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iPod Convert AAC to MP3 to save space on iPhone?

M

madbad01

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 1, 2007
86
0
I have 1450 songs in my iTunes library, all of which are AAC (320kbps) encoded.
I've run out of room on my 16GB iPhone 3G and I like to have all my music and a few videos on there.

Would it be worth me converting my entire library to MP3 to save space on my iPhone as MP3s are about half the size of my AAC 320kbps?

Thanks for your help! :)
 
madbad01 said:
I have 1450 songs in my iTunes library, all of which are AAC (320kbps) encoded.
I've run out of room on my 16GB iPhone 3G and I like to have all my music and a few videos on there.

Would it be worth me converting my entire library to MP3 to save space on my iPhone as MP3s are about half the size of my AAC 320kbps?

Thanks for your help! :)
Click to expand...

You don't want to transcode any lossy format.

Even if you go 320kbps [lossy format] to 320kbs[lossy format] you will loose quality.

Use the originals to do that. If you keep a lossless or uncompressed copy of it all, you will always have a good base to do everything you want as your needs changes. Choosing to store your music in a lossy format will lock you in to that format and that bitrate.

Edit: Just in case you're confused: It doesn't matter what format it is (MP3, MP2, MP4 (AAC)) they're the same exact size unless you change the bitrate.
 
Tosser said:
Edit: Just in case you're confused: It doesn't matter what format it is (MP3, MP2, MP4 (AAC)) they're the same exact size unless you change the bitrate.
Click to expand...
I'd just point out that a 128kbps AAC *will* sound better than a 128kbps MP3.
 
stomer said:
I'd just point out that a 128kbps AAC *will* sound better than a 128kbps MP3.
Click to expand...
Noo! You don't say!?

:p

Yes, assuming it was encoded from uncompressed material and not from some lossy format to begin with. But you're right that all else equal, the logarithms used for MP4 is not as bad as MP3 in deciding which 10/11ths (@128kbps) to throw out.
Anyway, his question was not about quality but about converting (transcoding) in order to save space. Quality is something that means naught to the OP, so point as much as you want ;)
 
nick9191 said:
I thought MP3 took up more space than AAC at the same bit rates.
Click to expand...

NOTHING takes up more space at a given bit rate. You see, space is a function of bit rate X time.

A CD (which is defined as 16bit@44.1kHz) has a bit rate of 1440 kbps (notice the "per second"), an MP3, MP4, MP2, YNI ("You Name It") @ 128kbps is, funnily enough, running at 128kbps, or in other words: It's using 128,000 bits per second where an uncompressed CD is sending 1,440,000 bits per second. Bits=one information "bit".
 
Tosser said:
Noo! You don't say!?

:p

Yes, assuming it was encoded from uncompressed material and not from some lossy format to begin with. But you're right that all else equal, the logarithms used for MP4 is not as bad as MP3 in deciding which 10/11ths (@128kbps) to throw out.
Anyway, his question was not about quality but about converting (transcoding) in order to save space. Quality is something that means naught to the OP, so point as much as you want ;)
Click to expand...
No need to be a dick about this. I was pointing out to the OP, who may or may not have known that MP3s are inferior to AACs encoded at the same bitrate.
 
Man, I would just convert to 128 kbps AAC using itunes, as it will give you far better quality than a 128 kbps Mp3.
 
what about going from lossless to 266kbps ACC? i have some songs in lossless, but i want to free up some space.. would it be wiser just to reimport the music as ACC or can i just do the convert feature in itunes?
 
iHavenolife said:
what about going from lossless to 266kbps ACC? i have some songs in lossless, but i want to free up some space.. would it be wiser just to reimport the music as ACC or can i just do the convert feature in itunes?
Click to expand...

You can convert in iTunes. Right click the song and choose convert.
 
Tosser said:
Yup, what he said. Although you have to set your "import" settings first. Remember to switch them back afterwards.
Click to expand...

Better yet, use an Apple Script, that will convert and export, and then return your encoder to its previous settings. :D
 
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