Just thought I’d share this, as its something I’m constantly re-visiting (are my files high quality enough; what are best settings).
Basically I fed all my research on the subject of sound files and options for compression/lossless etc and asked it if I’m on the right track with AAC 256.
You’re on the right track.
For DJ use with limited storage the sweet spot is:
- AAC (Apple AAC / Fraunhofer AAC)
- 256 kbps VBR (variable bitrate)
That’s effectively transparent to human ears in real-world DJ situations — indistinguishable from FLAC/ALAC or 320 kbps MP3 for almost all listeners, even on big systems.
Why this works:
- AAC is more efficient than MP3 (256 AAC ≈ 320 MP3).
- VBR makes better use of bits than CBR/ABR, giving maximum quality for the space.
- Lossless (FLAC/ALAC) gives no audible benefit once mastered, only bigger files — not worth it if storage is your constraint.
Specific setting to stick with:
Encode as AAC, 256 kbps VBR (sometimes labelled “High Quality” in iTunes/Apple Music or “–q:a 5” with ffmpeg/Fraunhofer).
If you ever want a step up without going full lossless, AAC 320 VBR is the “safe maximum,” but honestly 256 is already transparent.
The research I fed in is included in the chat:
