Call me stupid - how do you burn an MP3 CD in iTunes?

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neocaster

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Converting to MP3 in iTunes is a b***h. You have to burn an audio CD, then import that as MP3. No quicker way. Maybe somebody knows of a better batch tool.
 

Bernie

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Call it a brain fart...or whatever...I've done this a hundred times, and now I can't figure it out.

I've got my playlist ready, changed the burn preference to "MP3 format"....click "Burn MP3 CD"....and I keep getting the message that none of the songs are MP3s?

So I've got to convert them to MP3 files, right? How do I do that?

Edit > Preferences > Advanced (tab) > Burning > choose Mp3 CD > OK
 

cacibi

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In your preferences - go to Advanced>Importing and re-set the encoder to MP3. This will do two things, makes sure that whenever you import something, it's an MP3 - and will also change the option under the 'Advanced' drop down menu in iTunes from 'Convert Selection to AAC' to 'Convert Selection to MP3'.

I'ts really very versatile and easy. I just imagine that - since AAC is the standard Apple format - it possibly resets to AAC as the default encoder whenever there's an update.

I have used iTunes to convert all audio files to MP3's since I can remember - it's the easiest way I know.
 

TelZilla

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4 additional questions on this-

1. What's the advantage of having MP3's instead of iTune's default format?

2.Once I have songs imported into iTunes, how do I convert to MP3's?

3. Can I convert files I bought on the iTunes store to MP3's?

4. Should I also change Prefernces>advanced>burning disc format to MP3 CD?
 

cacibi

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1. What's the advantage of having MP3's instead of iTune's default format?

2.Once I have songs imported into iTunes, how do I convert to MP3's?

3. Can I convert files I bought on the iTunes store to MP3's?

4. Should I also change Prefernces>advanced>burning disc format to MP3 CD?

1) There's no advantage as far as audio quality - in fact, I prefer AAC. But there's not a lot you can do with it except play it on a device that supports that file format. Most cell phones for example can't do anything with an AAC file, but can easily use an MP3 as a ringtone. Being a more universal format - it's sometimes better to have something in MP3 form to insure the end user can actually play it back. Also - if you're trying to burn an MP3 CD as TheGoodTexan is - you'll obviously need it in MP3 format.

2) See my first post above. Once you have selected MP3 as the encoding format in Preferences. 'Convert Selection to MP3' will be available in the 'Advanced' drop down menu in iTunes. Simply select your file(s) and choose that menu option.

3) No - iTunes purchases are mostly DRM files, meaning you cannot really manipulate them. A workaround to this is to use a program like Wiretap to re-record the files as MP3's.

4) Only if you want to burn data/MP3 CD's all the time. If you want to burn an audio CD that someone can stick in a regular CD player and play back - you'll need to leave the preference set to burn audio CD's. It just depends on if you want to give people a disc of files - or a disc of music.
 

Bernie

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Quote:
4. Should I also change Prefernces>advanced>burning disc format to MP3 CD?

Yes.

Caveat: If your CD player is capable of playing mp3 CDs, the answer would be yes, if you have a standard CD player that doesn't recognize mp3 CD's then the answer would be no.

Edit: cacibi beat me to it
 

Bernie

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4) Only if you want to burn data/MP3 CD's all the time. If you want to burn an audio CD that someone can stick in a regular CD player and play back - you'll need to leave the preference set to burn audio CD's. It just depends on if you want to give people a disc of files - or a disc of music.

Small point -an mp3 CD can be played with a multi format CD player with that capability - a standard CD player can't play an mp3 CD.
 

Willie D

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iTunes drives me crazy because I can't figure out how to arrange the songs in a playlist. It's great for burning CDs from albums I bought thru their store, and I can buy a gapless/live album that will burn perfectly, but I can't seem to make my own mix in the order that I want it.
 

cacibi

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There are a couple ways to create a Playlist.

1) Click the '+' button in the bottom left of the iTunes window

2) Choose File>New Playlist or File>New Playlist From Selection

Once you have the Playlist created and named - you can drag and drop items from the browser to the Playlist - or, in the case of creating a New Playlist From Selection - just select your music in the browser window (hold down the Command key for selection multiple items) and then choose the New Playlist From Selection menu item.

Once you have them in the playlist - just drag them around to arrange them in any order you want. At the bottom of the browser window - you will see the total playing time for you playlist and memory taken up by those files - so you know by glancing if it will fit on an audio or data disc.

Come on people...work with me and Steve Jobs just a little!!!!
 

Bernie

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iTunes drives me crazy because I can't figure out how to arrange the songs in a playlist. It's great for burning CDs from albums I bought thru their store, and I can buy a gapless/live album that will burn perfectly, but I can't seem to make my own mix in the order that I want it.

If you click the top of the column with the numbers in it (the first column) in a playlist, you can then change the order of the songs by dragging the songs up or down in the list.
 

pango_twango

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Converting from iTunes store music to mp3 is easy. Programs like Audio Tools or Total Recorder (I just mention them because they're cheap and very useful for other stuff as well) will record in pretty much any format you want (e.g., mp3. wav). If you can hear it on your soundcard, they can record it. AVS Audio Tools includes a lot of effects and editing software too. Both get along well with Reaper.

Good luck:cool:
 

cacibi

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Converting from iTunes store music to mp3 is easy. Programs like Audio Tools or Total Recorder (I just mention them because they're cheap and very useful for other stuff as well) will record in pretty much any format you want (e.g., mp3. wav). If you can hear it on your soundcard, they can record it. AVS Audio Tools includes a lot of effects and editing software too. Both get along well with Reaper.

Good luck:cool:

I would just like to point out that there's a difference between converting in the sends of re-encoding to another format, and re-recording in real-time.
 
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