using Audacity with iTunes

Question

using Audacity with iTunes

I want to edit some music using Audacity so I can put just a small portion of it onto a CD. I tried to import it directly from iTunes into Audacity but that didn't work (it's in MPEG4 format). So I did a work-around where I burned the selection from iTunes onto a CD, and then imported it from the CD into Audacity.

That seemed to work--I was able to see the Audacity sound files and hear the music. But as soon as I ejected the CD containing the import from iTunes, the music did not play! The Audacity sound file was still visible, and the cursor moved across it when I pressed "play," but there was no sound. But once I put the CD back in, it made the music audible.

Anybody know how I can fix this? I obviously need to have the Audacity file be able to play the music on its own. Thanks

iMac G5, Mac OS X (10.4.2)

Posted on Dec 7, 2007 8:25 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Timmy Y

Level 4

3,115 points

Dec 7, 2007 9:04 AM in response to James Snedeker

It's because you're streaming it off of a cd. Once the cd is gone, Audacity cannot play it.

When you were originally trying to bring the files from iTunes into Audacity, can you provide me with the exact steps you were taking? Also, if it's mp3s you're working with, you may need to download the "LAME" codec for Audacity to use. More info here:

http://lame.sourceforge.net/index.php

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 7, 2007 10:18 AM in response to Timmy Y

Timmy--

It's funny, I did this earlier this year when I was working in iMovie, and I was able to successfully complete the work-around from a CD and import a music clip I wanted into iMovie; the music played successfully without the CD in the Mac.

Anyway, the method I used to try to bring the music from iTunes into Audacity:
1) Open Audacity;
2) Click on the music file in iTunes and drag it to the desktop (for easy access);
3) Open the tune into Audacity.

Doing it this way, a soundscape is created, but when I play it it's all aural goobledygook--just a lot of horrible noise. (In looking at it more closely, however, it appears that it may be the music file densely compressed upon itself.) I don't believe it's an mp3; it says "MPEG 4" on the iTunes file.

Reply

Answer 3

Timmy Y

Level 4

3,115 points

Dec 7, 2007 10:43 AM in response to James Snedeker

Sounds like you're possibly using purchases from the iTunes Store, then. These are protected files and will not work in Audacity, unfortunately.

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 7, 2007 10:47 AM in response to Timmy Y

Timmy,

No, I imported the music off a CD, not from iTunes.

Reply

Answer 5

Timmy Y

Level 4

3,115 points

Dec 7, 2007 10:53 AM in response to James Snedeker

Ok, well I googled "aac audacity" and came up with some interesting results. Namely, this:

http://digital.music.cornell.edu/node/163

http://www.audacityteam.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=86&p=274

http://www.nabble.com/mpeg4-files-t1037475.html

Reply

Answer 6

ed2345

Level 9

63,602 points

Dec 7, 2007 2:03 PM in response to James Snedeker

+it says "MPEG 4" on the iTunes file.+

Use iTunes to convert it either to AIFF or MP3 and Audacity will be much happier.

Reply

Answer 7

Dec 12, 2007 2:56 PM in response to James Snedeker

Well, my problem is solved. And I don't know why. I was using my work computer originally, and when I imported the CD, as I said, it imported the music as MP4s. But when I went home I tried the same import on my home Mac (the same machine), they imported as MP3s!

I have no idea why, but all I know is that I have the recordings now that I want.

Reply

Answer 8

ed2345

Level 9

63,602 points

Dec 12, 2007 3:00 PM in response to James Snedeker

The format for iTunes importing is whatever is set in Edit > Preferences > Advanced > Importing.

If you plan to use the files in Audacity, set it to MP3.

Reply

Answer 9

Timmy Y

Level 4

3,115 points

Dec 13, 2007 7:12 AM in response to James Snedeker

Glad things worked out for you!

Reply