mp3 vs. AAC vs. apple lossless

Boss, you persist in misunderstanding, and no, I didn't contradict myself at all. The point we're all trying to make is that iTunes did not do anything to your original MP3s. They are still there, unchanged in MP3 format, on your external drive. iTunes made copies; it did not change your original tracks.

So again, delete the AAC versions and use the Add To Library command to add your tracks from your external hard drive into iTunes. And set the iTunes Importing preference to MP3 so that nothing you import from a CD in the future comes in as any other format.

And just FYI, no one here works for Apple. Everyone is a volunteer, helping out as we have time and knowledge. So if you want help, try to be a bit more polite, since no one here owes you one minute of their time. I understand how you might be frustrated and how you might disagree with how iTunes does things, but if you just want to rant, then there are a lot of independent forums where you can do so to your heart's content, but it's not appropriate nor allowed (per the Terms of Use for the Discussions).

--Yes, it did happen. You're wrong. Get it right, you're a Level 3 tech, this ain't little league no more.

I'll be ignoring you from now on, since you can't conduct yourself in a civilized manner. And you get negative votes from me.

Yes, it did happen. You're wrong.

No, you are completely wrong, but apparently also immune to logic or reason.

you're a Level 3 tech

No, we are all fellow users. Level are an indication of how long we've been here, and how many posts we have.

If you want help, you have been given many answers, all of them correct. Avail yourself of them. If you want to argue, while clearly in the wrong, please go elsewhere.

Thanks, Dave. So, in other words there's no mp3 versions of my imported music on my Apple, like lurking in my hard drive. Rather, what Bossy needs to do is re-import his music, using the "Add To Library" command to bring them in from his external hard drive.

And since I haven't added any new music to my iBook since that fateful day when I first imported my music from my external hard drive, I might as well just delte my entire iTunes library, wipe it clean, get a fresh start. To delete everything, is it just as simple as "select all" (highlighting all tracks) and dragging to the trash? So, once that's all erased, then the Bossman sets the importing preferences to mp3 (just did this) and imports everything again -- right?

And if the Bossman does this, then all his music will be in mp3, so he can speed on down the highway listening to the mp3 CDs he burned from iTunes -- yes?

Thanks a ton, I'll buy ya beers someday and we can zoom around in my Camaro, listening to my sweet mp3s, and head to the strip clubs!!!!! iTunes rules.

What??! Negative votes?? This is a travesty. How do I file a protest? Negative votes? Well, I tell you, next time I'm sitting in my parents' basement playing Dungeons and Dragons, I'm gonna cast a spell to give YOU negative votes.

You're the one who gets negative votes.

How am I "clearly in the wrong" when I'm saying that my mp3s shouldn't be automatically changed to Apple's AAC format when I import my music? And, indeed, upon importing my music, all my mp3s now became this worthless format. Worthless for my ability to make mp3 discs to play on my car stereo -- I have them in mp3 format for that very reason, it's my music, and it should be my choice of the format I want to have it. Now, before you start with the "it IS your choice" bit, remember that, by DEFAULT, iTunes changes my mp3s to AAC. Man, that's SO underhanded. It's like those b.s. places that have the box checked, by default, to send you spam or junk mail. In no way is it logical or decent to change MY music format by default. I bought this iBook, it is mine. I have my mp3s, they are mine. But iTunes changes them on MY Apple. Lame. Worse yet is that you guys defend it. Unreal.

Despite all the denial by you tech guys (some of you -- some say yes, some no), the fact remains: I plugged in my external hard drive, brought in my mp3s to iTunes, and without first checking with me, iTunes CHANGED format on my mp3s, rendering my music useless for my mp3 player. THAT is LAME. But I'm "clearly in the wrong?" You don't like my approach, that's one thing. But being in the wrong about iTunes hijacking my music format? Oh, do elaborate, please.

To delete everything, is it just as simple as "select all" (highlighting all tracks) and dragging to the trash?

No, since that will leave the tracks listed in the iTunes library (it's rather like a library's card catalog; you need to delete the entry as well as trashing the book). What you should do is select all the tracks in iTunes and delete them there. You'll be asked if you want to also send the tracks to the Trash; answer yes.

So, once that's all erased, then the Bossman sets the importing preferences to mp3 (just did this) and imports everything again -- right?

Setting the Import preference will affect anything you import from CD. To bring in the tracks from your external hard drive, first make sure that the setting to "copy files to the iTunes Music folder when adding to library" option (iTunes Advanced -> General preference) is set. The use the Add To Library command (under the File menu) and select the main folder containing your tracks on your external hard drive. iTunes should then copy (and not change) the tracks onto your iBook's hard drive.

Hello, I'm not sure if this is the appropriate way to post but it seems I'm in the right place. I have been reading all of these posts but right now im interested in just getting more songs on a friends new nano. All my songs are /were imported from cd's as MP3s @ 160. I would like to downgrade the files to 128 mp3. just for a set of 1000 songs. In a step by step fashion, how can this be done?

Thanks Dave, I didn't make the distinction between adding and importing clear enough, and as usual you did an excellent job of explaining the issue.