Add photo to AIFF file in iTunes

I had the same thing occur with a WAV file recently. All I can say is it seem to be the nature of the beast. Someone else may have a better answer, but I don't believe AIFF or WAV files are meant to have additional data attached to them.

Just a clarification: WAV files do not take art, but AIFF files do.

When this problem occurs, does the artwork appear briefly, but soon disappear? If so, I think you are experiencing a bug in one of the recent iTunes releases. I have noticed the same thing intermittently on certain MP3 files.

I don't have a solution, but keep the art handy and try again in next release.

WPLJ42 wrote:
I am using the 64-bit version of iTunes on my PC. I tried adding art work to an AIFF file, and it worked.

Yes, that is how it is supposed to work. The Get Info dialog for a WAV file does not even have an Artwork tab, but for an AIFF it does.

My iTunes version is the most current, 10.1.0.56.

I encountered the problem on 10.0. I guess it is time to upgrade to 10.1...

Roger Wilmut1 wrote:
WAV and AIFF file don't have the embedded tags which mp3 and other files do, into which you can add data and a picture. You can't do this with these files.

AIFF and WAV do both predate the concept of embedding artwork by many many years. However Apple did extend the ability of AIFF to include embedded artwork by using the RIFF Chunk part of the AIFF specification which allows adding meta-data.

As most people these days use a more efficient music format, e.g. Apple Lossless or FLAC, fewer non-iTunes programs support reading this extra information from AIFF files, some do so it is not impossible.

I believe in theory WAV files can similarly be extended to support embedding artwork (WAV and AIFF are very similar) but even fewer (near to zero) utilities support it. Of course part of the reason for this is Apple's overwhelming victory in the Music world (take that Microsoft!). 🙂

John ... What does any of this have to do with Microsoft? Why are Mac users constantly on the attack/defense of their beloved Apple? This is an Apple site, granted, but this section is intended for Windows users. I used a Mac for 34 months, 34 months I can't get back. My HP is far from perfect, but I am quite content with it.

I have QuickTime, iTunes, and Safari on my PC. They just love to misbehave.

Take That Apple!

Jim

I'm sure there are differences between AIFF and WAV. I don't know what they are, nor do I really care. On a Mac, CD tracks show as AIFF, and you can drag them around. On a PC, CD tracks show as CDA, and you can't play with them.

I have no desire to gobble up space with uncompress audio files of any format. These days, a lot of music is processed terribly. There is something called "Brick-walling," that pretty much destroys everything.

iTunes is the best music manager I know of. While it can have support for OGG playback, it cannot convert to OGG. That is unfortunate. Most of my music comes from old slabs of vinyl, and the basic MP3 @ 128kbps is just fine.

Jim

Chris ... Perhaps you are confusing me with the OP. I clearly indicate MP3s at 128kbps are absolutely fine for me and my mostly vinyl library. Truth be told, I feel WMA files sound better at lower sampling rates than MP3 or AAC, except for AAC-HE.

I do not own an iPod. Instead a Sansa Clip+. It supports OGG, and I wish iTunes did as well. Being that iTunes is an Apple product, I am amazed they actually support WAV. My Clip+ is an audio only device, so I have no need to attach photos to songs, as I will never see them.

WAV and AIFF file don't have the embedded tags which mp3 and other files do, into which you can add data and a picture. You can't do this with these files.

I am using the 64-bit version of iTunes on my PC. I tried adding art work to an AIFF file, and it worked. My iTunes version is the most current, 10.1.0.56.

WPLJ42 wrote:
John ... What does any of this have to do with Microsoft?

MS developed the WAV format and Apple developed the AIFF format.

I have no desire to gobble up space with uncompress audio files of any forma

Then why do you want to use uncompressed aiff?

OK.