks
Daveway
Jan 9, 2005, 09:17 PM
Agreed. Apple surely did not cut corners on its encoding.
dubbz
Jan 10, 2005, 12:24 PM
Try using the LAME encoder. If you still have quality issues, then the problem must be somewhere else.

Edit: iTunes-LAME (http://blacktree.com/apps/iTunes-LAME/) whould probably be helpful. (You may want to try LAME 3.90.3 first).
cprice
Jan 10, 2005, 10:00 PM
Excellent suggestion. Worked great as far as overall sound quality. However, now I get weird glitches throughout encoded files...

I am guessing there may be some command line options to LAME that could help overcome this.

I feel like I'm getting closer to the solution, though. Thanks for your help.