Higher Encoded Songs in iTunes?

MacRumors · 11:18 PM

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif

One reader notes that at least one iTunes Music Store song is being offered at a much higher encoding rate than Apple has publicly advertised.

The majority of iTunes Music Store songs come in 128kbit Protected AAC audio file format. This file format allows for playback in iTunes as well as the iPod. The 128k bit-rate in AAC is said to provide a superior quality to the equivalent MP3 bitrate.

Snap!'s 3 min 42 second Rhythm Is a Dancer (Original Mix), however, comes in at 290kbits encoding (screenshot) on the iTunes Music Store. The file is reported to be encoded with "FAAC 1.24+ (May 7 200...)"

Individual publishers utilize iTunes Producer, an encoding/submitting application which reportedly converts songs to the proper format (128kbit AAC) without any additional options. Whether or not larger labels or Apple themselves have more freedom in encoding options is unknown.

This file may simply be an anomaly, but there have been scattered reports of other songs also offering higher encoding. There does not appear to be any way to distinguish these files before purchasing them.

Josh396 · Apr 27, 2005, 11:06 PM

I'd like to see an option for better quality songs when you purchase them. Maybe that's coming up?

840quadra · Apr 27, 2005, 11:09 PM

That would be incredible, However for those with 56k or slower, downloading songs just became a longer process

PlaceofDis · Apr 27, 2005, 11:11 PM

interesting, i would like to see higher bit rates offered as well, would certainly be welcome!

nsjoker · Apr 27, 2005, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 840quadra

That would be incredible, However for those with 56k or slower, downloading songs just became a longer process

what is this 56k thing you speak of?

dotdotdot · Apr 27, 2005, 11:13 PM

Wasn't the first report of this over four months ago? And its just news NOW?

There are like thirty threads on MR that have people saying "Oh, this song is Higher Bitrate, maybe we'll get it soon!"

IIRC, iTunes is not 100% "OKAY WITH" the RIAA - having missed some meetings, and being so popular, the RIAA is barely allowing iTunes to continue. There were even some MR rumors that the RIAA was going to shut down iTunes. Why would iTunes take that risk RIGHT NOW?

Of course, if the price stays the same and Apple releases a new standard that makes a 128KBPS AAC2 (maybe...) file the same quality as a 320 KBPS MP3, than Apple will be selling their songs like wildfire...

All I know is these rumors are getting pretty annoying considering they have been said a long, long time ago.

WCat · Apr 27, 2005, 11:13 PM

Hmm...the iTunes store song link doesn't seem to work. Says "not available in the US store."

Personally, I'd welcome higher bit-rate encoding. Can't help but improve the purchased song's value to me. It just gets that much closer to the original. Maybe charge US$1.29 for "higher-fi" songs instead of $.99, or something like that.

Cheers,

WCat

mikeyredk · Apr 27, 2005, 11:14 PM

its not in the US

J-Squire · Apr 27, 2005, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 840quadra

That would be incredible, However for those with 56k or slower, downloading songs just became a longer process

ummm....no. Simply, no. No, in that you simply should not be downloading from iTunes on 56k dialup. I think i would go nuts if i had to wait 10 minutes for a 3MB song to download. With higher encoding, that would increase to maybe 25 minutes. Download an album and you're at 5 hours.

No. Just don't.

jicon · Apr 27, 2005, 11:16 PM

I call BS on this.

Purchased songs shouldn't report what they were encoded with.

840quadra · Apr 27, 2005, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Squire

ummm....no. Simply, no. No, in that you simply should not be downloading from iTunes on 56k dialup. I think i would go nuts if i had to wait 10 minutes for a 3MB song to download. With higher encoding, that would increase to maybe 25 minutes. Download an album and you're at 5 hours.

No. Just don't.

LOL.. me too.

I have cable at home, and my work has a MUCH faster connection. So needless to say I won't have long downloads for itunes songs myself

Josh396 · Apr 27, 2005, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J-Squire

ummm....no. Simply, no. No, in that you simply should not be downloading from iTunes on 56k dialup. I think i would go nuts if i had to wait 10 minutes for a 3MB song to download. With higher encoding, that would increase to maybe 25 minutes. Download an album and you're at 5 hours.

No. Just don't.

How would you know how long it takes to download these songs if you're in Australia?

arn · Apr 27, 2005, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyredk

its not in the US

odd... the link should work in the US now. Re-copied it.

arn

narco · Apr 27, 2005, 11:20 PM

I think iTunes should give you an option, similar to allofmp3.com. I still would choose 128 because I prefer quantity over quality, but I know a lot of people who would rather have the higher bitrate.

Fishes,
narco.

quackattack · Apr 27, 2005, 11:20 PM

290 is a odd number, not one of the AAC encoding standards. Perhaps this is some sort of variable bit rate? That would be very nice. I welcome higher bit rates! Now when will be be able to download lossless?

arn · Apr 27, 2005, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jicon

I call BS on this.

Purchased songs shouldn't report what they were encoded with.

BS on what? The file purchased from iTunes Music Store _is_ encoded at 290kbits.

Whether or not it means anything... well, ya... it prob doesn't mean anything.

arn

timster · Apr 27, 2005, 11:22 PM

Any encoding would be fine when you've got none at all.

WHERE'S THE DAMN AUSTRALIAN STORE?

It's the 28th, but still no go for Australia... "iTunes Music Store is not available in your country."

Does that mean Russell my-ego-is-too-large-to-fit-in-New-Zealand Crowe LIED to us?

Yeah, well I thought Gladiator was a crap movie anyway. And what's with making a movie about how stupid smoking is when you still smoke? And how can someone with a moron's mind play A Brilliant Mind? Why doesn't he just go romper stomp his own head.

(Not that I'm bitter or anything!)

dotdotdot · Apr 27, 2005, 11:25 PM

Did anyone here actually download it to confirm this?

AliensAreFuzzy · Apr 27, 2005, 11:27 PM

Yeah, this happened to me too. Darude's Sandstorm

arn · Apr 27, 2005, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dotdotdot

Did anyone here actually download it to confirm this?

yes. I did.

arn

goz · Apr 27, 2005, 11:28 PM

What about the get info panel entitled summery?

I bought a song this week that says 256 kb, earlier purchases say 128.

arn · Apr 27, 2005, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliensAreFuzzy

Yeah, this happened to me too. Darude's Sandstorm

Guess Radikal Records may be the label who submits highly encoded songs

arn

jicon · Apr 27, 2005, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arn

BS on what? The file purchased from iTunes Music Store _is_ encoded at 290kbits.

Whether or not it means anything... well, ya... it prob doesn't mean anything.

arn

Well, if I look at the properties of any of my iTMS downloaded songs, I can't see a field where it says what program actually encoded the song.

I can't download it in Canada, apparently no one can download it in the U.S.

This seems awful fishy to me.

bdkennedy1 · Apr 27, 2005, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 840quadra

That would be incredible, However for those with 56k or slower, downloading songs just became a longer process

Buying CD's is still an option.

AliensAreFuzzy · Apr 27, 2005, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jicon

Well, if I look at the properties of any of my iTMS downloaded songs, I can't see a field where it says what program actually encoded the song.

I can't download it in Canada, apparently no one can download it in the U.S.

This seems awful fishy to me.

This happened to me too. I provided a screenshot to confirm

Apr 27, 2005, 11:04 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Higher Encoded Songs in iTunes? http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif One reader notes that at least one iTunes Music Store song is being offered at a much higher encoding rate than Apple has publicly advertised. The majority of iTunes Music Store songs come in 128kbit Protected AAC audio file format. This file format allows for playback in iTunes as well as the iPod. The 128k bit-rate in AAC is said to provide a superior quality to the equivalent MP3 bitrate. Snap!'s 3 min 42 second Rhythm Is a Dancer (Original Mix), however, comes in at 290kbits encoding (screenshot) on the iTunes Music Store. The file is reported to be encoded with "FAAC 1.24+ (May 7 200...)" Individual publishers utilize iTunes Producer, an encoding/submitting application which reportedly converts songs to the proper format (128kbit AAC) without any additional options. Whether or not larger labels or Apple themselves have more freedom in encoding options is unknown. This file may simply be an anomaly, but there have been scattered reports of other songs also offering higher encoding. There does not appear to be any way to distinguish these files before purchasing them. Last edited by arn : Apr 27, 2005 at 11:18 PM.

Apr 27, 2005, 11:09 PM	#3
840quadra macrumors 68040 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Twin Cities MN	That would be incredible, However for those with 56k or slower, downloading songs just became a longer process __________________ The iPhone is nice, but I am here for the Macrumors Neucast the European automotive podcast

Apr 27, 2005, 11:11 PM	#4
PlaceofDis macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Chicago.	interesting, i would like to see higher bit rates offered as well, would certainly be welcome! __________________ dim my eyes on the waves of confessions... SpringWarmCold

Apr 27, 2005, 11:14 PM	#8
mikeyredk macrumors 65816 Join Date: Mar 2003	its not in the US __________________ You can never underestimate the stupidity of the general public. Scott Adams (1957 - ), The Dilbert Future

Apr 27, 2005, 11:20 PM	#15
quackattack macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boise, ID	290 is a odd number, not one of the AAC encoding standards. Perhaps this is some sort of variable bit rate? That would be very nice. I welcome higher bit rates! Now when will be be able to download lossless? __________________ Alum iMac 24" 2.8, 4GB RAM Powerbook 15" G4 1.5 iPhone / 5G iPod / TV "Be true to yourself, if it lands you in hell at least now you know."

Apr 27, 2005, 11:06 PM	#2
Josh396 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Peoria/Chicago, IL	I'd like to see an option for better quality songs when you purchase them. Maybe that's coming up?

Apr 27, 2005, 11:13 PM	#6
dotdotdot macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2005	Wasn't the first report of this over four months ago? And its just news NOW? There are like thirty threads on MR that have people saying "Oh, this song is Higher Bitrate, maybe we'll get it soon!" IIRC, iTunes is not 100% "OKAY WITH" the RIAA - having missed some meetings, and being so popular, the RIAA is barely allowing iTunes to continue. There were even some MR rumors that the RIAA was going to shut down iTunes. Why would iTunes take that risk RIGHT NOW? Of course, if the price stays the same and Apple releases a new standard that makes a 128KBPS AAC2 (maybe...) file the same quality as a 320 KBPS MP3, than Apple will be selling their songs like wildfire... All I know is these rumors are getting pretty annoying considering they have been said a long, long time ago.

Apr 27, 2005, 11:13 PM	#7
WCat macrumors member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Somewhere in the Sillycon Valley, Socialist Republik of California	Hmm...the iTunes store song link doesn't seem to work. Says "not available in the US store." Personally, I'd welcome higher bit-rate encoding. Can't help but improve the purchased song's value to me. It just gets that much closer to the original. Maybe charge US$1.29 for "higher-fi" songs instead of $.99, or something like that. Cheers, WCat

Apr 27, 2005, 11:16 PM	#10
jicon macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Victoria, BC	I call BS on this. Purchased songs shouldn't report what they were encoded with.

Apr 27, 2005, 11:20 PM	#14
narco macrumors 65816 Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: California.	I think iTunes should give you an option, similar to allofmp3.com. I still would choose 128 because I prefer quantity over quality, but I know a lot of people who would rather have the higher bitrate. Fishes, narco.

Apr 27, 2005, 11:22 PM	#17
timster macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2002	Any encoding would be fine when you've got none at all. WHERE'S THE DAMN AUSTRALIAN STORE? It's the 28th, but still no go for Australia... "iTunes Music Store is not available in your country." Does that mean Russell my-ego-is-too-large-to-fit-in-New-Zealand Crowe LIED to us? Yeah, well I thought Gladiator was a crap movie anyway. And what's with making a movie about how stupid smoking is when you still smoke? And how can someone with a moron's mind play A Brilliant Mind? Why doesn't he just go romper stomp his own head. (Not that I'm bitter or anything!)

Apr 27, 2005, 11:25 PM	#18
dotdotdot macrumors 68020 Join Date: Jan 2005	Did anyone here actually download it to confirm this?

Apr 27, 2005, 11:27 PM	#19
AliensAreFuzzy macrumors Demi-God Join Date: May 2004 Location: Madison, WI	Yeah, this happened to me too. Darude's Sandstorm Attached Thumbnails

Apr 27, 2005, 11:28 PM	#21
goz macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2005	What about the get info panel entitled summery? I bought a song this week that says 256 kb, earlier purchases say 128.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode