Music/iPod ? - Which MP3 Bitrate
 

Which is the best bitrate to use when importing my CD's into iTunes? The default is 128, but I'm wondering if higher would be noticeably better.

Also, "Sample Rate" is set to Auto... is this OK?

Any other settings I should mess with in the iPod or within iTunes?

Thanks!!
Skip

Yes, unless you are archiving for duplication, (which i wouldnt use mp3 format), then yeah...go with 160. gives a better highend resolution.

HIgher bit rates help to keep things like symbol crashes from breaking up.

Your age and condition of your hearing factor into the decision.

Experiment a bit and you'll find your tolerence.

Scott

Surprised it doesn't offer variable bitrate. That's pretty standard these days.

Depending on the song, anything less than 192 will be noticably bad. That's why variable bitrate is best. I've seen it go as low as 128 and as high as 256 on the same song.

OK. I did a little more searching within iTunes, and there is a "Use Variable Bit Rate Encoding" check box. But, you still have to pick a "Stereo Bit Rate". Does this setting basically limit the high end of the rate? Should I choose something high like 256?

Also, which encoder is best to use? AAC, AIFF, Apple LossLess Encoder, MP3 or WAV?

And then there's Sample Rate (44.1, 48.0 or Auto).

Geesh. I had no idea I didn't know so much.

Thanks,
Skip

I usually go with 256kbps constant. Sounds good to my ears, and leaves plenty of 'room' for sound quality through the whole range of tones.

There is no "best" encoder. It's not that generic. That's kind of like asking which single size socket you should have to fix your car.

It depends on the end purpose. Not all devices support all formats.

Scott

For BEST quality, and thus largest files, fewer songs on your iPod, set it up this way: AAC Encoder, 320 kbps, 48.000 kHz