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Topic: Online music stores w/ AAC support (Read 9102 times) previous topic - next topic
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Online music stores w/ AAC support

Hello,

what music stores allow downloading files in AAC format? I know there is iTunes, but is there anything else? I checked amazon, beatport and google play music so far, they only offer MP3.

Online music stores w/ AAC support

Reply #1
Apple is the only major distributor I know of that sells AAC. 

If you really want to avoid iTunes or iTunes doesn't have what you want, your  best bet is probably to buy the CD and rip to the format(s) of your choice.  And if you can't find the CD either, you may have to just take whatever you can get.

CD Universe sells MP3s, I think Rhapsody still sells MP3s, Wal-Mart used to sell MP3s, but apparently they no longer sell downloads at all.


Online music stores w/ AAC support

Reply #2
Thank you. That's bad news. Is there any reason why nobody offers AAC? Less demand, of course, but are there any licensing issues that make AAC less attractive?

Online music stores w/ AAC support

Reply #3
Thank you. That's bad news. Is there any reason why nobody offers AAC?


Apple has 99% of the market for AAC music players, so it doesn't make sense to offer AAC files. 

Online music stores w/ AAC support

Reply #4
In Japan, there was a large market of music ringtone (chaku uta) @ 80 billion yen per year or so, typically selling DRMed AAC packed in 3gpp container or something (that was before smartphone appeared). There might have been MP3s, but certainly not in the bare elementary stream format.
It seems that Japan local music store named "Mora" of Sony Music Online Japan still sells AAC, now without DRM.

Personally I have never been interested in them, and don't know about the details.

Online music stores w/ AAC support

Reply #5
Is there any reason why nobody offers AAC?

MP3 is more compatible, and since both formats can achieve transparency on most music, it makes more business sense to sell the format that more people can use. Apple's staunch support of AAC is perhaps the main reason for the market share it has managed to acquire.

Online music stores w/ AAC support

Reply #6
Bandcamp also offers AAC among other lossy and lossless formats.
The Loudness War is over. Now it's a hopeless occupation.


Online music stores w/ AAC support

Reply #8
Qobuz as well, it also offers lossless downloads. It's French but it's one of the best I've ever used.

Online music stores w/ AAC support

Reply #9
Hello,

what music stores allow downloading files in AAC format? I know there is iTunes, but is there anything else? I checked amazon, beatport and google play music so far, they only offer MP3.

i think www.producertool.com you can if i remember correctly

Online music stores w/ AAC support

Reply #10
There seem to be several German streaming sites using the "Dolby Pulse" format, which is simply (HE-)AAC with some ReplayGain-like metadata IIRC.

(See www.ampya.com e.g.) I don't know which of these sites allow song downloading or are available outside of Germany/Austria/Switzerland, though.

Chris
If I don't reply to your reply, it means I agree with you.

 

Online music stores w/ AAC support

Reply #11
There seem to be several German streaming sites using the "Dolby Pulse" format, which is simply (HE-)AAC with some ReplayGain-like metadata IIRC.

I have seen such a file.
- includes "dby1" in compatible brands
- contains some XML metadata in uuid box
- stores replaygain in ilst, but under "org.hydrogenaudio.replaygain" (not com.apple.iTunes)
- only album/track gain, no peak related information

The following seems to be a patch for it:
http://patches.libav.org/patch/49320/