Has the iTunes AAC encoder changed recently?, specifically between version 7.0.2.16 and the current 7.3.4 Options

[STL]

I want to know if the iTunes AAC encoder has changed since 7.0.2.16? If so, are the changes -- overall -- for the good or bad? I don't want to upgrade if the current version of the encoder has some bad tweaks in it.

Moderation: Fixed typo in topic. ACC -> AAC. To help future searches.

This post has been edited by JensRex: Nov 6 2007, 19:47

[ozmosis82]

Is there a frontend or AppleScript available that one could use to batch encode a few files with the afconvert command?

[Pepzhez]

I'm pretty confused over what portion of the AAC encoding is OS dependent, and how much of it (if any) has to do with updating QuickTime. An earlier post states that the codec versions are embedded in the OS; other posts indicate that they are updated via QuickTime. Does anyone know which surmise is the correct one?

I'm still running Tiger, as I haven't yet come up with enough reason to substantiate an immediate move to Leopard. Earlier this evening I ran the new iTunes and QT updates.

Now, running the new iTunes and QuickTime on Tiger (10.4), here is what I notice:

- The MP4 music export options in QT 7.3 (Pro) are 'None', 'CELP (Speech)', 'AAC-LC (Music)', 'AAC-LC VBR (Music)' and 'Pass Through'. However, each option aside from 'AAC-LC (music)' is greyed out. Seems that I cannot choose any of these other options. What's up with that? Guess I need 10.5 in order to use those?

- With iTunes 7.5, the 'VBR' checkbox for AAC encoding is still there, and still works. Now, why can I choose a VBR option in iTunes but not with QuickTime? This is really confusing.

EDIT: Never mind. I found the new options. I was looking in the wrong place.

- I haven't yet checked thoroughly enough to find out about the actual AAC encoder. It does seem to be different, and a cursory encoding test of the 'glockenspiel' test WAV shows that the AAC encoder may now be fixed. At least the glockenspiel WAV doesn't appear to be tripping up the AAC encoder like it had in the past. But I need to run a few more tests before I am can say that with any degree of real certainty.

Just where are the AAC codecs located, and how to tell which versions they are? For what it's worth, the MPEG component now found in the QT Library folder is version 7.3.

This post has been edited by Pepzhez: Nov 6 2007, 07:27

[WarChild]

EDIT: Never mind. I found the new options. I was looking in the wrong place.[/b]

Where's the right place?