[mlarn]

^^^ Thanks for the info Reprobate! I haven't had a chance to look into this option, but will do so soon. It is more steps than ideal, but seems like it would work and much better than trying to recreate all those artworks (I have a bunch of live stuff that itunes can never find). 
 
Another question specific to itunes. Will the program even read the images if they are saved as a separate files, or must the information be embedded into the mp3 files themselves?
 
PS I should add that I have the capability of working on either a pc or a mac for conversion purposes, but will be playing the lossless files on a mac.

 

[Reprobate]

I think iTunes can find the art online for you if your music is tagged properly. If you want to retain the same art, I'll bet there is a plug-in for iTunes that can do it for you. MediaMonkey has an option to embed the art from your jpegs into the file(itunes style) or just copy the jpeg(as mentioned) or both.

 

[hawks2010]

What is a good program that I can burn my cd's into FLAC files?  I am a newb in this field. I didn't know you could improve the quality of mp3, till I started going on head-fi,  I know I am the dumbest one in the room so I need a very easy ripping program. Who can help a poor soul like me? 

 

[Glucky]

To convert FLAC to MP3 for iTunes, get one professional FLAC Converter to have a try.
 

 

[DmitryChulkov]

try to use this online audio converter http://inettools.net/en/application/convertaudio
I hope it will help you

 

[Yuri Korzunov]

For work with iTunes usually preferable (support text and artworks) next ways:
 
1. Lossless:
   1.1. AIFF
   2.2. ALAC (compressed)
 
2. Lossy:
    2.1. mp3
 
Conversion software must convert between these formats with exporting metadata.
 
Also the software must suppost specifical id3 metadata format used in iTunes.
 
 
 
CD ripping
 
AIFF files that readed under Mac OS X from CD is not usual AIFFs.
 
These files has AIFF-C format. Some software can don't read these AIFF-C files.
 
For conversion/riping software desirable convert AIFF-C to ordinary AIFF for better compability with different software.
 
It is lossless conversion - changing order of bytes for each sample.

 

[HiFiDJ]

So I'm trying to convert some flac files to alac........I've used max and xld. However, the resulting alac file ends up being 40 to 50 MB smaller than the original flac file......why is that? It's a 96000khz flac file if that helps

 

[Yuri Korzunov]

So I'm trying to convert some flac files to alac........I've used max and xld. However, the resulting alac file ends up being 40 to 50 MB smaller than the original flac file......why is that? It's a 96000khz flac file if that helps

May be you compress uncompressed FLAC?

 

[stonesfan129]

I would just install foobar2000 and the Free Encoder Pack and convert those FLAC tracks to Apple Lossless. The problem is if you convert them to WAV, the metadata won't be retained. If you convert them to MP3, you no longer have lossless files if that matters to you. Apple Lossless will retain the quality 100%, just in a format that iTunes is compatible with.

 

[HiFiDJ]

May be you compress uncompressed FLAC?

All the settings are put to original quality though and they're both lossless formats

 

[Yuri Korzunov]

All the settings are put to original quality though and they're both lossless formats

As I understand, you convert to *.m4a. It is container ALAC or AAC.

Try check into audio player actual codec in converted file properties.

 

[HiFiDJ]

As I understand, you convert to *.m4a. It is container ALAC or AAC.

Try check into audio player actual codec in converted file properties.

Yes, it’s alac

 

[Yuri Korzunov]

Yes, it’s alac

Do the player show similar sample rate, bit depth, length (in second), channel number for original and converted files (in file properties)?

 

[HiFiDJ]

Do the player show similar sample rate, bit depth, length (in second), channel number for original and converted files (in file properties)?

Yeah it's the same....... some albums are converted just fine though.

 

[Jam Boy]

I use Flacsquisher. Free and easy.