iTunes now allows 256kbps audio in videos (iTunes 7.2)

[laurenglenn]

With the new iTunes plus, you can have videos with audio over 160kbps (now up to 256kbps).

Does the encoder work with this and if not, will it be patched to allow it?

I specified 256kbps in the audio section of my settings, but in iTunes it shows as 165kbps....

Good news is that it did copy OK, so iTunes probably doesn't need a special work-around to accept the files.

Lauren

[laurenglenn]

You will not gain back any quality that isn't in the original file (probably MP3) you will just make the file larger. unless you are converting from a higher bitrate in another format(DTS) . Probably , nothing to get excited about.

But my reason for asking is that I have music video DVDs that I want to convert onto the iPod.

Since the iPod puts Music Videos with the regular audio tunes, I can replace my audio files with the Music Video files. This way, when I play the music video file in an audio playlist, I will hear the music as I regularly would, but I can still watch the video if I want.

At least this way, I'm not limited to the excessive compression of 160kbps. I can go a bit higher. Not 320kbps like I would want, but it's still better.

Lauren

[laurenglenn]

You will not gain back any quality that isn't in the original file (probably MP3) you will just make the file larger. unless you are converting from a higher bitrate in another format(DTS) . Probably , nothing to get excited about.

Actually, it is something to get excited about. When encoding files at 160kbps, how many of us have had iTunes come back and say that it can't copy because iTunes thinks the bitrate is 161kbps?

I've had quite a few.

The 256kbps is a welcome change. Now, if they can up that to 320kbps, that would be even better.

Lauren

[laurenglenn]

You are right. The point I was trying to make is that I believe that as long as the Ipod is not able to read files encoded with 5.1 sound , it will be difficult to take advantage of this ( at least on the Ipod).

OK. That's true.

But Videora iPod will downmix that to a 2-channel sound. Also, the music DVDs are 192kbps Dolby Digital 2.0 .

I just don't see the need to buy Metallica's video catalog DVD for the same price when I can encode it with 256kbps for cheaper and without DRM.

The only thing I have now that can encode the audio tracks as 256kbps is Nero Recode, but it won't do H264 with 256kbps. If you do MPEG-4, it should be OK though.

Lauren