Differences between .aif and .mp3 files?

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Jack Clark
Posts: 12
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 12:28 am

Post by Jack Clark » Sat May 07, 2011 1:37 pm

I've made both .aif and .mp3 files of the same .mus files that I've made with Songwriter. When I play them back, even through an amp and speakers, my ears can't hear any difference. But the .aif files take up ten times as much room as the .mp3 files. Is there any reason that .aif files are preferable?
Jack

Songwriter 2010
Mac OS X, version 10.5.8
2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM


Warren Barnett
Posts: 365
Joined: Sun Dec 18, 2005 6:42 am

Post by Warren Barnett » Sat May 07, 2011 2:33 pm

Just because your ears can't hear a difference, doesn't mean there isn't a difference. The MP3 is a compressed format, so there is a degradation after a certain amount of compression. The MP3 can be compressed at different rates, just as a .jpg is compressed at different rates. The proof of compression affecting quality, would be to keep compressing until it is obvious. Most photo applications will compress your jpg more everytime that you save it. Try resaving a jpg many times and you will start to see fuzz around the edges of the main features in a photo. The MP3 will have the same effect but your ears may not notice the difference on your computer with cheap speakers and cheap headphones. Listen to it on a Mackintosh stereo (not related to Apple in any way) and you would probably cringe at the poor quality.
Warren Barnett

Finale 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
Garritan Personal Orchestra 4.01
Garritan Jazz & Big Band 3
Garritan Concert & Marching Band 2
Garritan World Instruments
Garritan Steinway Piano Basic Edition
Tapspace Virtual Drumline 2.52

Jack Clark
Posts: 12
Joined: Sat Apr 30, 2011 12:28 am

Post by Jack Clark » Sat May 07, 2011 5:14 pm

Warren, that's exactly what I wanted to know. Perfect. Thanks very much for taking the time.
Jack

Songwriter 2010
Mac OS X, version 10.5.8
2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM

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