iTunes importing / encoding for DJs...

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iTunes importing / encoding for DJs...

Hi there,

I use iTunes as a DJ - it's useful to import my music, organise my playlists, then thankfully, most DJ softwares now have a 'import iTunes playlists' option which means I can just do that every time I add new songs and it updates.

But what's confusing me is all this talk about encoding.

I read on this forum that when iTunes encodes, it doesn't actually change the file. Okay, sounds good. But then why is it that DJ forums say 'it's super crucial you get your import setting right, closing 320kbps under the cute section' - surely it shouldn't matter what you import your file setting as, if the encoding doesn't change the actual file, why does it matter?

Which then makes me think, what is the point of encoding anyway? I'm so confused what this 'encoding' function is even used for, and some light shed on it might help me make a few better decisions with the way I organise my music.

Thank you

Posted on Jul 26, 2019 2:20 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Marco Klobas

Level 6

8,351 points

Jul 26, 2019 5:58 AM in response to ianpatrickroe

Just try to import, say, an AIFF file in iTunes.

Even if you have set MP3 as encoding in Import Settings you'll see that iTunes will import the AIFF untouched (you can check it by selecting the imported song, right click -> Show in Finder). The song will be converted (encoded) in MP3 only if you select it and then convert through File -> Convert.

Probably on DJ's forums the encoding is mentioned when importing from a CD (ripping, as said in my previous reply). In case of lossy formats, 320kbps are advised to maintain the quality as high as possible (within the lossy limit of course).

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Answer 2

Jul 26, 2019 3:20 AM in response to ianpatrickroe

When you import a file song it's not encoded, it's simply copied in the library (as long as it's an iTunes compatible format).

Encoding is considered when ripping a CD or when you decide to convert an already imported song in the format set in Import Settings.

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Answer 3

ed2345

Level 9

63,590 points

Jul 27, 2019 6:16 AM in response to ianpatrickroe

Hi Ian,

Just for additional background, Apple has traditionally avoided the word "rip." They use the word "import" both for ripping from CD (which of course re-encodes the track) as well as for copying a file into the library (which does not affect the encoding). There has been over a decade of confusion for this reason, but Marco has it exactly right. :-)

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Answer 4

Jul 26, 2019 5:45 AM in response to Marco Klobas

Thank you for the response Marco. I don't understand why DJ platforms say that the import settings are crucial if it's not even encoding the files at all. Thanks anyway though.

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iTunes importing / encoding for DJs...

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