MPEG AUDIO and MP3

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Level 4

1,066 points

MPEG AUDIO and MP3

Is there a difference between MPEG audio in itune podcast and MP3? If i burn a cd for bible (scriptures) listen along non protected podcasts, which I stored in itune, do I need to change the podcast file to MP3 or is it in that format already, thus I just need to select the files and burn?

imacG5 , super drive, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Nov 4, 2006 7:51 PM

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Answer 1

macmenno

Level 6

10,080 points

Nov 5, 2006 3:02 AM in response to has55

If you want to burn those files to an Audio CD, there's no need to convert them.
All file types are converted 'on the fly' to the native format of an Audio CD.

If you want to burn to an MP3 CD, all files need to be already in MP3 format.
Many audio podcasts come in MP3, but also a lot come in AAC.
You will have to convert AAC's to MP3's.
If you convert podcasts, the converted files won't show up in the Podcast library (if you're using iTunes 7) but in the Music library.

Hope this helps.

M

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Answer 2

has55 Author

Level 4

1,066 points

Nov 5, 2006 3:08 PM in response to macmenno

So mpeg and mp3 are not the same. I went to advance after selecting the specific scriptures in the podcast and chose convert to mp3. I could not find it in the music library. Should I look somewhere else on the hard drive?
Under spotlight-I find 2 files, which say the path is in the music library, but both are mp3's. Where is the mpeg file that i see in podcast under the KIND category.

Also-if you want to burn those files to an Audio CD, there's no need to convert them.
All file types are converted 'on the fly' to the native format of an Audio CD.

Is this AIFF?

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Answer 3

macmenno

Level 6

10,080 points

Nov 5, 2006 3:27 PM in response to has55

So mpeg and mp3 are not the same.

Yes, they are the same. iTunes designates mp3 as kind = 'MPEG audio file'.
So if you want to burn those on an MP3 CD, no conversion is needed.
If you convert AAC podcast audio files to mp3, they will not appear in the Podcast library, because converting kind of strips the podcast flag from them.
The converted file will then be seen as a 'normal' audio file and appear in the Music library.
Sort the Music library on 'Date Added' to quickly find them.

The native format of Audio CDs is 16 bit PCM. This format is uncompressed and MAC OS X and iTunes 'see' those files as AIFF.
AIFF is not equal to 16 bit PCM, but since both formats are uncompressed, the conversion can be done very fast.

M

17' iMac 800 MHz, 768 MB RAM, 200 GB HD, DL burner Mac OS X (10.4.8) iTunes 7.0.2

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Answer 4

has55 Author

Level 4

1,066 points

Nov 5, 2006 4:06 PM in response to macmenno

Yea extremely helpful. Now I know the MPEG file is mp3. I could not find the files(7) in the library under date added or anywhere else in the main library.. Is this because it's already a mp3? My podcast are register as mpeg audio under "kind". I try burning straight from the podcast library, but my others mp3 player could not play it. But it does play it if I convert to plain audio cd. Am i missing something?

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Answer 5

macmenno

Level 6

10,080 points

Nov 6, 2006 3:05 AM in response to has55

I'm not sure what the problem is.
You can't burn directly from the Podcast Library btw. You have to put them in a playlist.
Not all MP3 CD-players can recognize the folder structure (if present) of an MP3 CD. If you burned it using folders, some players might not recognize this.
Maybe this article can be of help:
iTunes: How to set the play order of songs on an MP3 CD.

M

17' iMac 800 MHz, 768 MB RAM, 200 GB HD, DL burner Mac OS X (10.4.8) iTunes 7.0.2

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