Hi
I have a new ipod and am looking at placing all my cds onto my pc hard drive.

Am I correct that If I use itunes to ‘import’ my cds they will only be able to be played via the itunes player? (this certainly seems to be the case) (I am aware that any tunes purchased via itunes can only be played on the ipod)

If this is the case, surely one would be better importing (with say media player/nero/etc) to your hard drive then sending your choice of tracks or complete cds to the itune player??

I ask this because I do not want to have to import all the cds a second time if and when I get a different mp3 player other than an ipod.
regards

Andy

If you're using a recent version of iTunes, you can use the 'import using MP3 encoder' option (under Edit>Preferences>Advanced>Importing tag) when you rip your CDs into iTunes. You'll then be able to use any MP3 device, I believe, as well as iTunes.

Here's a link (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93118).

In addition, the default encoding for iTunes is AAC (which is essentially an mp4 files), which a lot of other programs can read (Winamp, Media Player, Real Player) so you won't have a huge amount of problems.

Music from the iTunes store is protected, and that's why it will only work on a machine with iTunes that's authorised (You can have up to 5 machines authorised at a time) to play it. Files you've imported from CD will work regardless, as they're not protected.

Hecate
Thank you - I will look at that.
Mr chris
I have not altered the default and media player or real player are not able to play the cds i have allready imported using the itunes programme.

I must say - first impressions of itunes - not good.

Have a look at yamipod, it enables you to use your ipod without the restrictions imposed by Itunes.

In addition, the default encoding for iTunes is AAC (which is essentially an mp4 files), which a lot of other programs can read (Winamp, Media Player, Real Player) so you won't have a huge amount of problems. ...
The extension of my iTunes-imported CD files is .m4a. Not sure if that's what you're referring to. Anyhow, in addition to iTunes, these files will play in Real Player, though not Windows Media Player. I haven't tried other programs.

Hecate
Thank you - I will look at that.
Mr chris
I have not altered the default and media player or real player are not able to play the cds i have allready imported using the itunes programme.

I must say - first impressions of itunes - not good.

I've honestly never had a problem with iTunes. Media Player 11 (the latest version) plays .m4a files just fine.

Also, if you're putting all your music in iTunes, why use another media player?

...Media Player 11 (the latest version) plays .m4a files just fine.
Interesting. Mine doesn't. I presume that my version 11 has had some update that I've managed to miss. I'm happy with iTunes though, so no great loss.

I've honestly never had a problem with iTunes. Media Player 11 (the latest version) plays .m4a files just fine.

Also, if you're putting all your music in iTunes, why use another media player?

Well what happens when i purchase another mp3 player and find it will not play the format that iTunes has ripped in?

-Media player or real player does not play the cds itunes has ripped to my computer - so surely I am better ripping with one of the other available players then letting itunes import them (which I guess it will do??) and change the formatt to whatever it likes.

I feel as if I am missing something here?

I just want to be able to place my cds on my hard drive to be played either through my computer, ipod (though i understand i will have to do this via itunes) or any other mp3 player I may choose - surely there is software/a player that will do this without me altering default settings etc?

Well what happens when i purchase another mp3 player and find it will not play the format that iTunes has ripped in?

-Media player or real player does not play the cds itunes has ripped to my computer - so surely I am better ripping with one of the other available players then letting itunes import them (which I guess it will do??) and change the formatt to whatever it likes.

I feel as if I am missing something here?

I just want to be able to place my cds on my hard drive to be played either through my computer, ipod (though i understand i will have to do this via itunes) or any other mp3 player I may choose - surely there is software/a player that will do this without me altering default settings etc?

What does iTunes say you're encoding them as? If you click on Library and then hold down control and press J it should bring up the "view" options. Tick the box next to "kind" and press okay. This will give you another info field (similar to "title" and "artist") that will tell you what kind of files you have in your library.

AAC (.m4a) files are what you should have by default. These are quite universal nowadays - even my phones (last 3 at least) have played them.

Perhaps you are, as you say, missing something?

http://www.m4a.com/ - some reading.

mr chris
Done that and the files are AACaudiofile (not AAC (.mpa))is that my problem?

mr chris
Done that and the files are AACaudiofile (not AAC (.mpa))is that my problem?

Nope, they're exactly the same thing. .m4a is the file extension (the part that tells windows exactly what kind of file it is, so it knows what to do with it).

I can't understand why you're having so much difficulty? 90% of my itunes library (4000+ songs) are saved as AAC audio files, and I don't have problems using them in a variety of players.

Make sure all your software is updated to the latest version. Media Player should be version 11 and can be updated from Windows update (in the start menu). Versions 10 and below won't play m4a files.

If in doubt just change the encoding to mp3 and you won't have any issues.

Also, if you change the encoding to mp3 in the advanced menu, you can right click on any file in your library and then convert them to mp3 (you can select lots at once). You might suffer a little quality loss, but if you've already imported lots then it might be quicker and less hassle than ripping all the CDs all over again.

You will then have two of each song you've selected in your library but, as you can see what kind of files they are since you followed the steps in a previous post, you can just select and delete all the AAC files and just have a library made up of mp3s.

I am using Media Player version 11.

Perhaps uninstall and reinstall iTunes? I can't think of anything else - don't want to change the format to mp3 really (but may have a go just to see if that will then play them.)

Thanks for all your help

Hecate:
Changing to mp3 does seem to work (certainly on windows media player) but somebody suggests there it is a lower quality - not sure if I will notice it.

mr chris
My windows media player is def version 11 and will not play AAC (.m4a) files and there is no mention of them in options>file types so reinstalled it and it made no difference!

Incidentally if I rip with windows media player - itunes will not play.
If I rip with itunes - windows media player will not play (unless ripped in mp3).

Andyxxx, I have both mp3 files and m4a files in iTunes. I don't notice a difference between them in sound quality when I play them on my iPod, within iTunes, or on a cheap little stick player. A friend plays them on his phone without complaint too.

If you have iTunes, why worry about Windows Media Player, given that you can easily rip to mp3 within iTunes if you need to? You can access the files in your iTunes library directory via Windows Explorer and drag and drop them from there to another device if you need to.

Andyxxx, I have both mp3 files and m4a files in iTunes. I don't notice a difference between them in sound quality when I play them on my iPod, within iTunes, or on a cheap little stick player. A friend plays them on his phone without complaint too.

If you have iTunes, why worry about Windows Media Player, given that you can easily rip to mp3 within iTunes if you need to? You can access the files in your iTunes library directory via Windows Explorer and drag and drop them from there to another device if you need to.

I hear what you say regarding mp3 quality - I certainly can't tell a difference on playing via my computer (but may notice a difference if burnt to disc and played via my hi-fi?) - I still find it odd that itunes will not recognize music ripped via real player and vice versa (unless I rip using the mp3 formatt.)

if I rip with windows media player - itunes will not play.
If I rip with itunes - windows media player will not play

Yes, because WMP by default rips to WMA format - one of the few that iTunes can't play. And iTunes by default rips to AAC which doesn't play in WMP. (i have no reason to doubt Mr Chris saying it does - i just haven't tried WMP11 myself yet)


If you want to "future-proof" your collection then just change the format you're ripping into. It isn't difficult. And if you're fussed about quality iTunes clearly gives you options on the bit-rates it should use.


.

hmmm... i remove files to iPod with this software (http://www.convert-any-media.com/index.php)