GSHastings,
Simple answer is 24 bit/192 kHz or potential transfer rate probably topping out at 40 with a USB 4 or a Thunderbolt 3 cable. If compatible at all, which may lie beyond my limited area of expertise, but I know USB 4 or Thunderbolt 4 cables can be used retroactively speed-wise, maximizing data transfer if compatibility is achieved between source and iPad. Does the error message have an associated code like (-###)? To my knowledge, the bitrate is relative to the format of the song (or file) that you are trying to transfer and play. The list of Apple-acceptable iPad music codecs is listed here:
if you’re trying to (probably unnecessarily or to the detriment of sound from source to my ear) maximize bit/kHz.
About lossless audio in Apple Music - Apple Support
near the bottom under Audio and Playback. It includes hi-res and Apple Lossless (not sure that’s compatible for you), also WAV files, which should work if not for the massive file sizes.
(caveat: .WAV files, maybe other non-native to Apple files, will not include any metadata, although it can be entered manually if you wish… if this has changed, please anyone correct)
There are some potentially helpful links for PC transfers, some included the whole spec page. It is where Apple’s transparency— actually, every digital music playing/streaming company’s transparency varies from cloudy to nonexistent, misleading.
Here is my experience and hope it helps— or ideally, someone can expand/correct me. About 1/2 of my digital audio collection is from dL codes with new or reissue real albums/ep/7” (this began with independent releases 15 years ago and seems less common now) for paying on a RP2. Older or used LPs will obviously not include download codes; therefore, many turntables, like yours or your setup, transfer the music with the help of an Analog-to-Digital converter. In my case, at least I have used and have on both an M2 home Mac running Sequoia OS as well as an iPad Pro M1 running iPadOS 18.1 and iPhone 13 running iOS 18.
Again, the simple answer would be 24/192 for hi-res lossless or 24 bit/48kHz using lossless in format only if the audio is played through their, or your, iPad’s built-in speakers - not much point though they are good - or hard-wired to headphones with a digital-to-analog converter either attached to or built-in to the cable running from the miniature speakers on your earholes. I use a 2-channel hi-fi setup and have a nice external DAC, passing through Apple’s internal one to achieve the highest bit/kHz. I don’t have any more to go on unless I know the specifics of your entire chain from stylus cartridge all the way through which PC and iPad are specific to your specs and iPadOS you are running on the 10th gen.
Good luck. I am still trying to learn these things and I know how annoying it is when any company makes words up, intentionally misleads (Meridian, Tidal, Sony, and Mobile Fidelity being 4 that have admitted that they have done this)? Happy to answer and follow up, cite sources, etc.
Note: neither Bluetooth nor Apple Airplay 2 have achieved true uncompressed audio, lossless or otherwise. Airplay 2 is almost indistinguishable and great. Connect to 2-channel audio using cables or your home wifi directly from digital source like iPad to a DAC with wifi capabilities.
