Macworld: Do more with iTunes convert and import ...

Up to Discussions in Mac OS X

11 Replies Last post: Jun 23, 2008 7:42 PM by bluedevil3s

Macworld

6,063 posts since
Nov 30, 2007

May 20, 2008 10:10 AM

Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

Post your comments for Do more with iTunes convert and import feature here

dougoftheabaci

468 posts since
Feb 2, 2007

1. May 20, 2008 11:10 AM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

I don't suppose there's a way to have iTunes convert a file currently in your library and delete the original for you?

lee_sf

15 posts since
Jan 2, 2008

2. May 20, 2008 1:27 PM

in response to: dougoftheabaci

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

Check out Quick Convert from dougscripts.com. It's an AppleScript for iTunes that lets you select the conversion format, a playlist for the result, and will delete the original afterward if you want. I used to use it frequently for converting AIFFs from GarageBand into MP3s, when my default conversion format was AAC.

dougoftheabaci

468 posts since
Feb 2, 2007

3. May 20, 2008 1:49 PM

in response to: lee_sf

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

Cheers, I'm down-converting loads of my music to 256kb/s VBR AAC (yes, DOWN to that) and I have enough that it's a pain to sort through after a large batch convert.

archangelnix

1 posts since
May 20, 2008

4. May 20, 2008 6:39 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

Another cool feature of the "Convert Selection" option is making a "shorter" version of a song.
If you get info on a track, click on the Options tab, and change the start and stop time, then convert selection iTunes will make a new track honoring the start and stop time of the previous track.

This is great if you like a song, but they have a long intro/outro that you don't want to deal with.

Phrehdd

11 posts since
Mar 3, 2008

5. Jun 2, 2008 1:07 PM

in response to: Macworld

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

If you have both a portable player (such as iPod) and also a home music system you may end up like myself, making two copies of the songs
1) Lossless for home play over a good sound system
2) AAC compressed (128-320) for portable play

If you go into your "MUSIC" section of iTunes, all songs are now listed twice and that reflects lots of drive space being used for songs in two formats. (Yes, I use playlists to separate out home music and portable music etc.)

My thoughts - Apple should provide a feature so that one can store lossless then when synching to iPod etc., on the fly convert to AAC compressed. This keeps the iTunes library down in size and "cleaner" as well as provides iPods a smaller file.

Is there any 3rd party tools that do this elegantly at this time?

dougoftheabaci

468 posts since
Feb 2, 2007

6. Jun 2, 2008 4:31 PM

in response to: Phrehdd

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

Phrehdd wrote:
My thoughts - Apple should provide a feature so that one can store lossless then when synching to iPod etc., on the fly convert to AAC compressed. This keeps the iTunes library down in size and "cleaner" as well as provides iPods a smaller file.

What you described is called HD-AAC. It's a format that contains both a lossless stream and a LQ AAC stream, such as 128kb/s for net streaming or transferring to iPods. There is talk that it will see implementation in iTunes 8, which is expected as early as Job's keynote on Tuesday WWDC'08 and as late as whenever.

It also has higher than CD quality, being the highest quality codec currently out. It just has almost no support, if any at all. It's relatively new after all.

Phrehdd

11 posts since
Mar 3, 2008

7. Jun 2, 2008 4:38 PM

in response to: dougoftheabaci

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

This HD AAC might be a winner but why wait?

There should be a setting in iTunes that is for synching music.

[ ] Convert selected Lossless Apple or AIFF media to ACC

[ ] 128
[ ] 160
[ ] 192
[ ] 256

etc.

I think you get the idea. Store Lossless, synch/convert to ACC on mobile media player.

The look/feel can be similar to importing music section from CDs (preferences)

dougoftheabaci

468 posts since
Feb 2, 2007

8. Jun 2, 2008 5:04 PM

in response to: Phrehdd

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

I do indeed get what you mean. However I don't think there is currently the ability, be it in a third party or natively. Other than for photos from iPhoto of course.

To be honest, I don't see iTunes adding it unless it's a perk of using HD-AAC. Most people don't import as lossless and those that do don't tend to be iPod users. Remember most people who have iPods have their audio at 128kb/s. Why add a feature for ≤10% of your users?

That being said, who knows what'll make it's way into iTunes 8? Hopefully it'll be one of the happy announcements on June 9th since it sounds like the iPhone won't be the focus.

Phrehdd

11 posts since
Mar 3, 2008

9. Jun 2, 2008 6:45 PM

in response to: dougoftheabaci

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

"Most people don't import as lossless and those that do don't tend to be iPod users. Remember most people who have iPods have their audio at 128kb/s. Why add a feature for ≤10% of your users?"

Well if I am understanding Apple's goals correctly - they want to be considered for multi-media and in that, if they only have 10 percent or less of users that engage in home system and have iPods, they are missing their own mark. Apple wants to sell their stuff and the best selling point is ease,looks and ergonomics.

In my estimates, Mac users would enjoy this and it makes sense for ATV users etc. It all dovetails into a flexible systems that has all bases covered.

Btw, I do* look forward to that newer audio format as well!

Dan Frakes

3,273 posts since
Apr 14, 2003

10. Jun 3, 2008 11:39 PM

in response to: dougoftheabaci

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

dougoftheabaci wrote:
I do indeed get what you mean. However I don't think there is currently the ability, be it in a third party or natively. Other than for photos from iPhoto of course.

To be honest, I don't see iTunes adding it unless it's a perk of using HD-AAC. Most people don't import as lossless and those that do don't tend to be iPod users. Remember most people who have iPods have their audio at 128kb/s. Why add a feature for ≤10% of your users?

Not only could Apple do this, but they do it already

If you've got an iPod shuffle, there's an option to automatically convert high bit rate tracks to smaller files (128kbps) for the shuffle. This has been an option, as I recall, since the shuffle first debuted.

I've long argued that Apple should make this feature available for all iPods.

Dan Frakes | Senior Editor, Macworld

bluedevil3s

1 posts since
Jun 23, 2008

11. Jun 23, 2008 7:42 PM

in response to: Dan Frakes

Re: Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

I've long argued that Apple should make this feature available for all iPods.

You argue it should, but for whom? Would it be nice for me as a user? Of course. But why would Apple want to encourage users to go back to the record store for lossless audio? Better for Apple's shareholders that you buy those little pre-made files through iTunes.

And for those eccentric holdouts who insist on lossless audio (like me), Apple has a better idea: an iPod classic to supplement your cool little Nano.

Remember that Apple could add this feature for all iPods with little more than a copy->paste of a few lines of code. Clearly there is a business strategy at play here that doesn't happen to be audiphile friendly. Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Go to original post

May 20, 2008 10:10 AM

Do more with iTunes convert and import feature

Actions

More Like This