iTunes.

[exilera]

I hope I have the correct forum for this post. Anyway, I'm thinking of loading up the iTunes software to download a bunch of tracks for my upcoming wedding (we're not leaving anything up to the DJ). I've been looking into iTunes, even though I don't own a iPod. Napster seems like such a rip, considering the tracks expire once the subscription is cancelled (as I understand it). With iTunes, is it possible to convert your tracks to mp3 format? Would I be able to put a .aac track (I think that's the format) onto, say, a Rio Cali?

If there is a better alternative to iTunes, I'd love to hear about it, and any other suggestions anyone would care to make.

Thanks!

 

[Argo]

I'm actually working on the same problem (not the wedding, but rather using songs from iTuines on other devices) and here's what I came up with.

You cannot use iTuines format to play the songs on anything other than iTunes client itself and iPod. What you can do is burn the tracks onto a cd and then re-rip them into a format of your chosing.

If anybody else has an easier way of doing that feel free to post.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: Argo
I'm actually working on the same problem (not the wedding, but rather using songs from iTuines on other devices) and here's what I came up with.

You cannot use iTuines format to play the songs on anything other than iTunes client itself and iPod. What you can do is burn the tracks onto a cd and then re-rip them into a format of your chosing.

If anybody else has an easier way of doing that feel free to post.

Buy lossless, either in CD form or from allofmp3.com - if that site is still legal (I know the RIAA doesn't much like them, but afaik it's not illegal yet, though I expect that to change as the RIAA feeds judges more & more cash). I'm baffled that anyone would a) pay full price for lossy-encoded music or b) pay for copy-protected music, knowing they'll have trouble manipulating music they own - if they're able to do so at all.

FWIW you don't have to be an audiophile to appreciate lossless; suppose you buy in a lossy format and then decide you like a different player (PC software player or portable) which doesn't support it? Suppose you take an interest in sound quality or a new & better format comes along? (This already happened actually; ogg vorbis >>> mp3). In any case, you can re-encode from your lossless backup or listen to it in lossless compressed format such as FLAC, rather than transcode and noticeably lose quality.

 

[keeleysam]

Originally posted by: Gurck

Originally posted by: Argo
I'm actually working on the same problem (not the wedding, but rather using songs from iTuines on other devices) and here's what I came up with.

You cannot use iTuines format to play the songs on anything other than iTunes client itself and iPod. What you can do is burn the tracks onto a cd and then re-rip them into a format of your chosing.

If anybody else has an easier way of doing that feel free to post.

Buy lossless, either in CD form or from allofmp3.com - if that site is still legal (I know the RIAA doesn't much like them, but afaik it's not illegal yet, though I expect that to change as the RIAA feeds judges more & more cash). I'm baffled that anyone would a) pay full price for lossy-encoded music or b) pay for copy-protected music, knowing they'll have trouble manipulating music they own - if they're able to do so at all.

FWIW you don't have to be an audiophile to appreciate lossless; suppose you buy in a lossy format and then decide you like a different player (PC software player or portable) which doesn't support it? Suppose you take an interest in sound quality or a new & better format comes along? (This already happened actually; ogg vorbis >>> mp3). In any case, you can re-encode from your lossless backup or listen to it in lossless compressed format such as FLAC, rather than transcode and noticeably lose quality.

allofmp3 has always been illegal. and it's morally wrong too, as 100% of the money you pay there goes to russin pirates. get it off kazaa if you don't want to pay the artist.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: keeleysam
allofmp3 has always been illegal. and it's morally wrong too, as 100% of the money you pay there goes to russin pirates. get it off kazaa if you don't want to pay the artist.

As I understand it they pay the artists according to Russian law, which happens to exclude the RIAA. Since the RIAA generally takes 90-95% of the cut, this is why they don't like it and why the site can sell so cheaply. I'm not aware of it being illegal though (yet) - you have a link?

 

[blurredvision]

There exists a program that can convert iTunes AAC tracks to mp3, although it somewhat illegal to do so. However, if you're not a by-the-books man and you make your own logic, then it's not illegal to turn the music you rightfully paid for into a format you want to use.

Only problem with this? I can't remember what the name of proggy is.