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sub333
09-21-2006, 02:19
I've uploaded my iTunes library on to the x5l, but certain albums don't play.
When I checked, it's the ones that are .m4a files. I thought the x5l could pretty much handle any type of file?

Do I need to download a converter or something?

Many thanks.
Arachnophilia
09-21-2006, 02:33
.m4a is and apple propietary format. it's more or less only played by itunes, ipods, and things that have been hacked.

i'm not sure if rockbox plays them, but you can [find] software that will convert them to mp3's. though one compressed format to another is pretty much asking for sound degradation.
sub333
09-21-2006, 03:28
Ok, thanks for that.
theundead
09-26-2006, 04:17
Actually, i've done it, and there is not much degradation between m4a and mp3 or ogg...
Arachnophilia
09-26-2006, 23:10
Actually, i've done it, and there is not much degradation between m4a and mp3 or ogg...

i got the leaked version of tool's new album when it first leaked, and it was encoded in m4a's. the mp3's i made from them were noticably lower quality than the mp3's i made from the cd. now, it might have been because it was a leaked copy -- but it was definitally ripped from a cd.
Zeus's Uncle
09-27-2006, 13:16
I do a lot of transcoding, and I've put a bunch of the files to the test, so far, statistically people can't tell. Some people guess at it, others just say, I don't know, they sound the same to me. When I transcode, I use maximum quality VBR. But that's transcoding from WMA, M4A or from WAV (a.k.a. CD ripping). Now of course, when you have low quality content to begin with, it will become noticable. Which is one reason I use max VBR on mp3. This means that you can burn to and audio CD, rerip and recompress without really noticing anything. But if you were doing 192 kbps, or whatever your limit is for where you cannot tell the difference, it's going to be more of an issue if you want to do something like that with the files. Higher quality files present the user with more flexibility of usage.
HiMDforMe
09-27-2006, 16:37
i do a lot of transcoding DRM wma @ 192kbps to cbr mp3 @ 192kbps and I, nor anyone i've asked, can tell the difference.
sub333
09-29-2006, 09:22
Can you recommend a program (Mac-compatible) that would convert .m4a files?
mhelliwell
09-29-2006, 09:30
itunes. Selct your M4A songs, go to advanced, and click on "Convert this selction to MP3"
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sub333
09-29-2006, 09:40
Heh.

Thanks for that.

*gets coat*