Apple, like other companies out there, gives you various types of files and encoding methods for use. As such, the AIFF vs Apple Lossless debate has become popular. Terms like Apple lossless encoder, Apple lossless music, and Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) have become popular.

There are different file types for different purposes. There is also a multitude of encoding methods to make sure these file types are usable. Because of these, there are thousands, if not millions, of different file types made available by different companies and organizations around the world.

In this article, we will focus on AIFF vs. Apple Lossless. What is this debate about? What are the similarities and differences between the two? We will compare AIFF vs Apple Lossless in detail to give you a clear head on the matter.

Article Content Part 1. AIFF vs Apple Lossless: Basic IntroductionPart 2. What Are the Differences between AIFF vs Apple LosslessPart 3. Bonus: Keep Apple Music Forever for Offline ListeningPart 4. Summary

Part 1. AIFF vs Apple Lossless: Basic Introduction

Here, we will talk about AIFF vs Apple Lossless. But we will dive into an overview of the two different terms first. In this way, you will gain a clear understanding on the differences between them.

#1. What Is AIFF?

So, first, in this debate of AIFF vs Apple Lossless, we will talk about the former. AIFF is actually an audio file. It is saved in the format called AIFF, which means Audio Interchange File Format. The audio contained within it is of high quality. That’s because it is saved in a format that is lossless and uncompressed.

AIFF files can also be saved with the extension AIFC or AIF. AIFC extensions are used when the AIFF file is compressed. The AIFF format is developed by Apple in the year 1889. They are uncompressed files, thus they are larger and have better audio quality compared to MP3. A few decades ago, AIFF was typically utilized in order to burn CDs (audio) using iTunes.

AIFF files can be played with different media players available nowadays. It can be used on VLC Media Player. These files can also be played on QuickTime Player and Apple Music. Fortunately, Windows operating systems can use the Windows Media Players to open AIFF files.

What Is AIFF

#2. What Is Apple Lossless?

So, in this AIFF vs Apple Lossless debate, let’s talk about the latter. Apple Lossless, which also refers to lossless audio in Apple Music is used by the tech giant in order to deliver high-quality audio to its users. Apple Lossless encoder utilizes its own technique. Typically, this is known as Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC). This offers lossless audio music with a high quality.

Typically, Apple Lossless and AAC have very indistinguishable differences. That’s why it’s used. Apple Lossless can take up more space and when streamed, it can take up more data. In essence, Apple developed its own compression and encoding technologies to give a better experience to its users.

So, let’s talk about how to play this file type in this article on AIFF vs Apple Lossless. According to Apple’s Support Page, Apple Lossless can be played using iPhones or iPads. You can listen to songs with a wired connections such as headphones and speakers. Built-in speakers can be used as well. All Apple devices can be used to play Apple Lossless and that includes Mac computers.

Apple Lossless

Part 2. What Are the Differences between AIFF vs Apple Lossless

Now, let’s get down to business. Let’s talk about AIFF vs Apple Lossless based on different factors such as audio quality, file size, information compression, etc. Check it out below.

AIFF vs Apple Lossless: File Size

What is the difference between AIFF and ALAC files? With regards to file size and the AIFF vs Apple Lossless debate, we can say that Apple Lossless has a smaller file size compared to the other. Both formats are lossless. However, Apple Lossless is compressed, while AIFF is not. That explains the reason why Apple Lossless is bigger.

So what does compression mean? This means that the algorithm makes the data smaller (more compressed) to make the file smaller. The compression technique used in Apple Lossless makes it different from that of AIFF.

AIFF vs Apple Lossless: Audio Quality

What is the difference between AIFF and ALAC in sound quality? Audiophiles can tell only a little bit of differences between AIFF vs Apple Lossless in terms of audio quality. Technically, AIFF should be of higher audio quality, because it is uncompressed. However, a lot of listeners won’t find significant differences in audio quality between AIFF vs. Apple Lossless. Experts and audiophiles will surely notice that AIFF files have better audio quality, but there’s not much of a big difference.

AIFF vs Apple Lossless: Information Compression

What is the difference between AIFF and ALAC in information compression? That being said, compression is done on Apple Lossless files because of the Apple Lossless encoder. On the other hand, AIFF doesn’t use compression. So, in this case, playing AIFF files will be easier, because it doesn’t have to be decompressed when launched.

Apple Lossless can be harder to play by older software and devices because of its inherent characteristics. It is, obviously, a compressed file. So, when it is played by outdated software or hardware, the technology has to decompress it first.

Is Apple Lossless better? So, when we compare AIFF vs Apple Lossless, the latter is harder to listen to on old devices (or apps).

Part 3. Bonus: Keep Apple Music Forever for Offline Listening

Now, we have talked about AIFF vs Apple Lossless. We said the differences and similarities between the two. In this article on AIFF vs. Apple Lossless, we will teach you a bonus guide. This guide will help you grab Apple Music forever, so you can listen to tracks offline without the need for an Internet connection.

So, how do you do this? Well, it’s through the use of TunesFun Apple Music Converter. This tool has a lot of features you will surely love. Check them out below:

  • Multi-platform availability. First, TunesFun Apple Music Converter is available in both Windows and Mac operating systems. So, you don’t have to worry about AIFF vs Apple Lossless, MP3, AAC, WAV, and more. You can use any type of computer available to convert files to your liking.
  • Works with different audio types. TunesFun Apple Music Converter can work with different audio types such as music and audiobooks.
  • Keeps original quality. This tool grabs all the tracks for you while keeping their original quality. It means you get high-quality audio in a few simple steps.
  • Multiple output formats are supported. TunesFun Apple Music Converter supports different output formats such as WAV, FLAC, MP3, AAC, AC3, and M4A. Also Read: How to Convert Apple Music to MP3 [4 Helpful Ways 2024]
  • Lightning-fast speed. The TunesFun Apple Music Converter is very fast. It has a conversion speed that is 16x faster than the standard software.

So, let’s talk about the nitty-gritty of grabbing music in this AIFF vs Apple Lossless article. You can do this by following the steps below:

Step 01. Grab TunesFun Apple Music Converter

To grab all the tracks that you like, you must first download TunesFun Apple Music Converter from the website. You can choose Mac or Windows as the operating system. Then, simply install it on your computer. Once that is finished, open the app on your device.

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Step 02. Select The Tracks You Like

The second step is to select the actual tracks that you like from Apple Music. Single conversions and multiple conversions are possible. So, feel free to grab anything you want.

Select Apple Music

Step 03. Change To Best Output Settings

The third step is to change the output settings that you want. This AIFF vs Apple Lossless article will recommend that you use MP3 as the output format. This is because the MP3 format is widely supported. But, you can also use other formats as well. After that, choose a destination folder where the files will be kept after conversion.

Change Apple Music Output Format

Step 04. Convert Your Tracks

Now, you can convert the tracks by clicking the Convert button on the interface of TunesFun Apple Music Converter.

Convert Apple Music

Step 05. Transfer Or Copy Tracks

The last step you have to do is to go to the output folder you have chosen in Step 3. This is where you will find the converted files. You can now copy them to other folders or other devices. In this way, you have grabbed Apple Music tracks for offline listening.

Part 4. Summary

This article has given a comprehensive overview of AIFF vs Apple Lossless. We talked about a basic introduction to AIFF. We did the same for Apple Lossless. We even mentioned the Apple Lossless encoder in the article.

In the middle part, we talked about the differences between AIFF vs. Apple Lossless. In essence, both offer lossless technology, but Apple Lossless takes advantage of compression for smaller file size. Obviously, AIFF will be of higher audio quality compared to Apple Lossless.

Finally, we talked about how to grab Apple Music tracks for offline listening. You can do this through TunesFun Apple Music Converter. This is a great tool to help you grab tracks from Apple Music and convert them to different supported formats. It’s very useful for music lovers and audiobook listeners. If you’re at it, you can grab TunesFun Apple Music Converter today!

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