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How do I know if iTunes files are all 'lossless'?

Hey gang, bear with me as I know just enough about computers to 'be dangerous' -- my Q., I have hundreds of songs on computer in iTunes and also in my iPod Classic. I'm aware that songs bought through iTunes are MP3 only, but most of the CD's I downloaded over the years SHOULD be as 'lossless'.

How do I find out which files/songs/albums are 'lossless' vs. compressed MP3?

Thanks to any and all.
denf
paul_graham
197 posts
 
Denf...

I ripped 650 CD's, only to find out I was using the wrong settings....they are all at 128 bit.

Here's the good news, when I rip them the second time, all of the previously saved data is saved (how many times played, when first loaded, amended genre name, etc) and the bit rate is around 800-1000.

The sound is NOTICEABLY better.
4est
507 posts
 
Bit rate and kind are great ways to find them. Then you can click on their headers and sort by them. I use this to find a few Hi Rez tracks that do not have proper track info.
marakanetz's avatar
marakanetz
5,473 posts
 
I'm not sure if iTunes plays lossless files at all such as EAC, FLAC etc...?
I use Media Monkey since I couldn't uncode them with i-Tunes.
There's certainly hi-rez capability of iTunes but still not considered lossless.
cwlondon
1,210 posts
 

Well I thought I had done this correctly...

but looking now as advised above, I can see music that I ripped using iTunes as well as everything I purchased is "protected AAC" and only 128.

One album which I always thought sounded better than the others was somehow ripped at 256.

But would love to know how to maximize fidelity, while remaining within iTunes if that is possible.

If iTunes forces you to buy compressed music, its time for all of us to stop using it.
sufentanil's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
sufentanil
782 posts
 
iTunes can use Apple Lossless and AIFF which are lossless formats. It cannot, however, use FLAC files natively, which I find a severe omission.

I believe that things purchased from the iTunes store are compressed files (someone may need to correct me here, since I've never done it). But nothing stops you from purchasing a CD and then ripping it into Apple Lossless.

Michael
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