Audiophile Converted to Mac has Questions

[Doctor X]

Right, I enjoy music and happily listen to aiff files from my various CDs as I torture my neighbors to my rendition of "Apocalypse in 9/8."

Beyond that I am a neophyte.

So on ANOTHER FORUM I have convinced a few to try Mac. One has a lot of music . . . and a lot of questions. I am aware of "loss-less" and the like, what happens when you go to mp3 and all of that. He is use to using Wav on a PC which, of course, you can play on QuickTime.

So, a few questions for those "skilled in this work":

1. If you wish to save music--legitimately mind you--what format do you use?
2. How do you like to burn CDs--in this format? On what program--direct burn or Toast, et cetera?

Thanks!

--J. "Sure as Apple has Claimed Another Soul" D.

[ElDiabloConCaca]

1) I use Apple Lossless for archival purposes, only because I don't ever need to touch the music on a PC (although if I did, I'm sure iTunes for Windows would work with that format).

If I want to put music on my iPod, then I'd use 256kbps AAC files (again, sticking with the Apple-proprietary formats). 256kbps MP3 would also be an option for me.

2) Put CD in drive, open iTunes, make a playlist, hit "Burn."

[g/re/p]

Will Apple Lossless give me better sound quality than 256 kbps AAC when importing CD's straight to iTunes, with the intention of listening to the songs on my iPod?

[ElDiabloConCaca]

Probably not so much, and if one is such an audiophile that they could tell the difference (read: REALLY tell the difference between Apple Lossless and 256kbps MP3), then they probably wouldn't be listening to music on an iPod in the first place.

I just use Apple Lossless, simply because once you go to 256kbps MP3, there's no going back. You've already lost some audio information that can't be regained -- not the case with Apple Lossless.

My main reason for Apple Lossless is to get rid of the physical CD itself, not to actually listen to. Of course, I don't do this with those expensive box sets -- just CDs that I don't want the case and media to anymore.