How can I ensure compatibility when importing MP3s into Music App on Mac?

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently ripped some MP3s from YouTube and I’m looking to import them into Music Mac.

I’d appreciate advice on the best encoding options for ensuring compatibility, especially with the cloud.

Would converting a lower quality format to a higher quality format degrade the quality further?

Also, some encoding options have additional settings like kbps and sample rate—any recommendations on those?

Additionally, I recalled when I imported some MP3s a while back, they would show a duration different duration to what they would play, like they would show 12 minutes but only play for 8 minutes. This was when the default AAC encoder was active.

Thanks in advance!