[Sjohnson803]

OK i have an iPod Video 60 gig and i've filled it up to the max already w/ about 5,00 songs because i've always copied my CD's at 320 kbps. I want to know is there a way to export my iTunes library at a lower bitrate or just copy the songs at a lower bitrate to save space. I don't want to have to rip all of my CD's again at a lower bitrate.
Thanks
S. Johnson

[Rugby]

Playlist (Jonathan Seff) has a quick solution to this in a recent article regarding scripts for iTunes:
Dougscripts
go down and download Quick Convert v2.4 and install
yes you could do this manually but....
besides this script there are loads of other

[pdrayton]

In what file format did you rip them originally?
If you convert the existing files and they are already in a lossy format you'll wind up with further degradation on top of a lower bit rate.

[Rugby]

having ripped at 360 and making a backup rip is OK unless you are very peckish as the music sounds very well on the iPod (better then on a stereo set).
The point of the second rip is a backup rip anyway so...

[pdrayton]

But if it's a lossy format then the algorithm used to compress the file has eliminated a lot of data already, and will eliminate more during a conversion. Really defeats the intent behind ripping originally at 320kbps.
Better to have two libraries (as you suggested previously... Dougs iTunes Library Manager is an excellent thing to do), with one of the libraries in a lossless format. The other library can be in a lossy format... even experiment with it at regular AAC 128kbps... and ramp up from there.
I know many people who swear by higher bit rates... I've yet to find one who actually can identify one blind.

[Rugby]

totally agree ....
but hey I am also from the era of casette deck when I found it really cool to record TV show tunes wit a built in microphone...compared to that most rates are better /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif