How in the world do I convert AIFF files to MP3 in iTunes 3?

**simX** · July 19th, 2002, 02:16 AM

The "Convert to MP3..." menu item is gone, replaced with "Convert Selection to MP3". Now I can't directly convert some random music file to MP3 and have it added to my library.

Now what I have to do is add it to my library, select "Convert Selection to MP3", wait for it to convert, and then delete the original AIFF from my iTunes library. TERRIBLY inconvenient.

Anyone have a better solution?

I can't believe Apple took that out. I may just have to revert to iTunes 2 because of this...

**hazmat** · July 19th, 2002, 09:23 AM

I don't have an answer for you, but agree that iTunes depends too much on its Library. If I want to simply play some songs in it that I have on the hard drive, I have to add them to the library. Maybe it's just that I am used to WinAmp for so many years....

**Izzy** · July 19th, 2002, 10:22 AM

Originally posted by simX
The "Convert to MP3..." menu item is gone, replaced with "Convert Selection to MP3". Now I can't directly convert some random music file to MP3 and have it added to my library.

Now what I have to do is add it to my library, select "Convert Selection to MP3", wait for it to convert, and then delete the original AIFF from my iTunes library. TERRIBLY inconvenient.

Anyone have a better solution?

I can't believe Apple took that out. I may just have to revert to iTunes 2 because of this...

I think I'm misunderstanding you here simX...can't you just import songs as MP3's directly from the CD? Why would you bring in the AIFF file first?

**hazmat** · July 19th, 2002, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by Izzy

I think I'm misunderstanding you here simX...can't you just import songs as MP3's directly from the CD? Why would you bring in the AIFF file first?

I think he means files that are on the hard drive already.

**Izzy** · July 19th, 2002, 10:41 AM

Originally posted by hazmat

I think he means files that are on the hard drive already.

Ah...ok...sorry bout that...I have little HD room to spare so that thought never crossed my mind. Those AIFF files are HUGE...I remember back in the day when I'd have to rip those AIFF files off of the CD and then turn each one into mp3. I could only do one CD at a time...LOL

**simX** · July 19th, 2002, 11:31 AM

Yeah, these are AIFFs already on the drive. They are converted from MOD/XM/IT/etc. files that were converted using PlayerPro. Then I wanted to get them in MP3 format in order to play them in iTunes (these are the pop-pop songs, btw -- awesome trance music!).

SO the way to do that is to use PlayerPro to convert to AIFF, and then use iTunes to convert to MP3 and add it to my library. Unfortunately, it seems it's not as easy anymore.

I guess I should give Apple some feedback.

I noticed that there is an "Import" button in the File menu, but all AIFF and MP3 files are greyed out, so I don't know exactly what this is for.

**hazmat** · July 19th, 2002, 08:22 PM

Originally posted by simX
I noticed that there is an "Import" button in the File menu, but all AIFF and MP3 files are greyed out, so I don't know exactly what this is for.

I noticed this too. The only files I saw so far that would enable the Choose button were html files. The attached file is what iTunes said when I chose it.

Oh, I just looked in the prefs for the first time. VERY nice! they finally allow the option to prefix filenames by the track number. Too many MP3 players don't sort by IDv3 tags, so this is nice. I always had to use an AppleScript I downloaded to do this. Nice as that one is, since I can customize it, this is nice since it's automatic.

**simX** · July 21st, 2002, 02:12 AM

It looks like the "Import" function is for exported song list files or exported library files (this is done by using the "Export Song List..." or the "Export Library..." menu options from the File menu).

But I actually DID find out how to exactly what I wanted.

A guy from the Apple discussion boards alerted me to this – hold down the option key, and then open the Advanced menu. "Convert Selection to MP3" changes to "Convert to MP3...", which is the exact same function from iTunes 2.x.x, just hidden a bit. While I think it should have been the other way around, or they both should be shown in the menu without holding down option, I'm glad Apple left this feature in. Now I can import much more easily.