How do I increase iTunes download bitrate to 320kbps?

[Karafan]

A friend who downloads, using iTunes, has complained he can only get a low bitrate and would prefer a higher one of 320kbps, which another friend tells me they now do. Problem is, how does he change his download bitrate.

I have looked at my iTunes (I don't tend to download though) and I can only see 'Preferences' under 'Edit' which allows you to change import settings - but this is presumably just for ripping Cds to iTunes and it doesn't go as high as 320 anyway.

Any help gratefully received!

K.

[Stunsworth]

The lossy codec - AAC - that iTunes uses only goes up to 256k. If you download from the iTunes store it will also be at this bitrate.

I'm not sure what happens to iTunes purchases if you have the import setting at a value less than 256k - i.e. I don't know if iTunes compresses the original 256k to whatever lower bitrate has been specified.

[Karafan]

Oh thanks Steve - I will have to double check what my friend means when he says that he has had iTunes downloads at 320 for a year or two now....? Cheers.

[Stunsworth]

They could have been from Amazon, or some other non-Apple source.

[slarty]

My recent Amazon download was also only at 128kb/s - how does one change that?

[Dave2002]

Until recently the iTunes store was operating at 256kbps AAC. This may be comparable with 320kbps MP3 which is a rate ostensibly used by Amazon. Others around here have noted that the actual rate as measured or indicated may be lower than these maximum rates.

Regarding ripping, it is certainly possible to rip at 320kbps AAC using iTunes under the Import settings. You have to choose Custom settings, and then select the bit rate.

I don't bother though, and go straight to ALAC from CD or similar digital media. If you have loads of space, and use any Logitech equipment Squeezeboxes etc.) it might be worth going to AIFF, or even WAV, as those devices can work natively with those formats, but that'll use about twice as much space as actually needed. It is possible to go to FLAC, but requires a bit of modding around (faffing!) with codecs and things, which are not standard for iTunes - so I don't bother. There may be other devices which also work better with some other formats. However FLAC might have advantages for anyone who also wants to use their library with PCs and software running there. If I need to convert files I can do that later once I have ripped to ALAC, otherwise it's an extra step to generate FLAC first, then convert to ALAC.

It's not worth converting to a higher bit rate format from a lower bit rate one, nor is it worth trying to convert (say) an AAC file downloaded from an online store to a lossless format. This will only degrade the quality. The only conversions which might be needed are if a download format is incompatible with a desired playback device - for example some early "mp3" players would only play mp3s, so aac files won't work until converted. There is always a degradation in quality when changing bit rates, or when transcoding - except when transcoding from one lossless format to another, though such degradation may be slight - depending.

[Dave2002]

My recent Amazon download was also only at 128kb/s - how does one change that?

Are you sure? How did you do the download? If you imported the file into iTunes and the iTunes settings are to a lower bit rate and different format, it is possible that the files were converted when moved into iTunes. If that was the case, set your iTunes to a much higher rate - say AAC 320kpbs (it is possible - see my last post), then download again from Amazon Cloud and then transfer the file to iTunes. See what the rate comes out at then.

I think you don't have to import directly into iTunes, in which case the files should go to a Download folder, and you can check the bit rates there before importing them into any player software.

I've not tried this (yet), so don't know - but I suspect that might be the issue.