Lossless Playback on iTunes Match

[touchmonkey]

If a lossless song is uploaded instead of matched, what format is it played back in through iTunes Match?

 

[Jony Mac]

Songs encoded in ALAC, WAV, or AIFF will be transcoded to a separate temporary AAC 256 kbps file locally, prior to uploading to iCloud. The original files will remain untouched.

 

[touchmonkey]

Thanks. That means all iCloud playback is 256 max.

 

[ZeRoLiMiT]

yes unless you upload a file that is 256k or higher

 

[Julien]

yes unless you upload a file that is 256k or higher

...and how are you going to do that since lossless is transcoded to 256kbps AAC?

On a side note but not really related to the OP's question, Match will upload/download a 320kps MP3 file without transcending. Not sure about AAC 320kbps uploaded files.

 

[touchmonkey]

...and how are you going to do that since lossless is transcoded to 256kbps AAC?

On a side note but not really related to the OP's question, Match will upload/download a 320kps MP3 file without transcending. Not sure about AAC 320kbps uploaded files.

So, a 700kbs apple lossless will playback at 256, but a 320kbs mp3 will playback at 320???
Source for info please.

 

[Julien]

So, a 700kbs apple lossless will playback at 256, but a 320kbs mp3 will playback at 320???
Source for info please.

I deleted a 320kbps MP3 (Google freebee) song that was uploaded (not matched) and re-downloaded it and it was the same 320kbps MP3 format.

I deleted a ALAC song that was uploaded (not matched) and re-downloaded and it was 256kbps AAC.

How is that for proof.😉

 

[touchmonkey]

I originally asked just out of curiosity, but how iCloud works makes it unattractive to me.

I prefer listening to lossless recordings, but I will never get that with iCloud playback. Wish there was an option for size of your account instead of number of songs. And be able to upload whatever you want.

And I'm disappointed at Apple for not bumping things up to 320 instead of 256. 🙁

But then if it wasn't for disappointments I wouldn't have any appointments.

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I deleted a 320kbps MP3 (Google freebee) song that was uploaded (not matched) and re-downloaded it and it was the same 320kbps MP3 format.

I deleted a ALAC song that was uploaded (not matched) and re-downloaded and it was 256kbps AAC.

How is that for proof.😉

Good. Wasn't challenging your statement just wondering what the source is, since apparently Apple doesn't make the info readily available.
Your actual experience is also more reliable than the usual smoke often being blown.
That's still a weird situation you observed. Make any sense to you?
Thanks.

 

[Julien]

...I prefer listening to lossless recordings, but I will never get that with iCloud playback. Wish there was an option for size of your account instead of number of songs. And be able to upload whatever you want.

And I'm disappointed at Apple for not bumping things up to 320 instead of 256. 🙁...

I also prefer ALAC and use iCloud more as a last ditch backup and not for playback.

Also while algorithms are different (and AAC (MP4) is newer than MP3), 256kbps AAC is about equal to or slightly better quality than 320kbps MP3.

To transcode lossy to lossy (MP3 to AAC) would be very detrimental to SQ.

 

[touchmonkey]

I also prefer ALAC and use iCloud more as a last ditch backup and not for playback.

Also while algorithms are different (and AAC (MP4) is newer than MP3), 256kbps AAC is about equal to or slightly better quality than 320kbps MP3.

To transcode lossy to lossy (MP3 to AAC) would be very detrimental to SQ.

Roger that.
Thankful for my 160gig Classic. Full and all lossless baby!