User profile for user: JKubon
JKubon Author
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Converting "Apple Lossless" back to "AAC" - More than 1 track at a time...

Hello,


Short version: I have hundreds of tracks that need to "Create AAC Version", and I can't right-click 8,536 songs in my library one at a time to find them all. Is there a method to sweep the entire library and convert all songs to this format if they are not already?


The problem with this is it still creates a duplicate of the song and the other original needs to be deleted.


Note - the file name changing (it appends a "1" on the M4A file), the "tag" displayed in iTunes retains the song name.


Thanks!,

Joseph



Long version: For the benefit of people facing the same problem and combing the forums for help, here's the rest of the story...


I'm not entirely sure when this changed (and I've reset my Import settings back to AAC 128-bit now), but I've managed to import a good number of CDs at this higher quality "Apple Lossless" format. Essentially, that's overkill - I listen to an iPod classic with headphones the majority of the time (98%) and I won't hear the difference.


CHECK: Edit | Preferences | "General" tab | "Import Settings" button


Essentially my hard-drive space has been disappearing at a rapid rate. I downloaded a tool (WinDarStat) and found my iTunes folder is 50% of my 200GB used. (Yes, I'm on an older laptop -- HD=220GB -- and am getting the 'out of space' warnings.) I found some folders for recent CDs were over 1GB alone and started digging.


I happend to have REM's studio "Man on the Moon" on here twice. The IN TIME version is AAC 128-bit and only 4.9MB in size, whereas the PART LIES version is Apple Lossless 1068-bit and 8x's larger at 39.9MB.


If you right-click a track, it provides option to "Create [other] version.", depending on going to/from ACC to Lossless or vice-versa.


Once I did this for "Man on the Moon", I got 75% of the song's space back ... from approximately 40MB to 11MB.


It does create a second copy of the song, so the original has to be deleted - be certain to "Move the song to the Recycle Bin" when warned.


A better option - all be it more time consuming - is to re-import the CDs.

iPod classic, Windows Vista

Posted on May 12, 2013 8:38 AM

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User profile for user: ed2345
ed2345
User level: Level 9
63,590 points

Posted on May 12, 2013 9:25 AM

Edit >Select All to highlight them all.


File > Create New Version to start the conversion process. (It will proceeed serially.)


Open Music, go into Songs view, and sort by "Kind." Delete all the ones that say Apple Lossless. (To highlight and delete a bunch of songs in a row, click the first, hold Shift, and click the last. Then hit Delete.)


Done.


Make a backup before you begin, in case anything goes wrong.

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User profile for user: ed2345
ed2345
User level: Level 9
63,590 points

May 12, 2013 9:25 AM in response to JKubon

Edit >Select All to highlight them all.


File > Create New Version to start the conversion process. (It will proceeed serially.)


Open Music, go into Songs view, and sort by "Kind." Delete all the ones that say Apple Lossless. (To highlight and delete a bunch of songs in a row, click the first, hold Shift, and click the last. Then hit Delete.)


Done.


Make a backup before you begin, in case anything goes wrong.

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User profile for user: turingtest2
turingtest2
User level: Level 10
278,149 points

May 13, 2013 5:07 AM in response to JKubon

For backup see this user tip.


The Create <Format> version tool uses whatever the current import settings are.


You can create a playlist of things that need converting as Ed says above.


To ease the conversion process, and keep your current ratings, playcounts, and playlist membership, plus recyle the old files automatically see my script ConvertFormat. Test on say a single album first to make sure it works as you expect/need.


tt2

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User profile for user: ed2345
ed2345
User level: Level 9
63,590 points

May 13, 2013 4:07 PM in response to JKubon

Does the "Convert to AAC" use the present setting for importing? In other words if I have it to "AAC-Highest Quality" (64 mono/ 128stereo) or if it's "AAC-iTunes Plus" (128/ 256), will it use that or does it always use something standard regardless of this setting?


Joseph,


Yes. The "Create AAC version" command uses the current settings in your import preferences, no matter what the current file is.


As suggested by TT2, try each thing out on small batches, and make sure you get the expected results, before doing large quantities.

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User profile for user: JKubon
JKubon Author
User level: Level 1
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May 13, 2013 4:56 AM in response to ed2345

Awesome!


I'll try a few like this tonight.


Couple more questions:


(A.) Does the "Convert to AAC" use the present setting for importing? In other words if I have it to "AAC-Highest Quality" (64 mono/ 128stereo) or if it's "AAC-iTunes Plus" (128/ 256), will it use that or does it always use something standard regardless of this setting?


(B.) What's the best way to really do a backup when I have 8,537 songs spanning 78.4GB? I don't have enough HD space remainig (only 25GB free). Even the 1,378 of this type are 35.5GB.


Thanks!,

Joseph

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Converting "Apple Lossless" back to "AAC" - More than 1 track at a time...

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