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Posted by Paolo Fox on Aug-19-2006 20:06:

mp3 vs m4a

i usually download my tracks from beatport in wav format but for the first time yesterday it told me that a particular set of tracks was not available in wav and gave me the option between mp3 and m4a. ive never heard of m4a and therefore dont know what the quality of sound is. can someone help me out as to which is the better sound quality between these two?

Posted by stevieboy32808 on Aug-19-2006 20:56:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4a

Posted by jdat on Aug-19-2006 21:35:

M4A is also referred to as MPEG 4 and/or AAC. I'll try not to go into big technical details but here goes:

Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4a

M4A stands for MPEG 4 Audio [...] M4A and MP4 do the same thing as MP3 does, but even better. Quality is better and file sizes are usually smaller than MP3 files. [...] In addition, M4A files tend to sound much better than MP3 files encoded at the same bitrate.

From my own personal experience I like AAC better if the only choice I have is between AAC and MP3 at lower bitrates.

The results in ABX tests on audiophile forum tend to indicate a preference nowdays for the format as well from a quality point of view.

If you want more reading material check here:
http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/aac/
or do some reading on wikipedia

Posted by Spirit5 on Aug-19-2006 22:02:

I have a question myself...

I haven't downloaded an MP4 at Beatport yet, I download MP3s or WAVs. Would a 192 Kbps VBR MP4 sound better than a 320 Kbps CBR MP3? I'd have to download one just to check it out. I just figure that most stores don't sell MP4s yet, so MP3 would be a fine format for me, because I just play files at home on my CDJ, i'm not doing gigs. And 320 Kbps MP3s sound fine to me....

Posted by Spirit5 on Aug-19-2006 22:51:

Well I downloaded a track, slightly punchier bass maybe, but perhpas it's the track. I'd have to download the track as an MP3 and compare it. But i'm still set with MP3s for now....i've already downloaded hundreds off of Beatport with no issues. I actually think my MP3s sound a lil louder at parts than the MP4. I could just be used to MP3s though...

Posted by skot_e on Aug-22-2006 02:57:

is MP4 supported by CDJ's Ableton etc?

Posted by nchs09 on Aug-22-2006 03:06:

quote:
Originally posted by skot_e
is MP4 supported by CDJ's Ableton etc?
if it wasnt im shure they wouldnt sell them... the sole porpuse of beatport is for poeple to spin the music.

Posted by Rebel Brown on Aug-22-2006 09:16:

If you're burning the tracks as an audio disc (as opposed to an MP3 disc), they get converted to WAV in the process anyway, so there wouldn't be a compatability problem.

Posted by jdat on Aug-23-2006 09:52:

quote:
Originally posted by Rebel Brown
If you're burning the tracks as an audio disc (as opposed to an MP3 disc), they get converted to WAV in the process anyway, so there wouldn't be a compatability problem.

well to be more specific it gets convorted to cda before it gets burned

Burning mp4 files to an audio cd isn't a problem as long as your burning software supports it ( you may need an extra plugin ).

Posted by skot_e on Aug-23-2006 14:08:

quote:
Originally posted by nchs09
if it wasnt im shure they wouldnt sell them... the sole porpuse of beatport is for poeple to spin the music.

Yeah I guess, never thought of that.
Out of interest I just checked pioneer site:

Disc Format: CD, CD-R and CD-RW for CD-Audio and MP3 data

So no mention of it. Also noticed the EFX is 96kHz/24bit which seems odd seeing CD is only 44.1/16bit.

Posted by T-Soma on Aug-23-2006 14:22:

What if you have an analouge signal comming from a turntable? Or your using it in a studio setup with a full 24bit/96k audio interface?

Posted by Floorfiller on Aug-23-2006 14:43:

pretty sure i've tried to play AAC and MP4 tracks in ableton before and i don't think it recognized them...

maybe there is something you can do to change that, but that's been my experience...

Posted by Paolo Fox on Aug-25-2006 06:05:

well i downloaded the M4As as they are apparently the better sound quality only to find that my cd burner wont support the format! ugh.

anyways, seperate question... does anyone know how long your downloaded tracks stay in your download library on beatport? im assuming its forever but forever is a pretty long time, ya know?

Posted by Omega_Blue on Aug-25-2006 06:39:

Posted by jdat on Aug-25-2006 19:32:

quote:
Originally posted by djkoifloor
well i downloaded the M4As as they are apparently the better sound quality only to find that my cd burner wont support the format! ugh.

anyways, seperate question... does anyone know how long your downloaded tracks stay in your download library on beatport? im assuming its forever but forever is a pretty long time, ya know?

do some googling with the name of your cd burning software and m4a I'm sure you'll find an answer.

If not what operating system are you using and I'm sure we'll find you a solution

And the library thing as far as I can tell always stays. But you can only redownload in the 24 hours following your purchase ( or something like that ).