Conversion to mp3?

[PedroT99]

If I do all my ripping (for archival) to flac, what is the "best" format for portable use. It will be on an iPod and iPad. Mp3? Anything better?

What is the best player for flac? I was going to use Winamp? Good idea?

As for the mp3s (assuming that is what I go with), should I just use Windows media player on my pc and iTunes on my iPad? I not sure I even have other options on the iPad?

Thanks!

[Spoon]

Re: Conversion to mp3?

Which bitrate are you planning to use? anything above 225Kbps and mp3 and aac are quite similar.

[PedroT99]

Re: Conversion to mp3?

I'm not sure what bitrate...had not made it that far? I just want a format that will work well on an iPod, sounds good and won't take up too much space. Is there an advantage to AAC over mp3? What bitrate do you like knowing those criteria?

[Spoon]

Re: Conversion to mp3?

For an iPod walking about I would use VBR -v4, good ratio of filesize to quality.

[garym]

Re: Conversion to mp3?

If I do all my ripping (for archival) to flac, what is the "best" format for portable use. It will be on an iPod and iPad. Mp3? Anything better?

What is the best player for flac? I was going to use Winamp? Good idea?

As for the mp3s (assuming that is what I go with), should I just use Windows media player on my pc and iTunes on my iPad? I not sure I even have other options on the iPad?

Thanks!

winamp works well, easy to use, plays FLAC. I like foobar2000 as well. I use foobar2000 (with Facets component) on my computer for main playback. But I also keep a lossy version of all my files and point iTunes to that music directory (and use this for my iphones, ipods, ipad). I would AVOID using Windows Media Player at all. It does weird things to tags, art, etc. (sometimes even when you have set it to not touch your file tags/artwork).

[PedroT99]

Re: Conversion to mp3?

I have heard that about Win Media Player...I'll stay away. I just downloaded winamp and a going to use that.

I appreciate your insight!

[Porcus]

Re: Conversion to mp3?

winamp works well, easy to use, plays FLAC. I like foobar2000 as well. I use foobar2000 (with Facets component) on my computer for main playback. But I also keep a lossy version of all my files and point iTunes to that music directory (and use this for my iphones, ipods, ipad). I would AVOID using Windows Media Player at all. It does weird things to tags, art, etc. (sometimes even when you have set it to not touch your file tags/artwork).

Yep, WMP is a major saboteur. So much that you could consider putting your mp3s (and other filetypes that WMP identify as audio) in e.g. a .7z archive (where WMP cannot read them) and use foo_unpack_7z.

Myself I don't have WMP. Well I don't know if I can remove it completely from this Windows version, but I haven't set it up and haven't accepted the EULA, so when I accidentally start it, I can hit Cancel.