Bit Rate Changes

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Bit Rate Changes

I have 23 songs on my iPhone 4 that are not playing when I want them to. Instead, when I hit the play button, it just stops everything. However, they DO play on my iTunes. However, no matter how many times I delete and redownload, or resync from iTunes, I cannot get the songs to play. I have the latest iOS (7.1.1), and upgraded my iTunes to 11.1.5. After investigating, I found that the songs in question are only 128 kbps bitrate. Everything else is at 256 and plays just fine. When I try to redownload these 23 songs at the higher bitrate, iTunes makes me purchase the songs all over again.

Is there a way to either A) conver these songs from 128 to 256 so I can play them or B) redownload the songs at the higher bitrate without having to purchase them again. Thanks!

iPhone 4, iOS 7.1.1

Posted on May 11, 2014 4:34 PM

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Answer 1

May 11, 2014 4:42 PM in response to nacaputo

Were they purchased from iTunes originally, or were they from another source (MP3, Amazon, ripped CD etc)? The fact that they are 128 kbps should not matter, however the format may not be one that the iPhone supports if they were not purchased from iTunes originally. If this is the case try converting one of them to AAC format (right click on the track in iTunes and choose "convert to AAC"). This will create a duplicate, so be sure to note which is the original and which the converted version.

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Answer 2

nacaputo Author

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May 11, 2014 4:49 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

Thanks for the reply. I did purchase these songs from iTunes originally, but it has been a while (can't remember exactly when...but it has been a few years). I just tried the conversion to AAC that you suggeseted...but when I do I get a message that says "could not be converted because protected files cannot be converted to other file formats." I am assuming "protected file" is one that still has DRM management on it. If that's the case, could that be the reason why they are not playing instead of the bitrate? If so, do I have any other options?

Thanks again!

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Answer 3

May 11, 2014 4:55 PM in response to nacaputo

Were they perhaps purchased using a different Apple ID? iTunes music no longer has DRM protection, and hasn't for several years. So you've had these tracks for a long time. When Apple switched to DRM-less music they also upgraded the quality. At that time they offered to upgrade any music in your library for 29¢ per track. I don't know if that offer still holds, but it's probably the best way to solve it.

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Answer 4

nacaputo Author

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May 11, 2014 5:06 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

I've had the same Apple ID the whole time I've had iTunes, but I have had a computer upgrade in that time. I authorized it and all of that, so I didn't think that would be an issue, but it might have been. I'll look into the 29 cent thing, but I guess if that doesn't work I might just have to bite the bullet. It's just 23 songs :-)

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