iTunes Match - Help I'm confused!

[veganamanda]

I have a few questions about iTunes Match. So iTunes match uploads all my files to the cloud, and matches files I didn't buy from iTunes with shiny new versions. That I get.

1. After uploading to the cloud, does it delete the files from my computer? Do I get stuck with the old crappy versions locally or can I download all the shiny versions to my hard drive (hopefully not in a painful process).
   
2. If I sync my iphone, and the files are local on my computer, will they still download locally to my iphone, so I don't need to listen from the cloud?
   
3. If I cancel the service, do I get to keep my shiny new versions locally? Or does iTunes come along and delete them all and leave me with my old cruddy versions again?
   

My ideal situation: Sign up for cloud, get shiny new versions that are then downloaded to my computer and stored locally. Then I can sync my iPhone, and get them all locally on that. Then I cancel iTunes Match and keep all my new files.

Reality?

 

[WebHead]

Yes, you get to keep your upgraded files. No, it won't delete anything from your computer. And no, as far as I can tell there's no easy way to replace the lower-bitrate tracks on your computer with the upgraded versions, aside from doing it manually.

I'm planning to create a user account I can download the upgraded tracks to - assuming that will work.

 

[Richdmoore]

I have lots of 128 aac files I imported to iTunes 5 or so years ago. I would live to get them upgraded to 256 iTunes plus quality, rather than rescan piles of cd's.

Question to these who have used the beta: Is there a "download all" button so I can:

1. Upload entire library
2. Delete all songs off iTunes
3. Hit download all and redownload all the music into the new 256 format

Thanks.