How to change quality of songs in iTunes?

fireshot91 · Mar 9, 2009, 03:20 PM

I'm not looking to convert everything to Apple Lossless, or anything like that, just change some 128kbps to like 700ish, since they're all MP3s.
I'm wondering how I would go along with doing this?

bartelby · Mar 9, 2009, 03:22 PM

Why?

It won't sound any better...

Sky Blue · Mar 9, 2009, 03:23 PM

re-encode from the original CD.

jessica. · Mar 9, 2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bartelby

Why?

It won't sound any better...

I'm going to agree. Converting is nothing more than enlarging the file size and bitrate with no additional information ... right? I mean, won't it sound worse? Maybe this is why your iTunes is pink.

fireshot91 · Mar 9, 2009, 03:38 PM

xD. That isn't why my iTunes is pink!

But thanks, I'll go ahead and rip my 6.x GB of music AGAIN! :/

sandman42 · Mar 9, 2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jessica.

Converting is nothing more than enlarging the file size and bitrate with no additional information ... right? I mean, won't it sound worse?

Yes, all true. The losses the OP is trying to get back happened during the original rip -- it's what you give up to get smaller file size, and there's no getting that back except to start with the full-quality source (the original CD) and re-rip to a higher bitrate with less loss. Ironically, if you re-convert a highly-compressed file (e.g. low bitrate MP3) to a less compressed format (other than lossless), you still lose more during the second compression.

Think about it this way (it's not totally analogous, but close enough for this example): if you photocopy a picture with a crappy photocopier, you can't restore the image by running the bad copy through a better photocopier. You just get a third image with some additional loss.

jessica. · Mar 9, 2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandman42

Yes, all true. The losses the OP is trying to get back happened during the original rip -- it's what you give up to get smaller file size, and there's no getting that back except to start with the full-quality source (the original CD) and re-rip to a higher bitrate with less loss. Ironically, if you re-convert a highly-compressed file (e.g. low bitrate MP3) to a less compressed format (other than lossless), you still lose more during the second compression.

Think about it this way (it's not totally analogous, but close enough for this example): if you photocopy a picture with a crappy photocopier, you can't restore the image by running the bad copy through a better photocopier. You just get a third image with some additional loss.

That is where I was heading. Photographically speaking, you can take a picture with a resolution of 800x600, but if you want it to triple in size you'll have what is interpolation. The size is there, the quality is not. The image will attempt to enlarge by taking information from surrounding pixels, which is never truly accurate. From afar this is ok, from up close, not so much. I presume music would be similar. If the information is not there it simply, is not there.

nickbr00tality · Mar 13, 2009, 05:37 PM

mp3 only goes up to 320, no 700ish. You'll need to re-rip from the original cd and change the importing preferences in iTunes.

sbking · Mar 13, 2009, 07:01 PM

You cant improve a songs quality by increasing bitrate. Just the size. For lossless quality you need to encode from a lossless source (aka retail cd)

"trash in = trash out"

Unless you mean you want to re-rip your cds, in that case change the settings in preferences.

Teej guy · Mar 13, 2009, 07:58 PM

700ish is where Lossless lives anyway...

Mar 9, 2009, 03:20 PM	#1
fireshot91 macrumors 601 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Northern VA	How to change quality of songs in iTunes? I'm not looking to convert everything to Apple Lossless, or anything like that, just change some 128kbps to like 700ish, since they're all MP3s. I'm wondering how I would go along with doing this?
	0

Mar 9, 2009, 03:23 PM	#3
Sky Blue macrumors 603 Join Date: Jan 2005	re-encode from the original CD. __________________ "The case is so square that it easily stands at attention as if begging for treats."
	0

Mar 13, 2009, 05:37 PM	#8
nickbr00tality macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2008	mp3 only goes up to 320, no 700ish. You'll need to re-rip from the original cd and change the importing preferences in iTunes. __________________ Blackbook 2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB HDD; 80 GB iPod Classic; 8 GB iPhone (1st Gen)
	0

Mar 13, 2009, 07:58 PM	#10
Teej guy macrumors 6502a Join Date: Aug 2007	700ish is where Lossless lives anyway... __________________ 2.3 Early 2011 MBP 17"
	0

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Mar 9, 2009, 03:22 PM	#2
bartelby macrumors Core Join Date: Jun 2004	Why? It won't sound any better...
	0

Mar 9, 2009, 03:38 PM	#5
fireshot91 Thread Starter macrumors 601 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Northern VA	xD. That isn't why my iTunes is pink! But thanks, I'll go ahead and rip my 6.x GB of music AGAIN! :/
	0

Mar 13, 2009, 07:01 PM	#9
sbking macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2009	You cant improve a songs quality by increasing bitrate. Just the size. For lossless quality you need to encode from a lossless source (aka retail cd) "trash in = trash out" Unless you mean you want to re-rip your cds, in that case change the settings in preferences.
	0


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