Dumb file size question.


I just downloaded my first album from HD Tracks and was a bit shocked at the file size. I downloaded it at 96/24 in ALAC format. It is 1.26 GB! When I rip my CDs in ALAC format they are around 300 MB. What's up here? Is the HD Tracks file just uncompressed? Will iTunes compress it? Sorry for the stupidity just wasn't expecting to have to store and deal with files that large.
n80

Showing 6 responses by lowrider57

What does that mean? They sound good? So what if each Redbook file is a different size.
Right, that's why a symphony that runs 70 min. is a larger file size than a 30 min. rock album,  for example.
@n80, DR numbers are very good for a vinyl release in these modern times.
We have to assume those terribly compressed tracks are for the Redbook CD, although the source is not indicated.
The difference in DR for the download is because it is hires, so it was mastered as such.


The recording at the studio was mastered at either 24/96 or more likely 192 kbps. The file was sent to the mastering studio where it was processed for CD, vinyl, and download. All started with a hires file.
As you say, in this case the download is vastly superior.

Nowadays iTunes or streaming services are all sent the hires file. They compress it at their end.


On that DR page, in the comments section, the files were FLAC. They either converted them in their computer for analysis or they were sent FLAC files.
I don't know if this affects the DR numbers, probably not, but I usually see wav files being analyzed by their software.
As stated before, the highly compressed results are not listed as CD, but listed as lossless, source unknown. But, odds are it's a Redbook CD.
  Just some additional info for you.