sldvd

I'm just curious how Amazon and iTunes have so many MP3/AAC files for sale, including a lot of old albums. Is there someone whose job is to just sit there all day long and rip CDs to MP3/AAC format? What a job, considering millions of CDs have been released the last few decades.

Also, I've heard that Amazon and iTunes originally sold their music files in 128kbps format, but now they've changed them to 256-320kbps. I hope that guy didn't have to re-rip all those CDs. Hopefully he just ripped them to WAV format and the computer automatically converts them to either 128kbps or 256kbps.

Which raises a question - why don't Amazon and iTunes sell lossless WAV or FLAC files?

Hiro11

I think it's safe to assume that they have an automated batch process with all of their partners to get the files, maintain rights and maintain metadata.

Drexl

I'd love to know the answer to the last question, but I assume it's mostly due to lack of demand. One issue is that as portable devices went to flash storage, the capacity was reduced to much smaller amounts than hard drives could hold, and now music has to compete for space with videos.

One issue though, is that while FLAC is moderately popular with those of us that still buy CDs, the hardware support (except for computers) isn't all that great. Whereas the major lossy formats will play on just about everything (especially MP3). Of course Apple has their own lossless format, but again the storage space is a problem.