Using Uuntu 10.4 with Audacity. I'd like to store ripped tracks taken from vinyl with a Sony LX300 turntable (and some CD tracks) in an archival format that I can later convert for use on a portable mp3 player. I think I need flac but I have some questions.
First: Since CDDA is a 16 bit format is there any advantage to archive storage using flac with 24 bits instead of 16? I wouldn't think so but I'm new to this If not - I'm curious as to who uses the 24 bit option?
Second: If flac is "lossless" why does it have 8 different quality levels. Does "lossless" not mean what I thought it means? What is it I'm losing as quality drops since the files seem to be the same size at quality 8 and quality 4?
Initially I was using flac 24 bit, quality 8 (best) to store my ripped tracks but if I'd get the same result with flac 16 - 4 with 30% less file size I'd like to know.
Hotei