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Is the iTunes encoder really that bad?

daneoni

daneoni

macrumors G5
Original poster
Mar 24, 2006
12,019
1,924
A friend of mine just told me i'm missing out by encoding my stuff with iTunes and i should use LAME instead

I just downloaded the iTunes LAME encoder and the interface seems weird, it doesnt seem to support custom bit rate and all that and just encodes on its own

Is iTunes really that terrible and what other encoders would people suggest?
 
iTunes encoding is fine.

Do you know a third party plugin such as lame is not part of iTunes? (Thus its interface could be quite lame)

Mp3 is over 10 years older than Mp4. Mp4 produces files that sounds closer to CDs than mp3.

I always do loseless, but when compressing music, I use AAC (MP4).
 
If you aren't hearing any loss of quality using the iTunes encoder, then just keep using it.

Some folks may feel the sound quality is bad and others don't.

I use the iTunes encoder and use the iPhone stock headphones!
 
iTunes' MP3 encoder is very old, and should be avoided. The AAC encoder is great.
 
LAME is one of the best encoders out there but most people don't hear the difference with their equipment. If you have equipment where it really matters you should go Lossless anyway.
 
Diatribe said:
LAME is one of the best encoders out there but most people don't hear the difference with their equipment. If you have equipment where it really matters you should go Lossless anyway.
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So if you already knew the answer you wanted to hear, Why bother asking???

If you are not using Lossless, then ACC is your best bet.

If LAME is what you and "your buddy" uses than so be it. I am quite pleased with ACC at 256.
 
I use Max and LAME 3.97 at 256kbps all the time.

The program Max encodes your music with LAME and drops it right into iTunes so it's just as easy (and a better encoder vs. the iTunes mp3 encoder) as doing it in iTunes.
 
Bobioden said:
So if you already knew the answer you wanted to hear, Why bother asking???

If you are not using Lossless, then ACC is your best bet.

If LAME is what you and "your buddy" uses than so be it. I am quite pleased with ACC at 256.
Click to expand...

You might wanna check who you are responding to next time before you hit that submit reply button. ;)
 
Diatribe said:
Seriously dude, lay off the attitude. You should save it for real problems. It's just a forum... :)
Click to expand...

Obviously you missed the "Sorry, my bad" post. But if you need a formal apology, here it is. "Sorry, I got your post and the OP's post confused." I thought he was asking a question, then answering it himself, but obviously it was you who answered and I quoted you. Again, my bad. I thought it was over with, but from this post I guess it wasn't.
 
Bobioden said:
Obviously you missed the "Sorry, my bad" post. But if you need a formal apology, here it is. "Sorry, I got your post and the OP's post confused." I thought he was asking a question, then answering it himself, but obviously it was you who answered and I quoted you. Again, my bad. I thought it was over with, but from this post I guess it wasn't.
Click to expand...

No, I didn't miss your "Sorry, my bad" post and I sure as hell don't need a formal apology. My point was that even if I had been the poster, there is no need to react the way you did. But either way, don't worry, everything's good. :)
 
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