Apple Lossless question

[Morod]

Hi,
I've read a lot about Apple Lossless for iTunes. This is an encoder used only for importing CDs to iTunes, correct?
I finally found the option to use it under iTunes>Preferences>General>Import Settings. When buying a song from the iTunes Store, is Lossless automatically used, or can I choose that option from somewhere else?
Thanks for any help in this!
Morod

 

[bay2sacto]

Hi,
I've read a lot about Apple Lossless for iTunes. This is an encoder used only for importing CDs to iTunes, correct?
I finally found the option to use it under iTunes>Preferences>General>Import Settings. When buying a song from the iTunes Store, is Lossless automatically used, or can I choose that option from somewhere else?
Thanks for any help in this!
Morod

When buying from the ITMS the songs will be in MP4 AAC format which is a lossy format. None of the major online stores sell anything in a lossless format. The Apple lossless format, ALAC is only for encoding your imported CD tracks.

 

[BlueRevolution]

If you have the default import codec set to Apple Lossless, iTunes will allow you to transcode (re-encode) audio files to Apple Lossless, but don't be fooled. You won't be gaining anything in the process except the extra bitrate. Once a song is encoded to lossy format, you've lost the extra.

I don't believe you can transcode purchased music, at least, not DRM'd music. I'm not sure how it handles iTunes Plus.

 

[Morod]

Thanks again for the info, people! It saves me from looking all over for something that's non-existent. Much appreciated!
Morod