Aac Vs. Mp3

Hey aquasoftians, a simple question for all you iTunes users out there.

After converting an mp3 file to aac, how small exactly does the file size get? After some research with google i found out that according to the experts at Dolby Labs the file size is smaller and the quality is better; some disagree, but experts are good enough for me. I'm dying to know the answer. So i would like to request a test from anyone by converting a 128kb mp3 file into a 128kb aac file.

The reason I want to know this so bad is because i just got a 10gb ipod and i have 8gb music on my computer, which will pretty soon overload my ipod. And the reason i can't perform the test myself is because i've been having a computer problem for the past month and after hours of research and posts (one on aquasoft) the only solution to the problem seems to be 'format'. The problem doesn't let me install iTunes along with some other software i have, and i cannot format until after a week due to the inconvenience of other users of the computer. Therefore no iTunes no test, and dbPoweramp failed to convert for some reason.

So its a simple test. Help get rid of my untolerable impatience by performing the test. All i want to know is how small a single file becomes on average.

#105130

Converting mp3 to aac is highly lossy. The reason for this is because the conversion from the cd going into mp3 is lossy, as well as cd going to aac. So what you are doing is degrading the sound quality even more. But to answer your question, yes aac is better in terms of quality and size. For instance, I have read tests (by I assume experts) that have concluded that a 64 kbps aac is as good in quality as a 128 kbps mp3 (you can do the math according to how long your average song is). I hope that answered your question. I also have an ipod and I put my ripped cds in aac format into it. If you already have mp3s where you do not have the source, then dont bother converting it to aac unless its a super high bitrate mp3. Also, if you really want to do the tests then just backup your 8 gigs worth of mp3s onto the ipod and reformat your hard drive. There are many handy windows utilities (run a google search for ipodlounge) that allow you to take the songs from the ipod back to the computer. Good luck.

#105132

I agree with sciphan, if your mp3's were at 128kbps already then don't even bother converting them. If they're higher (like 160) I'd suggest importing the files into your library again as wav files, then importing those wav files as 128 kbps AAC files. Same quality, smaller size.

#105152

Do not, I repeat, do not convert your MP3's to AAC. It is a waste of time. Not to mention, you will not gain any quality from it. Think of it this way:

You have an image, you want to make it smaller so you convert it to 256 colors and you save it as a GIF. But now there is a better type of file, say PNG. So you open that file and you save it as a PNG. But what color does it have to work with? Only the 256. YOu mind as well open the original and save that as a PNG.

In other words, re-rip the CD in AAC. Then you will gain audio quality.

#105259

thanx for the replies. guess i got a lot re-ripping to do.

#107024

but what if you're color blind?? :lol: