Converting 256 to 128

Question

Converting 256 to 128

I feel an idiot having to ask such a simple question but it's been amazingly difficult locating a straight answer from Apple or the net. I have converted all of my CDs to my iTunes library. Most were converted at 256. Some were at 128. And some were 64. I have much more music in my iTunes library than my 3G iPhone will hold (32GB), so, my phone is always full. Whenever I want to add new music, I have to remove something else from my iPhone. I want to free up some space so I am not constantly having to add and remove albums from my iPhone. I have checked the box on the opening iTunes screen that says "Convert higher bit rate songs to 128 kbps AAC", click sync, and it does a quick 1-2 minute sync but the songs aren't converted. How can I convert the songs on my iPhone from 256 to 128?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 23, 2010 1:30 PM

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Answer 1

Dec 11, 2010 8:53 AM in response to TheWatchersEye

I have the same problem, When syncing my iPhone 4 iTunes shows over 6gb free but after the sync my Iphone shows less than 1gb free.

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Answer 2

chimpy72

Level 1

0 points

Dec 11, 2010 10:36 AM in response to TheWatchersEye

Don’t do this! Never convert from one lossy format to another, whether you’re going from 256 to 128 or 128 to 256! You will end up with an inferior copy of your song. Always, when possible, transcode from the lossless sample down to your desired bitrate.

Thusly, you should find the original CD and rip it directly into 128. Saying that, 128 is awfully bad quality - especially in AAC. May I suggest ripping it at V2 (or V4 if that’s not enough) instead? Using V2/V4, MP3’s LAME encoder will transcode your lossless CDs into MP3s whose bitrate is around ~190/~165 respectively.

However, iTunes doesn’t offer this much functionality. You should download something called XLD: http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/23430/x-lossless-decoder

When you open it you won’t get a window, so press command+, to get to its preferences. Set them like so:

• http://cl.ly/3aby — after setting LAME MP3, click Option: V2: http://cl.ly/3aa0 V4: http://cl.ly/3aNO
• http://cl.ly/3ag5
• http://cl.ly/3aNw
• http://cl.ly/3aSQ
Important page: http://cl.ly/3aNZ — Take care that "Read sample offset correction value” is set correctly to your CD drive - click the down next to it to make sure they match.

Now close the Preferences, insert your CD, and go to File —> Open Audio CD…

Nevertheless, if you insist on using iTunes, set one of these:

• http://cl.ly/3aZA
• http://cl.ly/3aef

Don’t use Joint Stereo normally though, it’s worse quality.

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Answer 3

ed2345

Level 9

63,602 points

Dec 11, 2010 11:38 AM in response to chimpy72

chimpy72 wrote:
Don’t do this! Never convert from one lossy format to another, whether you’re going from 256 to 128 or 128 to 256! You will end up with an inferior copy of your song.

The iTunes option to sync 128 versions to the iPod does not change the original copy at all. It simply puts a lower bit rate version on the iPod.

This feature is for the convenience of users who wish to fit more on their iPod, but keep the higher quality versions in their library.

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Answer 4

chimpy72

Level 1

0 points

Jan 20, 2011 8:31 AM in response to ed2345

Hmm. The rip will still be very inferior though.

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Answer 5

ed2345

Level 9

63,602 points

Jan 20, 2011 1:43 PM in response to chimpy72

chimpy72 wrote:
The rip will still be very inferior though.

No it will not.

The rip will be done with whatever Import settings are in effect, and the file will stay that way. The copy on the iPod will be at 128. That is how the "convert on the fly" feature works.

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