Hyde Park Live is now available in various formats, including true lossless quality, on Qobuz : [www.qobuz.com]

Also available on Amazon encoded in 256kbps MP3 : [www.amazon.fr]



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2013-07-29 01:59 by kowalski.

lossless=awesome!

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Adams
lossless=awesome!

In deed!


Wondering what happened to the so called iTunes 4 weeks exclusivity though ?

Did anyone buy this already and can tell if it's a real lossless version?
The download is only available in CD Quality 16bit 44,1 kHz. If it is not unconverted from the iTunes files it is a step in the right direction.

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henrik87
Did anyone buy this already and can tell if it's a real lossless version?
The download is only available in CD Quality 16bit 44,1 kHz. If it is not unconverted from the iTunes files it is a step in the right direction.

All downloads on Qobuz are available in CD quality. I've been buying from them for years now and never had any issues with files quality.

Hopefully someone can report back on whether these files are truly lossless or not. I do not mind paying for mp3s though. Google Play's releases were great fun and the format did not detract. The over-compressed mastering DID detract! Comparing Hampton to Still Life, the sound is just completely night and day. Still Life = open and airy. Hampton from last year's release is compressed and thin.

Logical conclusion = Itunes is the Walmart of music shops (you can find everything there but in cheap quality).

Itunes = the enemy of audiophiles.

iTunes = poop

Seems this is only available in France. Anyone knows if it's available in other countries?

Oh, I'm so, so happy for you all. Don't go crazy, now

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frankotero

Seems this is only available in France. Anyone knows if it's available in other countries?

Try to use a free anonymous proxy server from France in your web browser or network settings (e. g. www.freeproxylists.net). The proxy trick worked for me as I wanted to buy the HD-24bit-version of GRRR! from Qobuz.com, but I'm not in France.

I just checked te preview audio at QOBUZ.COM but the iTunes download sounds much better !

DECCA61

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DECCA61
I just checked te preview audio at QOBUZ.COM but the iTunes download sounds much better !

DECCA61

The audio preview is mp3 encoded. Plus you can't compare music played from an internet browser and a dedicated audio player such as iTunes...

So is it true lossless?

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Munichhilton
So is it true lossless?

Yes.

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kowalski

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Munichhilton
So is it true lossless?

Yes.

Fantastic...hopefully not 'mastered for iTunes'...

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Munichhilton

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kowalski

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Munichhilton
So is it true lossless?

Yes.

Fantastic...hopefully not 'mastered for iTunes'...

Just the same as what you get on a regular CD.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-07-27 23:00 by kowalski.

Sorry folks, if it's encoded 16bit 44.1 kHz, it's not lossless. That's just the early 1980's version of compressed digital audio.

If my knowledge serves me right, WAV, FLAC and Apple Lossless files are uncompressed(the Lossless) formats.
MP3 and FLAC are worlds apart as far as L.A. Friday and Brussels Affair are concerned.

so ... did anyone compare the quality between the lossless or the itunes download .. ????

The audio engineer would have recorded the Hyde Park shows in 24/96 or even 24/192. The 16/44.1 "lossless" files like on CDs are a lossy copy of the source. The Mastered For iTunes AAC files mastered from the same source are more efficiently compressed. People can't hear the difference.


We don't know the process followed to create the mp3's on Stones Archive. Quite possibly they encoded them of the FLAC files. That's poor form.

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studiorambo
The audio engineer would have recorded the Hyde Park shows in 24/96 or even 24/192. The 16/44.1 "lossless" files like on CDs are a lossy copy of the source. The Mastered For iTunes AAC files mastered from the same source are more efficiently compressed. People can't hear the difference.

Most likely it was recorded in 24 bits/48kHz. That's how are recorded most albums nowadays. But even if it was recorded on a 24/96 format, a resampled file at 16bits/44.1kHz will still sound better than a compressed file at 256kbps (like the iTunes files). There's a difference between resampling and audio compression. When resampling at 44,1kHz you keep all information intact under 22kHz, while when you compress a file in a lossy format there's some information lost forever - hence the name, lossy format.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-07-28 12:00 by kowalski.

again please ... . did anyone compare the quality between the lossless or the itunes download .. ????

DECCA61

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studiorambo
The audio engineer would have recorded the Hyde Park shows in 24/96 or even 24/192.

I guess they are using KORG MR-2000S (5.6448MHz /1-Bit) Recorder for live recordings.
Even bootleggers do this nowadays.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013-07-28 15:35 by Toru A.

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kowalski

Most likely it was recorded in 24 bits/48kHz. That's how are recorded most albums nowadays. But even if it was recorded on a 24/96 format, a resampled file at 16bits/44.1kHz will still sound better than a compressed file at 256kbps (like the iTunes files).

There is a loss of information when the 24 bit source is reduced to 16, so the CD is a lossy format, but nobody cares as they can't hear it. Just as nobody can tell a CD from an iTunes AAC file.

The last time the industry made a push with high res audio ( SACD, DVD-A), 99.99% of audible improvement came from the improved mastering by the sound guys preparing the re-releases, and consumers buying upgraded audio gear to try and hear it. People would be far better off advocating for better mastering than throwing away their bandwidth on inaudible noise.

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DECCA61
again please ... . did anyone compare the quality between the lossless or the itunes download .. ????

DECCA61

When compared to the lossless version available on Qobuz, the iTunes release sounds thiner with less details. The difference is not big as the "mastering for iTunes" is very well done. But you can hear it on appropriate equipement or with trained ears. That's why I'd say the difference is more a matter of comfort. But at least now customers have a choice (you can even get a mp3 version encoded at 320kbps on Qobuz).

thanks kowalski for making things more clear .

DECCA61

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DECCA61
thanks kowalski for making things more clear .

DECCA61

Listening again to both versions with headphones, the iTunes version sounds like it has been softened. Which can be very pleasing for some ears. On the Qobuz version guitars are sharper for example.

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studiorambo

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kowalski

Most likely it was recorded in 24 bits/48kHz. That's how are recorded most albums nowadays. But even if it was recorded on a 24/96 format, a resampled file at 16bits/44.1kHz will still sound better than a compressed file at 256kbps (like the iTunes files).

There is a loss of information when the 24 bit source is reduced to 16, so the CD is a lossy format, but nobody cares as they can't hear it. Just as nobody can tell a CD from an iTunes AAC file.

The last time the industry made a push with high res audio ( SACD, DVD-A), 99.99% of audible improvement came from the improved mastering by the sound guys preparing the re-releases, and consumers buying upgraded audio gear to try and hear it. People would be far better off advocating for better mastering than throwing away their bandwidth on inaudible noise.

I totally agree with you about the importance of a proper mastering. Nowadays mastering are just absurd as they remove every bit of life from music by compressing dynamics to death.

This said, a 24 bit file sounds better than a 16 bit file. It's smoother, less harsh on the ears. So, again, it's a matter of comfort.

Also, on a good equipement, some people can hear the difference between iTunes AAC files and CD quality files. That's why I think we should have the right to choose what is best for our ears.

It is available in lossless quality on musicme also:

[www.musicme.com]

I believe this offer is not limited to France only.