Cascade Crew

blue89 · Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 9:24 pm Post subject: Audio files

Where do most of you guys buy your music from? I am trying to buy digital media but would prefer to get it higher quality than CD if I do. If I can't find a spot to acquire this then it seems cheaper to me just to run down to the local used CD store and pick up new music there.

Thoughts?

DBL_TKE · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:15 am Post subject:

iTunes.

Alphius · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:44 am Post subject:

CD audio is higher bitrate and better dynamic range than any compressed audio format. (AAC, MP3) The best you can do as a consumer is to match it's quality by ripping a CD to a lossless audio format. The only better quality would be the studio master, which you don't have access to.

Every online store sells compressed audio files.

Buy the CD and rip it to a DRM free and lossless (OGG, FLAC, WAV) or very high bitrate (MP3 320kbps) format. Be happy. You'll get a higher-quality digital file compared to an online purchase.

Most online stores also include DRM with the audio files. The exception to this rule is Amazon which sells in MP3 but compressed.

Now, for most people and on most consumer level audio equipment a high bitrate compressed file (256kbps or above average bitrate) will be nearly indistinguishable from playing the CD through the same equipment.

Twilightoptics · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:31 am Post subject:

Unless it's recorded in a design for surround/hd type sound, music typically is not, you're just not going to notice a difference. My ripped cd's sound the same as purchased through itunes songs on my home stereo.

The most you see out of music is 4 channel, and even that is seemingly rare.

Dewey316 · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:35 am Post subject:

its not so much the chanels that change the sound, it is the clipping of frequencies used to go to compressed format. But, in theory, they are inaudiable frequencies so you shouldn't tell the difference with a high bitrate MP3, since the data that is trimmed off only your dog should notice.

blue89 · Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:45 am Post subject:

Thanks guys. I don't know if I can get the quality I want from an online purchase. What I wanted to avoid is compressed audio but being that i can't find a story that sells lossless, I guess I am better off buying the CD. The online sources I have found don't list the bit rate or don't offer the entire album for purchase. I just want a good format to play through some home made amps I have.

In college I made the observation that if we can't hear above 20khz then the human ear can't tell the difference between a 15khz sine wave or a 15khz square wave. So i grabbed a fluke function generator and fed it through a speaker. The difference was amazing. Could have been something clipping out but it was very noticeable.