[asmith17]

Does anyone know what audio format Bmw use when saving cds to the hdd? Just wondering if it is lossless or if I would be better ripping it myself via my Mac and downloading on a stick.

[ksoze]

Originally Posted by asmith17

Does anyone know what audio format Bmw use when saving cds to the hdd? Just wondering if it is lossless or if I would be better ripping it myself via my Mac and downloading on a stick.

It is not lossless - compressed audio. Stick to USB for better quality.

[asmith17]

Originally Posted by ksoze

It is not lossless - compressed audio. Stick to USB for better quality.

Thanks! Ripping it is then.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by ksoze

It is not lossless - compressed audio. Stick to USB for better quality.

Even better, get an old iPod Touch or a classic IPod with click wheel control and keep all your music in there in Apple lossless format.

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

Even better, get an old iPod Touch or a classic IPod with click wheel control and keep all your music in there in Apple lossless format.

Or you could do the same thing with your iPhone. If you subscribe to iTunes Match, which is only $25 a year, you can upload any of your own ripped songs in their original format and stream them like any other service such as Apple Music.

[ksoze]

Originally Posted by VirtualGuitars

Or you could do the same thing with your iPhone. If you subscribe to iTunes Match, which is only $25 a year, you can upload any of your own ripped songs in their original format and stream them like any other service such as Apple Music.

Pretty sure media uploaded to iTunes are then streamed at AAC 256Kbps. The original files are untouched at the source (Mac/PC), but are compressed upon upload to the cloud.

[AgentMax]

Yes, they are converted to 256kbps AAC. Or if Apple found a matching song you will stream the iTunes 256kbps Version.

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by ksoze

Pretty sure media uploaded to iTunes are then streamed at AAC 256Kbps. The original files are untouched at the source (Mac/PC), but are compressed upon upload to the cloud.

You can upload wave files, MP3s, almost any standard music format. With iTunes Match you can upload those original formats with unlimited storage and stream them like any other file. In any bit rate too. I've been using this service since it came out over 5 years ago.

I have tons of music on MP3s that is not available on the iTunes store, so this solution is perfect for me. I get to keep and stream my music exactly how I had it ripped before.

[AgentMax]

To specify: its converting ALAC files to 256 AAC befor uploading.

[VirtualGuitars]

Originally Posted by AgentMax

To specify: its converting ALAC files to 256 AAC befor uploading.

I'm talking about files you may have ripped previously. iTunes will still keep them in their original format. You are not forced into converting them.

[AgentMax]

Sure. But they are converted for upload. So you wrote "you can upload original file format" is wrong.

Apple writes:
If you have songs encoded in ALAC, WAV, or AIFF formats, we create an AAC 256Kbps version and upload it to iCloud Music Library so that it can be played on all of your other devices. Your original music file remains untouched on your Mac or PC.

[ksoze]

The original post was regarding compression that occurs with uploads to the BMW hard drive as well as music services such as iTunes.

For those who desire uncompressed media, saving FLAC or other uncompressed files to a USB stick or SSD drive is a good option. For those who prefer streamed subscription music, Tidal offers streamed (and saved) uncompressed media available in CarPlay in their premium offer.

[ksoze]

Originally Posted by VirtualGuitars

I'm talking about files you may have ripped previously. iTunes will still keep them in their original format. You are not forced into converting them.

That is correct, however if then streaming from a phone as discussed here, that same media was compressed on cloud upload and then streamed compressed, albeit in a very good compression scheme. To play the music in its original format, that will require the source Mac or PC, which is tough to set up in the car ;-)