What Is Your Preferred Audio Format To Download

[rbn]

I am about to post a remix album. Considering that I remixed it from the original WAV sounds I prefer to preserve the highest quality.

Those two options are WAV or FLAC.

Some people don't rely so much on the quality of the songs and are more interested in how much space is on their device, thus preferring MP3.

I think a dual stereo, 320K MP3, ripped from WAV or CDA source sounds great but I prefer to download the FLAC if they're available. Especially a soundboard live recording or a tape/vinyl transfer.

So I ask you fine ladies and gentlemen,
what is your preferred audio format?

[Wallingford]

I got 25000 songs on my Ipod.

I had 22000, but thanks to the uploaders here at PS, I've added 3000 in about two years.

I honestly have never paid attention to formats.

From experience, I have noticed that my CD uploads are the best quality. I believe MP4. Then again, that could be because the uploads are first generation without storage, upload, buffering, unzipping and the like.

That could all be bunk too.

I just like music.

What's the saying, "Its got a good beat and I can dance to it."

If not, "Sad songs say so much."

Sorry if I'm not much help.

[Reclaimedepb]

I transfer my giant music collection to so many devices and stream them through networks. I suppose if I had a dedicated and decent stereo setup I would be a bit more picky. I am fine with .mp3, but prefer 320, though it isn't a deal breaker. 128 is minimum unless it is spoken work, then I will take the smallest file to save space. I have gotten all these songs in so many different ways, as well. Maybe one day I will hunt down the best quality copies of all my favorites. I don't consider myself an audiophile of any type, I just like the music.

[Gemini37]

I view my music the same way I view my movies, some things I just have to buy so I can have a "hard copy". Usually I prefer 320 over FLAC but sometimes I prefer FLAC just as long as it has a cue sheet and log file and has not been ripped as a "image" file (all one track).

If I ever find something that has been really compressed like 192/160/128 I may download but I will always keep my eye out for a better copy.

People like myself who have sensitive ears can easily hear when a song has been too compressed because it has a tinny or too much treble which sounds like crap.

[Wallingford]

Originally Posted by Gemini37

People like myself who have sensitive ears can easily hear when a song has been too compressed because it has a tinny or too much treble which sounds like crap.

Me too. However, I have not contrasted formats to determine which is good and which one is awful. I've downloaded 3000 songs in 18 months and have only listened to a few dozen. One of these days, I'll get some vacation, or something.

[Gemini37]

My music collection is so large that I have not listened to every song or album I have... LOL that would take years!

[Reclaimedepb]

Originally Posted by Gemini37

My music collection is so large that I have not listened to every song or album I have... LOL that would take years!

I haven't used itunes in years, but when I did it would show your whole library, along with the total number of hours it would take to listen to everything. I stopped looking when I realized I could play it nonstop and still be a much older guy when it finished.

[rbn]

It's nice to know that some folks still prefer quality

I get the highest quality available.
There are not a lot of WAVs available as most people will create FLACs because they are easliy convertable with no loss in quality and can result in a couple hundred MBs less size.

I am a fan too so if I find something I want in MP3, I will get it. Most times though, if it is less than 128K then i will skip it. I can't stand to hear cymbals when the compression gets obvious :eeK:
That raises the hair on my arms like nails on a chalkboard!

[carolina73]

Given the quality of equipment now, I find the compact size of MP3 is best for me. Most music I have now is played through a small sound system in the house, the truck or my phone or tablet. The higher quality is wasted. Right now I am listening to music on my TV because it is my computer monitor. I gave up on Apple and therefore their formats because I hated using Itunes programs to move files. With 375 Gb of music I can't imagine how much space I would have to use for FLAC files.

[4dude]

I picked WMA but really my preferred format is ANALOGUE but that cant be downloaded....