foo_pod transcoding for best possible quality Options

[tater]

I looking for any advice on transcoding my library of Flac files ont my iPod via foo_pod. I've tried the several seetings offered - both ACC and Lame - but those still result in files of under 200bps.

Since my iPod is 30gigs and I'm more concerned with quality I would like to keep my transcoding at or above 320bps.

I know there is a Custom Settings dialog, but haven't figured out how to use it.


Thanks for any help or ideas!

tater

[tater]

Well, i'm trying to get away from iTunes, for a lot of reasons.

I currently have both a large FLAC, and a large ALAC collection that I want to consolidate into one FLAC library. I only want to convert to another format when loading music on my iPod.

Perhaps this isn't possible - but if I could get better quality transcoding out of foo_pod I'd be pertty much where I want to be.

I'll check out itunesEncode.exe......

BTW, I use EtymoticsER-4P's - I *can* hear a difference between 128 and 330bps AAC encodes.

Thanks

This post has been edited by tater: Nov 20 2005, 04:08

[clintb]

Well, i'm trying to get away from iTunes, for a lot of reasons.

I currently have both a large FLAC, and a large ALAC collection that I want to consolidate into one FLAC library. I only want to convert to another format when loading music on my iPod. 

Perhaps this isn't possible - but if I could get better quality transcoding out of foo_pod I'd be pertty much where I want to be.

I'll check out itunesEncode.exe......

BTW, I use EtymoticsER-4P's - I *can* hear a difference between 128 and 330bps AAC encodes.

Thanks

Ah, you're using the same headphones I am. Love those...

Anyway, if you want to get away from iTunes, which I understand, check out iTunesEncode...it's what I use and is super easy.

My process:
1. Rip with EAC to single FLAC/cuesheet (cue is external).
2. Load the .cue in Foobar so I get tracks represented as opposed to one file if I loaded just the .flac.
3. Use Foobar to handle any extra/misc tagging duties.
4. Use Foobar to apply album gain on all complete albums and track gain on tracks.
5. Use Foobar in combination with iTunesEncode to convert to .m4a for use on my iPod.
***Caveat to #5: I'd use the command line option in FB2K to convert to .mp3 LAME if that's the flavor of the day.
5. Load up the freshly converted files, .mp3 or .m4a, in iTunes and send 'em on to the iPod.

My current project is cleaning up all tags, case/formatting/correct names, album art and lyrics. Ugh, that's worse than ripping!