iTunes 9.1 "Convert higher bit rate songs to 128 Kbps AAC"

[flohmann]

This is a feature i've long dreamed about -- lossless files on my computer, but smaller files for my iPod (my 240gig iPod barely contains my 22,000 track library at 192kbps MP3). I'd given up on Apple, and have been keeping two separate libraries (one lossless, one lossy), but it looks like iTunes 9.1 has delivered it.

Now, how do I merge my two libraries back into one lossless one? Sigh.

 

[moogman]

Shame it's limited to 128K AAC. I'd have liked a 320K option but I suppose the conversion would take too long, as it did with MediaMonkey. Might give it a go though.

 

[the search never ends]

It also offers a 256 conversion........your choice.

 

[mark2410]

it offers 256?

i really dont see why you cant have whatever bit rate you want, if it offered 320 it would mean i could get rid of keeping a second library just for the tiny little shuffles

 

[krmathis]

Why not simply delete your lossy library? Since you have kept two separate ones for lossless and lossy...

I have not tested this conversion feature myself yet, but intend to give it a try one day.
Just need some new music.

 

[gbacic]

Still using 9.0.3 over here. Man I need to update more often.

Have the made the iTunes converter able to use all available cores? If not it is going to be really slow for a lot of people.

 

[flohmann]

Should only be slow the first time for each iPod - I assume iTunes makes the low bitrate copy once, then just checks to see whether it's already on the iPod when syncing. Support forums make it clear that iTunes does NOT keep a copy of the low bitrate version in its own library, tho, so I assume a fresh convert for each iPod connected.

As for selecting the bitrate for the conversion, I assume you'll be able to set this with a terminal command. Seems like the kind of variable you could find and edit by hand if you were motivated.

 

[the search never ends]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark2410 /img/forum/go_quote.gif it offers 256? i really dont see why you cant have whatever bit rate you want, if it offered 320 it would mean i could get rid of keeping a second library just for the tiny little shuffles

Yeah mark. I hear you. it only offers 128 or 256 in the latest version.
I wish it would offer more also, but still happy I could convert all my WMA lossless, and have the lossless for pc listening.... Maybe they'll do better at some point. They call the 256 bitrate Itunes plus

 

[chinesekiwi]

um, it has ALAC conversion......

Also 192 kbps AAC is better than 320kbps CBR mp3....
Also Quicktime is better than iTunes for converting AAC as you can use True VBR AAC with it.

 

[Mr Do]

Why use two libraries when you can create two smart play lists by kind?

 

[moogman]

Think I'll stick with 128K anyway - it's been converting 60GB of lossless files for the last 16 hours so I don't want to start afresh with 256K. Only 12GB space used so plenty more available if I can stand the wait!

Just out of interest, where do you change it to 256K? The summary screen only gives 128K as an option. I'm using iTunes on Windows BTW.

I checked the SQ of a couple of reference tracks: Ozric Tentacles - Aramanu for bass depth and Madonna - Holiday for punchiness and 128K/AAC doesn't sound too bad at all through IE8s. The irony is I just persuaded my wife to change from AAC to lossless on her 8GB Nano as she was complaining about poor SQ.

 

[the search never ends]

OK. as Kiwi pointed out.it will convert to alac.......Edit, preferences, and then hit the import settings tab, I was wrong about the 256 thing, it will allow for 320 conversion.

Saw the question asked and looked deeper into the issue. Where it says High quality, or itunes plus, scroll to custom, you can go from very low quality up to 320....you have to set the encoder to apple lossless if that's what you want. MP3 conversion (why bother) is limited to 192........hope this helps.

 

[logwed]

I just had to explain what this feature meant to my girlfriend... >_> I've been exposed as such a nerd. THE HORROR.

 

[moogman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by the search never ends /img/forum/go_quote.gif OK. as Kiwi pointed out.it will convert to alac.......Edit, preferences, and then hit the import settings tab, I was wrong about the 256 thing, it will allow for 320 conversion. Saw the question asked and looked deeper into the issue. Where it says High quality, or itunes plus, scroll to custom, you can go from very low quality up to 320....you have to set the encoder to apple lossless if that's what you want. MP3 conversion (why bother) is limited to 192........hope this helps.

But isn't this just for encoding to iTunes from CD? The discussion was about
on-the-fly conversion from iTunes to iPod, which seems restricted to 128K AAC.

 

[mark2410]

Quote:

Originally Posted by the search never ends /img/forum/go_quote.gif OK. as Kiwi pointed out.it will convert to alac.......Edit, preferences, and then hit the import settings tab, I was wrong about the 256 thing, it will allow for 320 conversion. Saw the question asked and looked deeper into the issue. Where it says High quality, or itunes plus, scroll to custom, you can go from very low quality up to 320....you have to set the encoder to apple lossless if that's what you want. MP3 conversion (why bother) is limited to 192........hope this helps.

eh? im confused. do you mean when converting from wma or ripping from a cd? youve always been able to do what ever rate you wanted there.

i thought you meant the feature that was previously only available when pluging in a shuffle where it will on the fly convert higher bit rate files down to 128k and put them on the ipod. has this been extended to anything and can you pick the bitrate?