When I use itunes to build a cd from flac or shn files I convert them to wav and then burn them. Is Itunes converting them to a lesser quality form such as mp3? I want to have the best sounding cd's I can. I try to use nero 8 but it always puts like a 2 sec gap in between songs on live concerts. I have tried to undo it but It always has a gap.... So does itunes burn original wav does anyone know? Thanks in advance. Also I am choosing audio cd function NOT data cd or data dvd. >>>---Zen--->
once you convert the files from flac to wav unless you are converting them to a wave lossless, you are getting a lesser quality audio, Here's a handy guide to understand ripping an audio cd, it explains the audio cd and how is encoded, there by making it more easy when ripping and audio cd or creating one from music you already ripped, keep in mind, if you have an audio file that is encoded at 128kbps is already a lesser quality that if you rip the file at a lossless, format you have the full quality that was encoded when the cd was created. when you are burning a cd with mp3's that we're 128kbps it will not over sample it, but if you have files 192kbps and up, the resulting audio cd will be of a more higher quality, when Fraunhofer created the mp3 format, it was made with extensive research, and mp3 format ignores those sounds that human ears can't hear, below is a link to the mp3 fundametals also. forgot to mention, a record album yea yea your remember those 12 inch round plastic records that most of us give up our lunch money to buy lol, those where analog but they where also lossless uncompressed audio. http://www.mpgedit.org/mpgedit/mpeg_format/mpeghdr.htm http://www.pcguide.com/ref/cd/formatCDDA-c.html
Many thanks for the detailed response, it is much appreciated. I will use your links and do some research. Cheers, >>>---Zen--->
I'm not a specialist, but I always thought that wav was uncompressed?? At least, when you rip a CD to wav, it's uncompressed and when you use a program to convert a compressed file to wav, it blows it up to the format of an original music file (but the quality does not get better than the original compressed one, of course). In my opinion, wav does not compromise on quality.