After thinking about it a bit more, there *might* be.
First, there are well known quantization problems at low signal levels with the 16-bit linear scale used by CDs (and DAT). I.e. a very, very quiet passage might still be discernable on an analog source, but lost in a linear 16-bit sample. Dithering helps, but a non-linear encoder would be better.
As most "born digital" studio work is at least 20-bit and more recent work is 24-bit, this helps tremendously if there is a non-linear encoding algortithm being used. Dunno if AAC does anything there.
Second, there are aliasing artifacts you can get going from 48kHz --> 44.1kHz --> <something> that you wouldn't get going from 48kHz --> <something> directly.
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Re: And before you ask..
Date: 2007-04-03 01:24 am (UTC)First, there are well known quantization problems at low signal levels with the 16-bit linear scale used by CDs (and DAT). I.e. a very, very quiet passage might still be discernable on an analog source, but lost in a linear 16-bit sample. Dithering helps, but a non-linear encoder would be better.
As most "born digital" studio work is at least 20-bit and more recent work is 24-bit, this helps tremendously if there is a non-linear encoding algortithm being used. Dunno if AAC does anything there.
Second, there are aliasing artifacts you can get going from 48kHz --> 44.1kHz --> <something> that you wouldn't get going from 48kHz --> <something> directly.
So, I take back my previous WTF.