Mastered for iTunes

[Hemps]

I see many albums are titled "Mastered for iTunes"

Is there any difference in sound between them and the normal albums on itunes?

 

[Electric]

I see many albums are titled "Mastered for iTunes"

Is there any difference in sound between them and the normal albums on itunes?

I'm sure it is in fact referring to a lower bit rate as well as not going very low in the sub hertz due to most itunes being listened to on earbuds or non-professional monitoring setups.

They tend to keep the bass harmonics higher up in the spectrum to allow the music to be heard on lower end systems.
This is purely from an audiophile standpoint though, not sure what it means to the laymen.

 

[bwana]

Tech brief: http://images.apple.com/itunes/mastered-for-itunes/docs/mastered_for_itunes.pdf

 

[morkhans]

You've just got to love the Apple marketing spin sometimes.

The iTunes catalog was initially offered in 2003 as 128 kbps AAC files, many of which
were encoded from the original CD masters. They sounded great—in fact, these
downloads led the industry in sound quality. More than 100 million songs were sold in
this format in a little over a year, changing the landscape of legal digital music forever.

 

[bwana]

You've just got to love the Apple marketing spin sometimes.

My memory is failing me - what other legit online music stores were there in 2003 when iTS launched?

 

[Hemps]

I see some artists are missing on iTunes store like Def Leppard.

 

[Hemps]

Another sucky thing I store music on iphone for listening and 16gb just aint gonna cut it cause since joining itunes match and sinking my teeth into itunes store I have accumulated some additional music.

 

[bwana]

I see some artists are missing on iTunes store like Def Leppard.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/def-leppard/id117554

 

[Hemps]

Ahh, I had the album vault which it didnt match.

 

[morkhans]

My memory is failing me - what other legit online music stores were there in 2003 when iTS launched?

Has nothing to do with legit or not and everything with putting spin audio quality which today nobody would touch with a barge pole.

 

[bwana]

Has nothing to do with legit or not and everything with putting spin audio quality which today nobody would touch with a barge pole.

And they covered that in the next para, I guess you missed it…

But innovation didn’t stop there. Recently, using the most advanced AAC encoder, the iTunes catalog was upgraded to iTunes Plus: a variable bit rate (VBR) 256 kbps AAC encoding format. iTunes AAC encoders are now able to transparently encode high definition audio, creating files that retain the small footprint, portability, and ease of use iTunes is known for. And they sound amazing.

So yeah, back in 2003 I think Apple did lead the industry with their 128 kbps AAC files - if they didn't tell me who did?

 

[morkhans]

And they covered that in the next para, I guess you missed it… So yeah, back in 2003 I think Apple did lead the industry with their 128 kbps AAC files - if they didn't tell me who did?

Home users and the internet ripping them at 320kbps

 

[bwana]

Home users and the internet ripping them at 320kbps

Apple is specifically referring to the industry - you highlighted that yourself.

You've just got to love the Apple marketing spin sometimes.

The iTunes catalog was initially offered in 2003 as 128 kbps AAC files, many of which
were encoded from the original CD masters. They sounded great—in fact, these
downloads led the industry in sound quality. More than 100 million songs were sold in
this format in a little over a year, changing the landscape of legal digital music forever.

NB - your emphasis, not mine.

 

[Electric]

That tech brief you posted is iTunes creating a magnificent veil over the truth.
Their algorithms create a smaller, lower bit rate file.
Not to be consider audiophile in any way.
Yet they make it seem like it is a market leading system.

 

[morkhans]

Apple is specifically referring to the industry - you highlighted that yourself.

NB - your emphasis, not mine.

Ok then put less emphasis on "the industry" and more on the amazing quality of 128 kbps.

I was just having a laugh is all

 

[Hemps]

So I bought music from SA store used to buy from US store but the exchange rate sucks.
Anyway I was looking for Eminem's songs but "clean" versions and I see US store has them, not SA.

I also came across the Kenyan store and see for the same Eminem songs that cost $1.29 on US store cost $0.49 on Kenyan Store?

 

[Space_Chief]

So I bought music from SA store used to buy from US store but the exchange rate sucks.
Anyway I was looking for Eminem's songs but "clean" versions and I see US store has them, not SA.

I also came across the Kenyan store and see for the same Eminem songs that cost $1.29 on US store cost $0.49 on Kenyan Store?

Welcome to the world of differential pricing.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Home users and the internet ripping them at 320kbps

But 320 in MP3 is not the same as 320 in AAC, which is superior.

iTunes Plus is 256~ VBR not ~256 as is the case with most MP3 profiles.

I used to use Lossless everything until iTunes Plus came our and I honestly could no longer tell the difference.

As opposed to 256 VBR in MP3 and/or WMA format which wasn't terrible but noticeably different from Lossless.

 

[Dolby]

Why hasn't it really taken off?

It does seem to the superior codec at equal bit rates to mp3

 

[Space_Chief]

Codecs make a difference for sure. Even different MP3 encoders make a difference. The best one was supposedly LAME. And of course with release of the open source FLAC there are more options - the latter being lossless. But to be honest, using normal consumer range ear buds, or headphones and listening to the typical music which is already compressed in the studio - to be loud - so that the difference between the softest parts and the loudest parts is little, I would not be able to tell between 256Kbps MP3 and a similar AAC. 128kbps one can still tell, although on small speakers it makes little difference. I even struggle if I listen on $300 Shure ear buds.

Now some sites do sell music at 24bit/96KHz or even higher sampling rates in losslessly compressed format. But again you need a good amp, acoustics and speakers to take advantage.