Friday, October 22, 2004
Chasing Digital Music's 'Codec Killers'
Posted by James Fee in "ARTICLE" @ 08:00 AM
"Although rare, the "codec killer" phenomenon is a potentially serious one for digital music backers. Just as the music industry had to assure consumers that the sound quality of CDs was as good as that of vinyl records, digital music companies must ultimately convince online music buyers that computer files provide a listening experience comparable to that of CDs. Even just a few purchases of songs that wind up with defects, ranging from muddy sound to audible "artifacts"--sounds that aren't supposed to be in the recording--could turn off buyers, analysts say. "I think people's tastes are being degraded by exposure to 128 kilobit per second MP3s," David Ranada, technical editor of Sound & Vision Magazine said. "If that's all you hear in your acoustical life, and never go to a concert, you'll never know what real music sounds like."
I think this is one the the biggest problems with iTunes. 128kbps AAC tracks just don't sound as full as the MP3 files I've ripped myself on my iPod. I'm sure in time Apple will improve AAC, but there is an easy fix today. Either increase the bit rate, or offer lossless AAC downloads to those who want them.
I think this is one the the biggest problems with iTunes. 128kbps AAC tracks just don't sound as full as the MP3 files I've ripped myself on my iPod. I'm sure in time Apple will improve AAC, but there is an easy fix today. Either increase the bit rate, or offer lossless AAC downloads to those who want them.
