[D_Icon]

I'm curious. If you need a MP3 decoder to play cd's with MP3 files on them, do I need a AAC decoder to play AAC files? Can a MP3 decoder also decode AAC files? I know that iTunes can play AAC files but what about external CD players?
If all this is true, I hope some manufacturer out there is producing CD players with AAC playback functionality...

[ERS]

I don't know of any AAC compatible CD players. Shouldn't be long now, though, thanks to the iTMS. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
In the meantime, you can always burn the AAC files to an audio CD format. At least that way, you can listen to them in your car ...until someone makes a car CD player that can play AAC CDs. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[afpilot]

yes you can. Get a an iPod and a cassette/fm adapter.

[D_Icon]

2 problems with that solution. I don't have an iPod and I don't have a cassette player in my car. (I don't own any cassettes!) For the cost of an iPod, I may as well buy a new car stereo with MP3 capability and hopefully AAC capability.

[D_Icon]

Can you explain this a little further? I have burned MP3's on CD's formatted as audio CDs and they have not played in my car. Are AAC files any different?

[Daft&Dewey-eyed]

This depends on the CD player in your car. If you burned an audio CD, but your car stereo could not play it, you either did something wrong, or your stereo is so old that it will not play CD-R discs. Many early CD players will not recognize a CD-R, so will not play audio CDs that you burn yourself.
If you use iTunes to burn MP3s or AAC files as an audio CD, the files are transcoded to AIFF before being burned to the CD in "Red Book" audio format. Thus, any audio CD you burn in iTunes will contain AIFF files, regardless of the codec of the original file.

[D_Icon]

Hmmm. Let me clarify to see if we are on the same page. I have burned .AIFF files on CD before and my car plays them just fine (using iTunes). It is when I burn MP3 files that I run into a problem. (I was trying to squeeze as many songs as I could onto a CD for a long trip I was taking).
But, if I understand you correctly, if I create a playlist, click burn, select Audio CD as the format for the CD and hit continue, iTunes will automatically turn all of the files, no matter the format, to .AIFF files and continue to burn them onto the CD?

[Chris Breen]

In reply to:

---

if I create a playlist, click burn, select Audio CD as the format for the CD and hit continue, iTunes will automatically turn all of the files, no matter the format, to .AIFF files and continue to burn them onto the CD?

---

By default, yes. However, in the Burning preference within iTunes you can choose to create MP3 or data CDs. By choosing the MP3 option you can fit about 11 hours of music (at 160kbps) on a single CD. This disc will play only in players capable of playing MP3 discs (your Mac and some CD and DVD players).
Chris

[bluejam]

Will any deck that can play MP3 also play AAC?

[Paranoid_Android]

Nope.
You need to be extremely careful when reading the specs on your stereo face. Most are able to play factory produced CD's, CD-R's and CD-RW's these days. Some have added support for MP3 CD's and some are able to play DVD's. I've yet to see an AAC-compatible face, however. What I would suggest to all the iPod users out there is to avoid those silly FM tuners or cassete bridges and just purchase a $100 face that has an audio-in port on the front. It sounds extraordinarily better.

[rtcfrtc]

Along this same vein, does any one have any knowledge/experience with the FM transmitters (itrip etc)? I play cds in my car (no tape player), but now w/the iPod, I'm really hoping to put away the 208 cd suitcase. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Paranoid_Android]

I've used them -- they work fine.
Not great quality but they do okay.
Like I said, the best way is to just buy a new face that has an audio in port.

[rtcfrtc]

Thanks, I was hoping this would be a solution because I also carry a 3cd boombox onto job sites. I'm an artist doing murals and such in peoples' homes and I'd love to be able to share the "collection" with helpers there as well. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[pmptg]

Why don't you get a pair of powered speakers and plug into your ipod and you can share your tunes with everyone on the job, if that's what you want.