MP3 quesiton...

Is there a free and easy way to convert audio files into MP3s? Or do you have to buy software or join a pay/per site?

MP3 conversion:
I do it mostly with iTunes. That’s free-ware from Apple. For windoze there should be more.

KK

I use THIS to go from WAV to MP3. But you can go to http://www.download.com and find one that works for you that's free. That's where I found it.

[ Edited by: Swanky on 2005-02-10 08:37 ]

On 2005-02-10 08:36, Swanky wrote:
I use THIS to go from WAV to MP3. But you can go to http://www.download.com and find one that works for you that's free. That's where I found it.

[ Edited by: Swanky on 2005-02-10 08:37 ]

Thanks. I really want to convert some of my CDs into mp3s so I can put a bazillion songs onto a disk for a dj friend of mine. I'll check out the site. Mahalo.

Apple's iTunes is available for FREE for both Windoze and Mac. It is by far the best in terms of interface and quality. Just go to apple.com to download for either computer platform.

Yes, iTunes is a great, and free option.

Just make sure you convert your music at no less than 128kbps, and preferably 160, 192, or even 256kbps. The sound quality of 128 or lower is atrocious. 160 is barely adequate. Using the lower numbers gives you smaller files, but IMHO the trade off is NOT worth it.

Silly question.....

As many/most of the CD's that I make with MP3's downloaded don't work on many of the older CD players, how do you change the MP3 to another type of file that will play on any type of player???
It's not a problem with playing on my computer, just some other CD players.
I know this is sure to be an easy fix but I'm feeling a bit dense right now.

Thanks

Trustar

Until the past few years, ALL CD players could ONLY read audio as uncompressed 44.1khz/16-bit audio in a format called 'red book'. EVERY store-bought CD you have ever owned is 44.1khz/16-bit/red book.

As MP3s took over the industry in recent years, CD player makers scrambled to find a way to make sure their product did not become obsolete. MMany CD players basically now include internal software/hardware that makes them more like CD-ROM drives, or drives that can read several types of disc.

ALL audio CDs must still be 44.1khz/16-bit/Red book, but so-called MP3 CDs are basically CD-ROMS with MP3 files on them (as opposed to programs or pitures or word files or porn or something).

Newer CD players will be able to look for MP3 files on a CD-ROM, extract them, uncompress them, and play them. Basicaly, there's iTunes-like software built into the player.

This is why older players will not play any other discs other than 44.1khz/16-bit/red book discs. They don't have the software to recognize alternative file types and disc types.

To get downloaded MP3s to play on older CD players, you have to convert the files to 44.1khz/16-bit files (they'll be about ten times larger on your hard disk than the MP3 versions), and then burn those files as an "Audio CD", which is the red book format.

Some CD burning programs, such as Toast, will do this conversion automatically, and on-the-fly, converting the MP3s to 44.1khz/16-bit audio in real time as it burns the 44.1khz/16-bit files to CD.

Make sure you set your program to create an "Audio" or "Music" CD, as oppsoed to an "MP3 CD", a "CD-ROM", or a "Data disc". Then add the MP3s to the program and watch it go.

You'll be limited to 80 minutes worth of music per disc, of course.

You know, I normally get $40/hour for these lessons...!
:)
Next week: BigBro will tell us all how to light our Tiki rooms for better photographs!

Thanks James

Does ITunes have the ability to convert these files easily? I've been cutting myself short as I have been only utilizing the 60-80 minutes timeframe for my CD's.

I'll be looking foward to Sven's class next week.

Mahalo

Trustar

yes, iTunes is suited for converting and keeping very large numbers of songs. iTunes is set up in such a way that you have "playlists" and a main "library" list of songs. You create a new empty playlist and then drag the WAV or AIFF files into that playlist. Set your MP3 bit rate preferences and then go to "Convert To MP3" and it takes over the rest. Or, when you put a CD into your drive, it automatically goes on the net (if your connected), gets the song titles for you and all that. Then you just uncheck the litle check box next to the songs you DON'T want to rip from the CD and hit the big IMPORT button in the upper right of the window. Bingo, you got MP3's. Once the new MP3s are inyour master "library" song list, you can drag them into your custom playlists to make various collections.

I really like the playlist features of iTunes, because I can make party playlists or slow songs playlists for my various moods. Very nice. I think that iTunes will automatically burn and MP3 disk from a particular playlist. It will even automatically convert and burn MP3s in a playlist into a full audio CD. Very cool.