Hi All,

Okay I have a 15GB 3rd Generation Windows iPod.

I have purchased a number of software with Mp4 support, and I would like to know which one will be best to use, I have 3000 mp3's all with perfect tags recently done.

I don't want to have to do redo all of my tags when they go onto my iPod.

I have

Latest Nero with Registered Mp4\AAC Plugin
Registed dBPower AMP Music Converter with Beta MP4 Plugin
Registered Easy CD-DA Extractor 5.1 with MP4 Plugin
Registered Apple Quicktime 6.3 Pro

First, which one uses the best codec, the best quality for audio?

Secondly, what about tagging? I know dBPower AMP can just copy tags, but what about the others, how can i keep the tags when ripping my CD's to the new MP4.

Is it worth converting my Mp3's to Mp4's???

Also I am confussed about Bitrates and Filesizes, obviously I want smaller file sizes, but I don't want to sacrifice quality, I like 192+ for my Mp3's so what is the lowest bitrate I should use for Mp4 and what encoding quality???

I hope you can help me because I am so confused, I know that windows Mp4, for iPod has only just begun and I am excited to see this support, I understand it's early days. So far the dBpower Amp seems best because it keeps the ID3 tags, but is it the best encoded, It has crashed on me a few times but it is in beta.

Many Thanks

Craig

Speaking of this, I saw a post a few weeks back where someone was working on a guide to MP4 encoding, similar to the LAME guide in the MP3 forum. If this is true, you may want to wait for this post. Until then - you can still upload optimized MP3s (LAME APS!!!!!) to your Ipod.

> Is it worth converting my Mp3's to Mp4's???
Of course
mp3 is lossy format as well as mp4.

Your mistake is purchasing this buggy soft.

I'd never used this soft (except nero) even if I got it on free cd vs serials!
can't tell u more about this because of rules.

For converting music use CDex. It supports mp3, aac and all others (by winamp plugins). But for decoding mp3 u should better use non-standard winamp mp3 plugin - it's very buggy. I use in_mpg123.dll or mp3pro.dll in place of nitrane in_mp3.dll

@ craigiPod:

A test on the quality at 128kbps of different AAC (mp4) codecs is being done right now here on hydrogenaudio. You should probably wait to see what the results are at the end of it.

About tagging, there isn't yet a formal way of doing so (in mp4 containers). Apple has one and there is another one (used in foobar2000). ID3 is not a (correct) way to tag mp4's AFAIK.

Also, no. It is not desiderable to convert (transcode) your mp3's to mp4's. Even if they are APS, there are inevitable problems with mp3's that mp4 improve on ( specially preecho ).

On the other hand, if you mean reencode (from CD) those mp3's, it all depends on the quality of them, and the space you have. (mp4 gives about the same quality as mp3 shrinking the filesize by 30%. This is a test done, but might not be applicable at all bitrates)

@ shafff :

Please, inform you first about posting comments of this type.

Since winamp 2.7, the mp3 decoder of winamp is flawless. Even more, if you go to the page of the in_mpg123.dll, there's a note that says that this plugin is outdated and not recommended, because of what I've already said.

Which one is the buggy soft???

You have to remember, im looking for independant coding software, but I have my iPod to think about, so I have bought that dbPower Amp for the Sveta Portable Audio software, which is very good with iPods, and like i said it can use ID3 tags, so that saves me a lot of time.

I bought the Nero plugin just for encoding, and i have heard a lot of good things about there encoder, the only reason i would use the dbPoweramp software is for the value that it can utilise the ID3 tags and tag my MP4 files for me.

I'm not a patient person, i'm not after a definative guide, just if im happy with 192k Mp3, what would that be at Mp4, either identical quality but smaller file size.

What's the optimum for portable use and size.

Thanks for your replies already though

Craig

Are you sure that windows iPods, even 3rd gen, support MP4/AAC?
From the tech specs of the iPod on the Apple website :
"
Audio support for Mac : AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible(6), AIFF, WAV
Audio support for Windows: MP3 (32 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, WAV
"

Sorry if this was a stupid question

Pierugg

Hi,

Yes I have had it playing on it, I have successfully encoded a Mp4 files using Nero, transferred it using EphPod 1.70a and played it.

The reason why it says that is, when it was released there was no Mp4 support for Windows, only iTunes could use it and Music Match Jukebox didn't support it's uploading.

Now Ephpod & Sveta Portable both use it, and i have used both and they work.

My problem now is, tagging and which is better encoded, and quality.

But Sveta & dBpower support the tagging for converted CD and Mp3

Craig

now there is a codec comparison test going on which will show which codec available is the best, you can find more information about the test here!


No, you can never reach the quality of the .mp3 file when you reencode it to .mp4! a reencode (from a lossy format like .mp3) is in every case worse than the source...

About tagging of mp4 files: there are 2 standards - Apples and Mennos, both are mp4 tags within the mp4 container. dBpowerAMP uses Mennos, although he has indicated that he wants to implement something that is compatible with Apples offering, however the currently tagging method should still be compatible with later codecs.

The tagging is a little flakey, that is only because it is new, it should settle down over time (and crashes sorted out).

dBpowerAMP does not write ID3 tags to mp4 files that would just not be propper

I don't totally understand the complexity of all of the tagging, all i know is that it is the only software apart from iTunes that does tagging.

So what is everyone's view on 128k or should i go for 160k when encoding AAC.

Thanks

Craig

Wait until sunday and you'll know everyone's view on 128k

I also suggest you take the test, so that you can't find out your own view, and not depend on others.

Yeah i think i will, is it compared to Mp3's???

Just 1 final question I have, couse I really want to buy a new iPod for windows:

Can iPod play AAC files, that ive converted with PsyTel AAC encoder???

Yes if you put them in a mp4 container.

What kind of mp4 container are you talking about? Ive dl'ed and installed your music converter but I cant convert my aac files into mp4 couse I just cant choose that option(just cant found it), Ive installed all the plugins though...

If you want easy support use either dBpoweramp or Nero

You need mp4creator60 (you can find it in c:\program files\dbpoweramp\compression\mp4 (cli)

then you run:

mp4creator60.exe -mpeg-version=4 -create=somefile.aac somefile.mp4