iTunes and Audacity

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Level 1

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iTunes and Audacity

Hello,

In iTunes 10.2, I can find the aiff file for a song with command-shift-r, make a copy and drag the copy to the desktop. Then I drop it into Audacity (1.2.5), change it, and save it as an mp3. Click on the revised file and it shows up and plays in iTunes.

But, if in Audacity I save the altered file as an aiff file, then click on it, nothing at all happens! If I click on the aiff copy I made at the beginning, that shows up in iTunes.

What am I missing here?

Many thanks,

Art

2006 iMac, iBook G4 with Leopard, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Feb 16, 2011 2:17 PM

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Answer 1

Chris CA

Level 10

82,434 points

Feb 16, 2011 2:27 PM in response to arthur Robb

What are you trying to do?
Why not just convert it to MP3 using iTunes?

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Answer 2

arthur Robb Author

Level 1

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Feb 16, 2011 2:56 PM in response to Chris CA

Hi,

I need to edit the aiff file. It needs to be shorter for one thing. I'm using music from my own band for a slideshow in iPhoto.

Thanks,

Art

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Answer 3

Limnos

Level 10

411,253 points

Feb 16, 2011 3:15 PM in response to arthur Robb

Truly "nothing" happens? Audacity doesn't open up the file?

If something does happen - namely Audacity opening the file - it is because the new file is associated with the Audacity application. If you want this in your iTunes library just drag the files to an iTunes window. If you want the file to open iTunes when you click on it, highlight the file, Finder > Get Info change open with to iTunes.

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Answer 4

ed2345

Level 9

62,498 points

Feb 16, 2011 3:29 PM in response to arthur Robb

arthur Robb wrote:

But, if in Audacity I save the altered file as an aiff file, then click on it, nothing at all happens! If I click on the aiff copy I made at the beginning, that shows up in iTunes.

Art,

"Nothing at all happens" is the standard iTunes reaction when it is given a file that it finds not to be compatible.

Go into Audacity and look at Edit > Preferences > Quality, and make sure the Sample Rate is set to 44100 and the Sample Format to 16-bit. Then try a new export from Audacity and see if iTunes likes the file better.

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Answer 5

arthur Robb Author

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Feb 20, 2011 2:15 PM in response to ed2345

Took me a few days to get around to this.

Audacity preferences was set at 32 bit float, so I changed it to 16-bit. Sample rate was already 44100. Save the project (a selection) again. When clicked upon, the newly saved aiff file still causes "nothing at all" in iTunes or Audacity. Dropping it into iTunes has no effect. Drop the aiff file into Audacity and it seems to open in the normal way.

What do you think?

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Answer 6

ed2345

Level 9

62,498 points

Feb 20, 2011 5:27 PM in response to arthur Robb

Just to make sure: To get a usable audio file out of Audacity you have to use the command File > Export. Doing a Save from the File menu gives you an Audacity project file, not a music file.

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Answer 7

arthur Robb Author

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Feb 22, 2011 2:52 PM in response to ed2345

I have saved the Audacity project. I can save it as an mp3, which works in iTunes and iPhoto, bit the saved aif file does not work in either.

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Answer 8

ed2345

Level 9

62,498 points

Feb 22, 2011 3:27 PM in response to arthur Robb

arthur Robb wrote:
I have saved the Audacity project. I can save it as an mp3, which works in iTunes and iPhoto, bit the saved aif file does not work in either.

I just tried the same thing, exporting an AIFF at 44100/16-bit from Audacity (version 1.3.12), and iTunes played it fine.

However, since it is not working for you, here is a workaround. Export the file in WAV, at 44100/16 of course. Put the WAV into iTunes, and use iTunes to convert it to AIFF. The conversion from WAV to AIFF will give you identical audio quality.

Message was edited by: ed2345

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