Help picking audio format

[vocalperk]

I'm trying to download a CD online and am being given a choice of 5 audio formats to choose from:

1) AAC (iTunes/iPod compatible)
2) MP3 HD (lossless MP3, iTunes/iPod compatible)
3) MP3 only (320 kbs)
4) Apple Lossless & MP3
5) FLAC & MP3

I've got to admit that I've never seen some of those before (lossless? FLAC? AAC?). Does anyone know about this stuff and have a recommendation for what I should select? I'd like to be able to play it both on iTunes and WMP. If it matters...the site is rockapella.com, and the menu comes up when you click to pre-order their CD.

Thanks very much for any advice/input!

[classicman]

I'll take #2 Johnny, but I have absolutely less of an idea than you.

Nice of you to pop in again.

[Rhianne]

With what type of device do you intend to play this 'CD'?

[vocalperk]

Thanks classic. I pop in fairly regularly on a reading basis....but just don't post that much. You all have the wickedly-clever-posts-thing down pat and I'm pretty sure my posts couldn't even tie your posts' shoes!

[vocalperk]

Rhianne - sorry I wasn't very clear....

With the CD pre-order we get both the physical CD and a digital download of the album. I'd like to be able to play the digital download both on iTunes and on Windows Media Player....but just don't know what audio format to select of the options given.

[Sperlock]

MP3 is the safest bet, especially for compatibility on any media player that is worth anything. MP3 HD may not be supported by everything yet (heck, it's the first time I've heard of it).

From Wikipedia: "Lossless data compression is a class of data compression algorithms that allows the exact original data to be reconstructed from the compressed data. The term lossless is in contrast to lossy data compression, which only allows an approximation of the original data to be reconstructed, in exchange for better compression rates."

If you want a lossless format as well, I'd go with option 5 (FLAC = Free Lossless Audio Codec, which is open source).

[gvidas]

MP3 is the most useable. If there's some slim chance you'll turn into an audio weenie, and don't mind the harddrive space and download time, go with FLAC + MP3. Otherwise MP3 only.

AAC/Apple Lossless/MP3 HD will give you more compatibility issues. FLAC is easy to find programs that support on all platforms, but is (to my ears) overkill.

[SteveDallas]

Get FLAC. It's lossless & can be converted to anything else you want later.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by vocalperk

I pop in fairly regularly on a reading basis....but just don't post that much. You all have the wickedly-clever-posts-thing down pat and I'm pretty sure my posts couldn't even tie your posts' shoes!

We hear this frequently, and it's an ill conceived perception. Post away, you and every lurker. What the hell, not every post has ready for prime time zingers. Just post what's on your mind, and you may be surprised how it might lead to a very interesting conversation. Nobody's going to ridicule you for posting something that doesn't, either.

Besides, somebody has to supply the straight lines.

[Rhianne]

If you don't know what the other formats are then you almost certainly don't need them so stick to the KISS method and use MP3s - but if you do find you'd like it another way (sorry about the double entendre), well, you have the CD anyway so you can convert to whatever you like whenever you like.

[monster]

Originally Posted by vocalperk

I'm pretty sure my posts couldn't even tie your posts' shoes!

That's OK, they use the Velcro fastenings.




(Sorry, I don't have anything useful to add.)

[Pete Zicato]

What, no ogg?

MP3 should be playable on just about everything.

The MP3 format has a lot of options for compression. The HD thing is just MP3 with all compression turned off. The files you'll get will be large. (I'd guess 30-40MB per song)

The other MP3 format is the same but with whatever compression options they think are appropriate turned on. (Smaller, but not pure)