itunes transfer or conversion

In iTunes, set your default ripping format to mp3.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

JR wrote:
> After downloading my CDs to hard drive, itunes now "controls" the music in
> its format. I know I can't easily convert or transfer stuff I purchased from
> itunes (and don't want to), but I should sure be able to retrieve MY music
> into a format that lets me put it into another medium, like a cell phone. I
> can't find my music anywhere on my computer other than within itunes. How do
> I get MY music copied out of itunes into an MP3 format? PLEASE HELP!?
 >> Stay informed about: itunes transfer or conversion 

iTunes files are usually mp3, but with a protection that prevents them from
being played, if they are simply copied to another device.

You can find where they are being stored from within iTunes. Edit,
preferences, advanced, then near top of screen.

There is a provision in the iTunes software to "download" songs to an iPod,
but maybe not some other brand of player.

There is also an option to write files to a CD, in standard CD format, which
is not protected. Thus, a CD made via iTunes can be "ripped" into
unprotected mp3 files. There are many options for ripping software, but you
will have to look beyond Apple. Additionally, there is some debate whether
mp3 to CD to mp3 loses quality. Given my equipment and ears, I can not tell
the difference. But, then, the original iTunes mp3 files are not as high
quality as a commercially made CD by the same artist. Note that there is a
limitation on how many times the same song can be written to a CD from
within iTunes.



"JR" wrote in message

> After downloading my CDs to hard drive, itunes now "controls" the music in
> its format. I know I can't easily convert or transfer stuff I purchased
> from
> itunes (and don't want to), but I should sure be able to retrieve MY music
> into a format that lets me put it into another medium, like a cell phone.
> I
> can't find my music anywhere on my computer other than within itunes. How
> do
> I get MY music copied out of itunes into an MP3 format? PLEASE HELP!?
> --
> JR
 >> Stay informed about: itunes transfer or conversion 

Previously on microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support, JR said:

> After downloading my CDs to hard drive, itunes now "controls" the music in
> its format. I know I can't easily convert or transfer stuff I purchased from
> itunes (and don't want to), but I should sure be able to retrieve MY music
> into a format that lets me put it into another medium, like a cell phone. I
> can't find my music anywhere on my computer other than within itunes. How do
> I get MY music copied out of itunes into an MP3 format? PLEASE HELP!?

Re-rip them from the source CD using something OTHER THAN iTunes. Yes,
iTunes can rip to mp3 instead of aac or whatever its default is, but it
uses a substandard mp3 rip engine. Winamp, among others, is much, much
better. Then when you've ripped the CD with the other software, with
iTunes set to organize your music, drag the new mp3 files into your
iTunes music window. iTunes will +copy+ the files into its music
library. You can now delete the files you ripped.

Use the "show duplicates" command in the File menu, and you can delete
the originally ripped files. Right-click and select "Show Info" to get
data about the file, including its location.
 >> Stay informed about: itunes transfer or conversion 

Previously on microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support, "Bob Harris"
said:

> There is a provision in the iTunes software to "download" songs to an iPod,
> but maybe not some other brand of player.

iTunes syncs to an iPod device. No other portable players are
supported.

> There is also an option to write files to a CD, in standard CD format, which
> is not protected. Thus, a CD made via iTunes can be "ripped" into
> unprotected mp3 files. There are many options for ripping software, but you
> will have to look beyond Apple. Additionally, there is some debate whether
> mp3 to CD to mp3 loses quality.

There is no debate, it does lose quality. mp3 is a lossy format.
Burning an mp3 to an audio CD does not restore any quality, you get a
file that sounds the same as the mp3. If you re-rip from that burned
disk back to mp3, you will again lose audio data and thus quality. How
much depends on the quality of the mp3 files in question. What is
"debatable" is a purely subjective matter: Whether or not that loss of
quality will be noticeable by the listener, and if so, whether it will
annoy the listener.
 >> Stay informed about: itunes transfer or conversion