What is a Apple Lossless Audio Codec Codec and how is it activated?

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Update:

In 2021 Apple has made several improvements in the audio experience, both in terms of devices and sound technology.
Spatial Audio (with Dolby Atmos), an experience of spatial sound on AirPods Pro si AirPods Max, which gives you the impression that the sound comes from all directions and remains in a fixed point when you turn your head, it is completed by Apple Lossless Audio.

O superior sound quality in another audio format.

What is a Apple Lossless Audio?

In full name, Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) is a new audio file compression technology, developed by Apple to bring a clear sound, identical to that of the original studio recordings. A sound that after compression absolutely nothing is lost.
When a song is taken out of the studio, it often reaches the listeners in a compressed format. AAC (Advanced Audio Codec) the 256 kbps. Also known as AAC-256. A codec supported by almost all audio players.

Apple Lossless Audio this bit-to-bit compressed sound, with an accuracy of up to 24-bit with frequency 48kHz.

Lossless Audio
Lossless Audio

Apple Lossless Audio Codec Codec (ALAC) is available for subscribers Apple Music, but you should know that not all songs are currently with this codec. Apple has not yet required record labels and authors to upload / reload on Apple Music content in lossless format.
Supporting songs ALAC up to 24-bit/48 kHz have the "Lossless" sign under the title.

Lossless Audio in Apple Music
Lossless Audio in Apple Music

How can we listen to music in high quality audio format lossless audio?

Unfortunately we can't listen lossless music on AirPods, AirPods Pro or AirPods Max. Wireless headphones use AAC Bluetooth Codec, and bluetooth connections do not support lossless audio.
We can listen music in lossless format on the speakers iPhone, iPad, Mac si Apple TV, and in the near future on HomePod / HomePod mini after a software update with lossless support will be released. Most likely the lossless format on HomePod will come with iOS 15, when we will be able to listen in this format and via AirPlay.
However, there is also good news if we like to listen to music on headphones. Traditional wired headphones, those with 3.5 mm jack are compatible for lossless format, if we use ADAPTER Lightning. As we know, on the new iPhone generations, Apple removed the 3.5 mm jack. The adapter is able to convert from analog to digital, and the sound experience will be as good as that of wired headphones Lightning.
It should be mentioned that on iPhone and iPad you need at least iOS 14.6 / iPadOS 14.6, and on Mac we must have at least macOS 14.4 to be able to listen in audio in lossless format.

How to activate Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) in Apple Music?

By default, this option is not activated on the iPhone or iPad for reasons that are easy to understand. A song in format Advanced Audio Codec (AAC) occupy a lot less storage space and use a much lower internet traffic than the same song in format Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) at 24-bit/48 kHz. Not to mention the format Hi-Res Lossless at 24-bit / 192 kHz, which is much larger and is also available in Apple Music for songs edited by Apple Digital Masters.

A song will have:

  • 6 MB in High Quality format AAC / 265 kbps
  • 32 MB with Lossless compression ALAC at 24-bit / 48 kHz
  • 145 MB with Lossless ALAC up to 24-bit / 192kHz

Therefore, before activating one of the lossless formats, we must consider in which scenario it will be activated and if for the music downloaded on the iPhone, iPad or Mac we have enough storage space, especially in the case of Hi-Res Lossless.

Activating Lossless on iPhone and iPad is done from:Settings”→“ Music ”then we go to“ Audio Quality ”, where the first option is“Lossless Audio", which we activate. On the green. Once the option "Lossless Audio” two more options will appear, in which we can choose in which scenario we use the Lossless format Hi-Res Lossless.

Enable Lossless Audio on the iPhone
Enable Lossless Audio on the iPhone

Once activated Lossless Audio we can choose if this format is listened to (streaming) when we are connected to the Internet via the cellular network (4G / 5G), when we have a Wi-Fi connection or if we want the downloads on the device to be Lossless.

Given that, as I said above, lossless and high resolution lossless files are much larger than traditional AAC, it is not recommended at all to activate this format when you have a mobile internet connection. Additional internet data traffic can cost you quite a bit.

Lossless ALAC
Lossless ALAC

Choose to store music in lossless ALAC 24-bit / 48 kHz format only if you have enough storage space on your iPhone or iPad.

We see that in addition to the classic AAC and the new Lossless ALAC 24-bit / 48 kHz, we also have the high-definition ALAC 24-bit / 192 kHz option. This Hi-Res format is currently not supported on any device Apple, and activating this format requires connecting the device to an external sound source, capable of analog-to-digital conversion and emitting high definition sounds. Most likely Hi-Res ALAC is intended for those who make music.

I am happy to share my experiences in the field of computers, mobile phones and operating systems, to develop web projects and to bring the most useful tutorials and advice. I like to "play" on the iPhone, MacBook Pro, iPad, AirPort Extreme and on operating systems macOS, iOS, Android and Windows.

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