Best Way to Convert MusicGiants Super HD Files?

I'm in the process of downloading some Super HD (.wma) files from MusicGiants.

Once I copy them out of my Windows VM and into OSX, what's the best way to convert them in such a way that it's part of my iTunes library, retains all tags, and retains the HD quality?

Hi watchnerd - Check this article and the following comments out for conversion etc...

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/musicgiants_on_mac

Hi Chris,

I followed the directions and thought I'd share some comments/results:

1. Damn, this is a bit of work and fairly inconvenient. I look forward to the day when I don't have to do all this on a Mac.

2. For the $19 I paid for the download ("A Boy Named Charlie Brown", by the Vince Guaraldi Trio), I could have bought the SACD. An interesting tradeoff to consider.

3. After converting everything to WAV, I copied the files from my Windows VM to OSX. I then imported the files directly into iTunes and had iTunes convert straight to Apple Lossless (superior to AIFF, IMHO, at least if you're on a Mac). I didn't use MAX for the process, and I'm not sure what, if anything would have been gained by doing so.

4. The iTunes data before doing so:

WAV version (track 1): 71.9 MB, 4233 kbps, 88.200 kHz, 24bit

Apple Lossless version (track 1): 48.9 MB, 2880 kbps, 88.200 kHz, 24bit

Are those the expected results, or should I have seen something different?

UPDATE:

I tried converting via Max, and got the following results:

AIFF version (track 1): 71.9 MB, 4233 kbps, 88.200 kHz, 24bit

Apple Lossless from AIFF (track 1): 48.9 MB, 2880 kbps, 88.200 kHz, 24bit

In other words, the results are identical to doing it within iTunes, but far less convenient.

Hi watchnerd - I agree 100% you could have purchased the physical disc for less money and possibly less time.

The only reason MAX is necessary is to convert to AIFF and keep the bit/sample rate. iTunes can't import high resolution AIFF files.

Anyway the whole thing is an interesting exercise :-)

Hi Chris,

At least from my testing, importing a WAV (converted from WMA) into iTunes allowed me to convert it to Apple Lossless while retaining the high bit rate.

Give that Apple Lossless has tags like AIFF, and has a higher compression ratio, why not just import the WAV files directly into iTunes and convert to Apple Lossless there, bypassing the Max step?

Am I missing something?

Hi watchnerd - I'm a fan of AIFF. So I need to import AIFF into iTunes and keep it in this format.

Hi Chris,

I see your point for using Max is you prefer AIFF.

It seems that converting within iTunes gives the following results:

24bit WAV=>AIFF=16bits

24bit WAV=>Apple Lossless=24bits

Any idea why there is a difference?

This one has bugged me ever since I ran into the issue. For some reason AIFF within iTunes can only convert up to 48k and 16 bit, but it can playback up to 24/192. Just a weird iTunes limitation.

I am researching some other options, but I can't really speak about them at this time. Things are looking very good for computer audiophiles though :-)