AAC or MP3?

Its pretty much a toss up for me. I did some testing and in the end I decided on 128 AAC. Sure you can get better sound quality, but for most people on average equipment 128 AAC will be the best compromise between quality and file size. Keep in mind that most windows users will not be able to play AAC's, though.

I haven't received my iPod yet, but I want to start ripping my CDs right away. Since I chose the 40GB model, I assume that I can encode my music files in decent (high) quality.

Recalling from the rise of mp3 files during mid-nineties, most mp3 files were stereo with a 128 kbps fixed rate. Nowadays, 192 kbps and more are common, but VBR mp3s don't seem very popular (judging from my friends libraries. I haven't experienced the quality of AAC files yet, but I always had good results with Variable BitRate mp3 encoding (64-192 kbps for example).

So now, how do mp3 and AAC encoding differ? Considering I am a PC user (at home) and that I might want to share a few files with my friends (how else can you acquire new tastes in music?), which encoding should I use?

How would a high quality VBR mp3 compare to a 128 or 192 kbps AAC file?

When selecting custom mp3 encoding settings, do I have to choose both the stereo bitrate and VBR encoding quality? Should I select 64kbps/high quality VBR mp3 or 192kbps/high quality VBR mp3? Will both settings give me similar results (as far as sound quality in concerned)?

I know I ask too much. Thanks in advance!

Happy Holidays :D

- Fred

thank you for your input!

Isn't iTunes-LAME a Mac only add-on? As I said I only have a PC at home (actually it's my girlfriend's laptop).

I already use the LAME encoder with dBpowerAmp (a free ripper for Windows). Is there any easy way to add freshly non-iTunes ripped mp3s automatically to my library?

I wonder if encoding them directly into the iTunes folder (in Artist/Album subfolders) will add them to my library...

I know that variable bitrate is better than constant bitrate :you can "afford" higher quality music at a comparable filesize.

I just want to know how AAC files and vbr are different quality-wise and filesize-wise.

TIA,

- Fred

thanks... it seems to work great although I wish I could do everything from iTunes (I am not that reliable :P)

Nope - the iPod supports both just fine.

Originally posted by shabbs
Nope - the iPod supports both just fine.

So could I use the Itunes encoded mp3s in a 'regular' (read- less cool, cheesy 256mb flash) portable mp3 player?
And, just to clarify, my wifes iPod can still use these same mp3 files (I thought it could only use .aac files)?
It would be nice to have each song in only one format that would work with both players.

Jason

I'd personally go for AAC, because the quality of the music sounds better to me. However, the major downside of AAC, as bdb said, is that it only works on the iPod and can only be played using iTunes. This can be a bit annoying if you like sending tracks to your friends, not that i do or anything.