ipod and dac?

Thanks for the response Onhwy61.

You mention that fragmentation with 2-channel playback isn't an issue, but what happens to that drive when songs are written, then deleted and other songs are written over the same blocks where the deleted files once resided?

I realize that when a large number of songs are written/downloaded to device like the iPod, they are initially done so in a contiguous fashion. But what happens when songs are deleted from various points in the middle of those large blocks and new ones written/downloaded? I'd imagine those vacant areas of the drive will eventually be written to, and in the case of large sound file not in a contiguous manner. When repeated over and over, fragmentation will eventually occur.

In my field I work with multiple drives and many of my files can exceed a gigabyte. When diagnosing and testing for problems on my drives, the ones that store the large files experience less fragmentation, but take a while to get into a severe state. The drive that always has the most fragmentation is the start up drive which in my case I've counted up to 200,000 miscellaneous small files scattered all over the place. Severe fragmentation can occur in a few months.

Since my computer doesn't support enough RAM to hold an entire file in RAM, we use large fast scratch disks with speeds in the 10,000-15,000 RPM range. Since these disks temporarily hold information and release it once the file is closed, fragmentation isn't an issue with them. However, a small number of invisible files are still written to them. This is something I can see when running a test using a disk utility like Norton's. Since a scratch disk won't incur the level of file residue a storage sevice does, I don't defrag these devices, but instead wipe them of all files.

However, isn't the iPod basically a storage device no different from any hard drive? I'd think a 40GB iPod that can store up to 10,000 songs [according to Apple] is prone to the same negative issues as any hard drive storing thousands of files.

The reason I raise this issue is that I have owned a DirecTivo unit for two years and have noticed hitches, stalls and pixelization while using the navigation tools. This was non-existent for the first 6 months or so, but has increased greatly with time and usage. This has nothing to do with recording a dropped out transmission because of poor dish to satellite viewing at the time, because this is happening on already recorded programs and doesn't happen in the same place twice.

To me an iPod would be similar to a Tivo unit or any other hard drive. They all store data, are read from and re-written to in a permanent manner. Wouldn't they all be vulnerable to fragmentation and eventually need optimization?

Please let me know if I'm completely wrong or just not getting it.

Thanks!
Dean

Can one of you guys explain to a computer illiterate like myself how to get a digital out from an Apple i-book or power book and how to change the sound card?

I have a pretty high end home system. My CD transport went down and I have been using my laptop and i-book in its place. Plugged into my system using the Headphone out split into the stereo inputs of my pre-amp -- which is not a real high quality connection, it sounds amazingly good. Granted, part of it is the supporting components and speakers,
but still...I'm getting a wide sound stage, good imaging, detail, speakers disappear, etc. In *this* system, I can tell the difference between different sample sizes, the difference between MP3 and AAC, etc. I have done experiments. Uncompressed sounds great. The first thing that goes when you compress the music is air. The soundstage shrinks, dynamics are lost, instruments combine and congest, losing space between instruments, the music becomes rooted to the speakers and the
music becomes far less involving. This is anecdotal evidence at its worst, but with uncompressed, I find myself bobbing my head with the music and with compressed, I find myself saying, "this doesn't sound that bad..." But, I am less relaxed, less involved. Surely, not a scientific
study, but that's what I have. I have *not* done the same experiement with Headphones, nor through a car stereo. I would be curious to see.
But, I like having the ability to plug my laptop or i-pod into my home system -- it is great for background music, parties [open a playlist and
let your guests pick the music from your entire collection -- they love it]
and my wife and kids love the simplicity -- plus -- when they use the
computer or i-pod, they're not taking my CD's out. So, even though I
don't use it for critical listening, it would bother me, knowing it would
sound even better, uncompressed. So, for that reason -- and -- because I believe the capacities of these things is going to keep growing,
I am storing my music uncompressed. But -- that's me. I still say that
AAC at 320 kbps is the next best thing to uncompressed and you can store 400 CD's on a 40 Gig i-pod at that sample size. Pretty amazing.

Rsbeck,

After searching around a bit, it seems the iBook doesn't have a Cardbus slot like the Powerbook, so an expansion card for this area is out.

According to Apple Developers info, the AirPort card does support DSP so it's possible this area may work.

I also did see some cards for digital processing that can be used via USB connections.

Now, for the downer. I don't know if any company makes such devices that are iBook compatible.

Anyone out there know?

I like to think I have quite a fine home system, and there's no doubt my iPod doesn't come close for critical listening. Nevertheless, I LOVE MY IPOD. I have the 40GB version and have ripped over 900 CDs into iTunes at 128K AAC files. There's no doubt that AAC is better than MP3 (much like MP3Pro).

I could have gone to a higher bit rate, but bear in mind where I listen to my iPod - during ny commute, on the train mostly - 45 minutes, twice a day (plus some time at the office).

I think the buds that came with the iPod are nice, but I chose to add a pair of Etymotic ER4P in-ear phones. For those who don't know about these, they're wonderful. They actually insert into the ear canal, so they block ambient noise beautifully (very important on the noisy train filled with noisy people). I can actually listen to gentle, quiet music and read in my own little world.

The purpose of a device such as an iPod is to allow you to enjoy your music collection, with the best fidelity available, on the road. I would only use it at home as a music server for a party.

One added benefit: since I have most of my music collection on the iPod (over 8200 songs and growing) I have a ready reference when I go into a record store shopping for new CDs. No danger duplicating titles, as I can quickly check to see if I already own a disk. Maybe that's not an issue for some of you, but I've passed on a title more than once, thinking I may already have it, only to find that it was the ONE title from a given artist that I don't yet own.

To me, the iPod is a lifestyle item - like a dishwasher, or automatic garage door opener. Now that I have one, I would HATE to give it up.