motodrummer wrote:
I bought a song from itunes to play on my mp3 player and I just figured out the reason it will not play is because the song downloaded in mp4 format. Is there anyway I can change this on my itunes or do I have to contact customer support to see if they will let me get the same song in mp3 format. Also when purchasing music how can I check to see what format it is in prior to buying and downloading it?
Do you mean an .m4p file, which is a protected AAC file? An .mp4 file would be a video and not an audio file. Most music downloaded from the iTunes Store, and the default for CD ripping (import), is in the Advanced Audio Codec (AAC). Such files are typically in the {color:#0000ff}M{color}PEG-{color:#0000ff}4 a{color}udio (.m4a) file format as opposed to the universal, albeit archaic, {color:#0000ff}MP{color}EG-1, Layer {color:#0000ff}3{color} audio file (MP3) format. Most of the music content at the iTunes store are {color:#0000ff}M{color}PEG-{color:#0000ff}4 p{color}rotected (.m4p) audio files.
Despite the fact that AAC is an open format created by the same governing body that developed the MP3 format most devices that support MP3 will not support AAC. Given that the format is open, the iPod is most popular portable digital music player in the world and subsequently iTunes is the most used media manager/player, the lack of support for AAC is nothing less than reprehensible.
motodrummer wrote:
I looked up how to convert files on itunes help and it says to choose itunes>>>preferences>>click advanced>>then click importing. Everything is good except there is nothing that says importing.
Niel wrote:
This was removed from the GUI in iTunes 8.
What
Niel stated is incorrect. In previous versions of iTunes the importing options were in the Importing tab within the Advanced tab of iTunes’ preferences. Apple has attempted to simplify the user interface for some features and the import settings are now accessed by clicking a button in the General tab of iTunes’ preferences. Once you have the Import Settings window opened you can set the import encoder.
motodrummer wrote:
so is there anyway to change it so it will download in mp3 format?
Niel wrote:
No. The removed setting only applies to songs imported from CDs.
What
Niel stated here is only partially correct. The import settings *do not* only impact CD ripping. When you set a given import encoder it also sets the default format converter in iTunes that is accessible from the Advanced menu. The type of conversion depends on your import settings, thus if you import encoder is for AAC, MP3 or Apple Lossless, etc., then the converter you will see available in the Advanced menu will be:
Advanced > Create AAC Version,
Advanced > Create MP3 Version,
Advanced > Create Apple Lossless Version,
etc.,
respectively. So, if you have and AIFF file (uncompressed CD file) and wish to create an Apple Lossless copy in your iTunes library, you would go to the General tab in iTunes’ preferences, click Import Settings…, switch to the Apple Lossless Encoder, select the tracks you wish to convert then go to Advanced > Create Apple Lossless Version.
Unfortunately, you cannot do this with protected AAC files. The reason for this is because in the past, if Apple had permitted iTunes to do so, the labels would have pulled their content from the iTunes Store and accused Apple of supporting piracy. While the major labels have begun permitting eMusic, Amazon, et al., to sell unprotected MP3 files, they are in collusion against Apple and still do not offer unprotected content via the iTunes Store. Therefore, Apple still cannot add this functionality.
A well-known workaround has existed for converting protected AAC files since the original iTunes Music Store opened. You can see the process in [this article|http://www.macworld.com/article/39009/2004/09/septemberdigitalhub.html] .
