Katie MarsalApple's current downloads are 16 bits, but Apple would like to increase the quality of purchased songs on iTunes, according to CNN. Studio recordings are usually captured as 24-bit audio, but before the tracks are pressed to CD or made available to iTunes, they're downgraded to 16 bits.
Jimmy Iovine, chairman of Universal Music Group's Interscoe-Geffen-A&M record label, revealed Apple's intentions after showcasing new HP products with integrated "Beats Audio" support. Many Macs and some PCs support 24-bit sound, and the iTunes media player can playback 24-bit files.
But a major obstacle for 24-bit audio is the fact that many PCs and most portable devices do not support the high-fidelity audio format. Iovine said Apple would have to make future iPhones and iPods that would be able to play the higher quality audio files.
Apple previously upgraded the quality of the audio files it sells in 2007 with the release of iTunes 7.2 and iTunes Plus. iTunes Plus tracks feature high-quality 256kbps AAC encoding and are void of any digital rights management protection.
After a limited start with participating labels, iTunes Plus eventually became the standard for all music tracks on the iTunes Music Store in 2009. In return, Apple granted labels the ability to price songs at three levels: 69 cents, 99 cents, or $1.29 per track.
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81 Comments
So Apple won't give us Blu-Ray, a huge leap forward in quality over the DVD drives they offer now, but they want to increase song files from 16 to 24 bits, a virtually inaudible upgrade?
So Apple won't give us Blu-Ray, a huge leap forward in quality over the DVD drives they offer now, but they want to increase song files from 16 to 24 bits, a virtually inaudible upgrade?
I'm sure they will offer 1080p when either its feasible / movie companies allow them
I'm sure they will offer 1080p when either its feasible / movie companies allow them
Offering 1080p and offering Blu-Ray is two very different things. Blu-Ray's quality comes from not only being 1080p but also having massive bitrates for both video and audio. Bitrates that result in file sizes no one will be able to offer as an internet stream for at least a decade.
The iPod I purchased in 2005 has no problem playing 48kHz sampling rate with 24 bit samples. What is not supported, and cannot be played, is the 96kHz sampling rate used in hi-resolution recordings.
iTunes and AppleTV (1st gen) both can play back 96/24 audio files (alas, not FLAC, though). The AppleTV downgrades the 96/24 to 44.1/16 for the optical output. OS-X outputs 96/24 to the optical output without a problem.
I think the article makes an error in focusing on the 24-bit aspect, and not the 96kHz aspect of the music files.
Offering 1080p and offering Blu-Ray is two very different things. Blu-Ray's quality comes from not only being 1080p but also having massive bitrates for both video and audio. Bitrates that result in file sizes no one will be able to offer as an internet stream for at least a decade.
Except for a very small, very vocal minority, I don't think anyone cares about having, or not having, Blu-Ray in Macs. It's just really not an issue for most people.