convert music files on mac?

[archineer]

Originally Posted by Sizzly Friddle

Thanks. I'll try that.



There is no option to create an mp3 that I can find. I can import as an mp3, but that won't be practical. I need to convert over 1000 songs.
Thanks for the advice.

It's not logical but he's right. Just switch on the MP3 encoder in import settings (set it to 320 kps VBR) shift select all of the tracks you want to transcode, right click 'create mp3 version' and it'll do the work for you.

[archineer]

Originally Posted by CHTransplant

"Any more"? What, the crackly car radios in noisy drafty cars, and popping vinyl records, and cheap plastic all-in-one home stereos of old produced better sound quality that society has somehow lost its appreciation of? I'd venture to guess that average audio quality experienced by the average listener today is far superior to what they would have experienced in years past. And in most situations, it's frankly good enough - probably more than good enough - as we're listening to audio in all types of environments that aren't really conducive to unadulterated absolutely pure perfectly tuned sound. I think you're feeling a false sense of nostalgia for something that never really was for the great many masses.

Well I agree to a point - most people still have and always have had 'lo-fi' equiptment. However for the 5% of us with high end audiophile or studio gear mp3 becoming a standard is a big step down from CD and a serious annoyance. Don't get me wrong, it's listenable to an extent but doesn't compare to uncompressed audio for realism. Also have you seen the markup for WAV files on download sites? Just look at beatport- they charge almost double for WAV/AIFF files- it's ridiculous!

[Sizzly Friddle]

Originally Posted by archineer

It's not logical but he's right. Just switch on the MP3 encoder in import settings (set it to 320 kps VBR) shift select all of the tracks you want to transcode, right click 'create mp3 version' and it'll do the work for you.

I downloaded the recommended software and used it to convert the mp4s directly to my thumb drive. It worked great but took many hours.

I was not able to convert the protected songs I had purchased from itunes.
Is there a way around that? I paid for them, I should be able to put them on any device of mine I choose. Fortunately, most of my music came from my CD collection.

Any time someone tells me to right click on something, I think they must use a PC. I have a mac, and tried the suggestions to convert in itunes, but I think the software is slightly different. Mac itunes doesn't seem to have the same functionality as PC itunes. That just isn't right.

Thanks everybody!

[plwhit]

Originally Posted by Sizzly Friddle

I was not able to convert the protected songs I had purchased from itunes.

How to Convert Protected Audio Into a Plain MP3 - wikiHow

[archineer]

Originally Posted by Sizzly Friddle

I downloaded the recommended software and used it to convert the mp4s directly to my thumb drive. It worked great but took many hours.

I was not able to convert the protected songs I had purchased from itunes.
Is there a way around that? I paid for them, I should be able to put them on any device of mine I choose. Fortunately, most of my music came from my CD collection.

Any time someone tells me to right click on something, I think they must use a PC. I have a mac, and tried the suggestions to convert in itunes, but I think the software is slightly different. Mac itunes doesn't seem to have the same functionality as PC itunes. That just isn't right.

Thanks everybody!

Well I have 2 macs! Enable right click in system prefs. (I know it's actually ctrl+click on a mac). It does work - maybe you're using an older version? I do the same to convert my music from ALAC to WAV/AIFF or WAV to ALAC so I know it works. Make sure you highlight the song in blue and scroll down the 'right click' menu.

[archineer]

I'm not sure about protected files as I only buy WAVs off beatport, junodownload etc. I never use itunes (they usually don't have the music I like) I'm guessing you could transcode up to WAV/AIFF and burn a CD then re-rip in mp3?

[Sizzly Friddle]

Archineer, I am running itunes 10.4. My right click menu does not look like yours. Mine asks if I would like to convert to "apple lossless version".




I don't see a way to change this in preferences.

[archineer]

I'm running 10.5.1. It should be the same for you though. Your import settings are switched to ALAC/Apple lossless (which is best for storing CDs on your computer) Go to preferences> import settings> mp3 encoder. Set it to 320kbs mp3 VBR under custom settings to help preserve the CD's sound quality and then ok. Your right click should now say 'create mp3 version'. Remember to switch it back to Apple lossless when ripping CD's.

[Sizzly Friddle]

Archineer- Thanks bunches! That did the trick.
I learned something new about itunes today.