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[jtremble]

I have been using iTunes with my ipod for a while now and am becoming frustrated with the lack of depth provided by iTunes.   

I have ripped 300+ cds in the Apple loseless format.  I really want a loseless file to play in my main audio rig, as well as my whole house audio system.  However, I do not need that level of quality, or file size, when transferring to my ipods.

So after all that here are my questions...

1) I assume that I can easily import all my loseless files from itunes into Media Center

2)  When uploading files from Media center, can I tell it to transcode them to 128K or 192..... which should be sufficiant for mobile use?

What I really don't want is multiple copies of the same music on my PC at different resolutions......

If there is any other way to accomplish this, please let me know.

Thanks,
Jason

[NickM]

There is no easy way to do this!  It is good that you keep your ripped CD's in a non-lossy format.  Here's what I do...

1.   Rip about 100 CD’s at a time to APE.
2.   Select the cover art option to keep the cover art IN the file and a copy in the SAME directory.
3.   Add cover art, lyrics, and any other tagging information that you require.
4.   Select all the tracks, right click and Update Tags from Library
5.   Right click again and Rename File based upon properties.

Now you have the originals sorted.  At this point, I backup the originals.  My files are kept in the structure, \\server\music\ape_1, ape_2 etc. (About 100 CD’s in each folder is an arbitrary number, but easy to work with.)

Then I copy the whole directory to make an exact replica.  i.e. \\server\music\ape_1 copied to \\server\music\mp3_1

Next change libraries, for example from “Original” to “iPOD”.  Then import the media from \\server\music\mp3_1.  There are two reasons for this.  First is that you can check the all the tagging information is actually in the file as opposed to in MC.  Second, is that I have accidentally deleted original files in the conversion process before ( and that’s a pain ).

Now, select all the imported tracks, right click, Convert Format, send original to recycle bin and update database.  Then sysc your iPod.

As far as your question about MP3 quality goes, you will find many different opinions… For what it’s worth, I have an iPods and an iShuffle.  I use VBR Extreme on the iPod and 128kb for jogging.

nick

[GHammer]

I do not have an Apple Lossless files to test with. I'll agree with the idea of using APE format for lossless ripping.

However, in MC 11, setup a 'Handheld device'

There will now be a 'File Conversion' option active in the Handheld options.
Choose Convert if necessary and select an encoder type.
Configure the encoder by clicking advanced.

Now when you want to send tunes to your ipod, MC will convert them as needed.

Hope that helps.

[NickM]

Converting on the fly is OK if you only tranfer files once.  Otherwise it takes ages!  I try and take a "new" set of songs on my iPod each time I travel.  Converting 5,000 songs from lossless to MP3 takes about 2 days.  That's why I run a duplicate set of songs already in MP3.  Downloading 5,000 songs then only takes under an hour.
nick

[GHammer]

Yes, but it was what was asked for.

[NickM]

Ooops...