Music purchased from the iTunes store

[rob1963]

I hope to go digital next year, and plan to use a Cortex HDC-1000 with an iPod.

Following on from my recent thread about CDs ripped into my iTunes music library, I was advised that the default encoding system is AAC, and this cannot be read by the Cortex.

I have therefore purchased some software to convert my ripped CDs from the AAC format to MP3, and in my iTunes library I've gone into "preferences" "advanced" "importing" and where it says "Import using" I've changed it from AAC encoder to MP3 encoder, in order that future CDs I rip can be read by the Cortex.

However, when I changed the importing format from AAC to MP3, there was a message at the bottom saying "Note: These settings do not apply to songs downloaded from the iTunes store"

In addition to ripping all my CDs, I'm also planning on purchasing a number of songs from the iTunes store, so here's my question: When I purchase them & they are downloaded into my iTunes music library, how can I ensure that they are stored in the MP3 format?

Do iTunes music store downloads automatically get stored as MP3 files? or do I have to do something to change the format from AAC to MP3 - like I did for the ripped CDs?

I only just got iTunes & don't yet have an iPod, so I know very little about this!

Thanks in advance for your help!

:)

[Corabar Steve]

A) I would say why go for an iPod when HDDs are so cheap

B) Yes you will have to convert all purchased songs either with your new software or burning & ripping them

[Sam]

they are saved in something like mp4s (eg. don't think it is standard mp3) ... havn't tried ripping them to cds yet though..

[rob1963]

So I either have to convert every download to MP3 myself, or burn them to CD & then rip them.....

.....What a load of toilet!

:Rob James:

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I think they are MP4u or something like that and the files are very small. When you burn to disc you can get loads of tracks on a disc.

[Penfold42]

So I either have to convert every download to MP3 myself, or burn them to CD & then rip them.....

.....What a load of toilet!

:Rob James:

Is your head begining to hurt now...........:D

[CRAZY K]

A) I would say why go for an iPod when HDDs are so cheap

B) Yes you will have to convert all purchased songs either with your new software or burning & ripping them

Agree with Steve--buy a HDD--TWO IN FACT ONE AS BACKUP.

Surely most of your music is on CD--just rip to MP3 and put on the HDD to connect into Cortex--BTW seen one on e bay for £339--yee ha!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Cortex-HDC-1000-Twin-mp3-Controller-with-12-mnth-Gtee_W0QQitemZ300145854775QQihZ020QQcategoryZ91384 QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Also PEAVEY PRO 15S only £234--your fave!!!!!!!!


All my I tunes stuff I download just goes on to CD as permanent back up--you cant be downloading much surely---the sort of gigs you cover would be similar to mine-

Last Saturdays requests on the night-- Nolans, Car Wash, YMCA, Billie Jean

The advance requests--all of them on the Robs recently played list :D

CRAZY K

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The thing is Rob, you have already decided which route to go down without actually listening to experiences of other people, otherwise why would you use Ipods instead of HDD?

I have been using mp3s for nearly 5 years now - why didn't you grill me more on Friday and get better and more practical ideas instead of just telling me what you were going to do?

Itunes are in AAC or Mp4 format and need to be converted if you are using them elsewhere. I recommended you use an external drive, but you had decided on 2 Ipods. 2 external drives are a lot cheaper then 2 Ipods and more flexible should you ever wish to use them with a PC for example.

Give me a ring if you want to - it might be easier (and you know how much I like doing long posts!)

[Corabar Steve]

The thing is Rob, you have already decided which route to go down without actually listening to experiences of other people.

I have been using mp3s for nearly 5 years now - why didn't you grill me more on Friday and get better and more practical ideas instead of just telling me what you were going to do?

Itunes are in AAC or Mp4 format and need to be converted if you are using them elsewhere. I recommended you use an external drive, but you had decided on 2 Ipods. 2 external drives are a lot cheaper then 2 Ipods and more flexible should you ever wish to use them with a PC for example.

Give me a ring if you want to - it might be easier (and you know how much I like doing long posts!)

http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-13290.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-13290.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-13290.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-13290.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-13290.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-13290.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-13290.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)http://planetsmilies.net/not-tagged-smiley-13290.gif (http://planetsmilies.net)

You know it makes sense Rob.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

The other 'unfortunate' thing is that most download sites (apart from Itunes) use WMA files and not Mp3, so you will still have to convert them and that is still officially a very grey area.

Does the Cortex play WMA? I know the Denon doesn't.

[CRAZY K]

The other 'unfortunate' thing is that most download sites (apart from Itunes) use WMA files and not Mp3, so you will still have to convert them and that is still officially a very grey area.

Does the Cortex play WMA? I know the Denon doesn't.

No only MP3, WAV and CD Audio according to the hand book :D

CRAZY K

[BeerFunk]

No only MP3, WAV and CD Audio according to the hand book :D

CRAZY K
Which is the standard for DJing, across the board.

Any MP3 site which restricts your downloads to limited formats for their own interests, such as itunes, should be avoided.

[rob1963]

Any MP3 site which restricts your downloads to limited formats for their own interests, such as itunes, should be avoided.

I have to say I agree.

[Sam]

i use itunes..
mainly for personally use... but i do hook up the laptop / ipod sometimes into the system... also its good to hand someone the ipod and let them find the song they are on about.... especially when they dont have a clue which one it is theyre after themselves!
generally use CDs though.. and i am starting to download music through a different source now.... and THEN changing it to itunes... so it can go onto my pod.

[PropellerHeadCase]

The other 'unfortunate' thing is that most download sites (apart from Itunes) use WMA files and not Mp3, so you will still have to convert them and that is still officially a very grey area.

Most? Really?

iTunes Plus are MP3s (I think - not the full range of iTunes, yet, though), Napster is MP3, Beatport is MP3, Juno, too.

As to the comment about DRM (restricting MP3s for their "own interests") - lets not forget that if it weren't for DRM on iTunes files the major labels would never have agreed to it and we wouldn't have such a huge and legal resource. Consider it a step in the right direction, and iTunes Plus is another step in that same direction.

[BeerFunk]

As to the comment about DRM (restricting MP3s for their "own interests") - lets not forget that if it weren't for DRM on iTunes files the major labels would never have agreed to it and we wouldn't have such a huge and legal resource. Consider it a step in the right direction, and iTunes Plus is another step in that same direction.
That's a good point, but it still makes life harder for those using any DJ hard drive controller, as none of them support itunes files as is.

As far as I'm concerned, if you pay for a file to download, they should not restrict you in what you do with it. After all, the very fact that we're paying for it in the first place is a good indication that we're not pirates/thieves!

Technology has advanced too quickly for the slow authorities and record companies to deal with it, and they're resorting to frustrating inconsistent systems like DRM to try to cope with it.

[Vectis]

Napster is MP3

Mine isn't, it's WMA. And I use Napster more than any other.

And Tunebite :D (go google)

[Stormin' Si]

You will find that ALL music download sites that protect their music are either AAC (iTunes) or WMA (Windows Media Audio).

MP3 does have the facility for DRM (Digital Rights Management), so this format cannot be used.

Sites may offer MP3s for download, but these are not protected in any way. You can do what you like with the files.

So Napster is not MP3, but WMA.

[rob1963]

That's a good point, but it still makes life harder for those using any DJ hard drive controller, as none of them support itunes files as is.

As far as I'm concerned, if you pay for a file to download, they should not restrict you in what you do with it. After all, the very fact that we're paying for it in the first place is a good indication that we're not pirates/thieves!



Absolutely!

It's crazy (no, not you Alan!) that when purchasing music from the iTunes store, the songs don't import as MP3 files, and therefore can't be loaded to an ipod & played on a hard drive controller.

The fact that you either have to use software to convert each download to MP3 or else burn downloads to CD & then rip them back to your iTunes library is just ridiculous.

They don't exactly make it easy for customers!

It's largely because of this that I've decided to scrap the itunes library & iPod with a Cortex idea...probably in favour of a decent CD ripper & normal hard drive with a Cortex.

[Vectis]

It's largely because of this that I've decided to scrap the itunes library & iPod with a Cortex idea...probably in favour of a decent CD ripper & normal hard drive with a Cortex.

Yay! Welcome to the real world!!

May I recommend CDEX - very simplistic and quite quick, gets the job done.

[Corabar Steve]

Or Audiograbber.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Or EAC

[Corabar Steve]

I couldn't get on with EAC, found Audiograbber much easier.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I couldn't get on with EAC, found Audiograbber much easier.

Me too, but it was just a suggestion.

[CRAZY K]

Absolutely!

It's crazy (no, not you Alan!) that when purchasing music from the iTunes store, the songs don't import as MP3 files, and therefore can't be loaded to an ipod & played on a hard drive controller.

The fact that you either have to use software to convert each download to MP3 or else burn downloads to CD & then rip them back to your iTunes library is just ridiculous.

They don't exactly make it easy for customers!

It's largely because of this that I've decided to scrap the itunes library & iPod with a Cortex idea...probably in favour of a decent CD ripper & normal hard drive with a Cortex.

Which I think is what Steve, Darren et al have been suggesting.

Just remember to buy 2 HDDs and get decent ones--I have used Audiograbber and found it to be good ( Steves recommendation )

Im not sure if the latest Windows Media Player might be ok as well to identify your tracks--

Beware though when tracks are named automatically sometimes the spelling of the tracks is not correct and sometimes they are wrongly labelled:eek:

I think Dave (Dragonfly) has had an "experience" with this.

CRAZY K

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Which I think is what Steve, Darren et al have been suggesting.



Yeah, yesterday on the phone to Rob ;) :p :D