Can no longer change bit rate in AAC custom import settings

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Level 1

15 points

Can no longer change bit rate in AAC custom import settings

I've been re-ripping all my CDs at the new higher bit rate. My import settings were AAC Encoder -- custom, originally set to 256 kbps, VBR, and auto for the other two settings. However, some CDs I wanted at a lower setting, so I would go change the bit rate to either 192 or 224 (just so I'd have more room on my ipod) and there wouldn't be a problem. But now it's stuck -- the pop-up box no longer opens when I choose import settings, AAC Encoder, Custom, so I can't change the bit rate or anything else, and it's stuck on 224 kbps. I can still change bit rate and other settings in the custom menus for MP3, WAV, etc., just not AAC. A repair install of iTunes did not fix the problem.

PC, Windows XP

Posted on Mar 28, 2010 12:32 PM

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Answer 1

SirBowen24 Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 28, 2010 4:56 PM in response to SirBowen24

UPDATE: I completely un-installed and reinstalled iTunes, to no avail. Still can't change the AAC import custom bit rate. Anyone else have this problem??

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Answer 2

ed2345

Level 9

63,608 points

Mar 28, 2010 6:39 PM in response to SirBowen24

SirBowen24, I tried but could not reproduce that problem on my machine, which is running iTunes 9.0.2. When you click "Custom..." exactly what happens?

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Answer 3

SirBowen24 Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 28, 2010 7:50 PM in response to ed2345

Hi, Ed. I am running iTunes 9.0.3.15. When I click custom, the settings description in the details box display what they were before this thing happened = 112 kbps (mono)/224 kbps (stereo), VBR, optimized for MMX/SSE2. The pop-up dialogue box that used to appear (where you could choose the specific bit rate from the drop down menu) does not appear at all.

However, when I choose anything other than AAC Encoder, and then pick custom, the pop-up box appears and I can choose the bit rate and adjust the other settings as usual. It's just not happening for AAC Encoder anymore. Since the total un-install (following Apple's specified order) and reinstall didn't work, I'm baffled how to fix this .... (If it makes a difference, I changed the bit rate in the custom box while a CD was being burned...Apparently that was stupid, but I had done it previously without incident.) Thanks.

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Answer 4

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Mar 28, 2010 8:30 PM in response to SirBowen24

This happened about two months ago on my Mac.
I could not change the AAC custom encoder.

I opened the com.apple.iTunes.plist and deleted the key PLGN:iTunes:rsrc•AAC•Ecoder•Custom and that fixed it.

Don't know how iTunes configures this info on Windows or if/how you can edit a plist.

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Answer 5

SirBowen24 Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 28, 2010 10:10 PM in response to Chris CA

Thanks, Chris. I'm just about ready to switch to a Mac.... It would probably be in the Registry; for PC users:

under HKEY Classesroot there's "\itunes.aa" and "itunes.aax" entries, but no "itunes.aac". It would seem the AAC registry entry was deleted. But there's literally hundreds of itunes entries, and I'm hesitant to change something in the registry without knowing more. Any Windows users have this problem?

Message was edited by: SirBowen24

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Answer 6

Katrina S.

Level 7

24,152 points

Mar 29, 2010 11:28 AM in response to SirBowen24

I'm not seeing this, either, on v9.03.

One thing to try, set it for AAC and hit the default button. Restart itunes and see if it comes back.
Sometimes programs start behaving after you change an option back to defaults.

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Answer 7

SirBowen24 Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 29, 2010 3:10 PM in response to Katrina S.

Thanks, Katrina, but I can't set it to default. That option is only available after you choose custom from the drop-down menu and the pop-up dialogue box opens with the settings. That box isn't opening anymore. (And even uninstalling and reinstalling didn't work...)

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Answer 8

Chris CA

Level 10

82,513 points

Mar 29, 2010 3:20 PM in response to SirBowen24

Try this...
Quit iTunes.
Drag the \Username\Application data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes prefs file to the desktop then restart iTunes.

If it doesn't fix it, you can move that file back.

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Answer 9

SirBowen24 Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 29, 2010 3:35 PM in response to Chris CA

Chris - THANK YOU!!!!! That trick worked.

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