Niku

Q: Editing audio files with iTunes

It's been many years since I've done any editing with iTunes, and iTunes itself has gone through many versions. Anyway, today I Downloaded a 25-minute CD into my iTunes library, and I have a few questions.

(1) Supposedly, the CD sound file is a 256 MBs in the AAC format, but the size of the file in my iTunes library is only 47.7 MBs in the AAC format. This reminds me that iTunes can convert sound formats and can also be used to change their sizes (compress/expand). Question: where are the controls for doing this?

 

Well, let's stop here for now. As more questions rise, I'll be back with more questions.

iPad (4th gen) Wi-Fi, iOS 9.3.1

Posted on Sep 2, 2016 4:13 PM

Close

Q: Editing audio files with iTunes

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

Previous Page 2 of 3 last Next
  • by Niku,

    Niku Niku Sep 3, 2016 5:05 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 2 (305 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 3, 2016 5:05 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    I just tried to contact Audacity for some help, but there seems to be some problem. Whether I use Safri, Opera, or Google Chrome, I get one of the following messages:

    Safari can’t find the server

    This site can’t be reached

     

    Maybe you can help. When I try to upload my 268.4 MB audio file into the Audacity panel, I'm told that it doesn't recognize the code, or something like that. It then suggests that rather using "audio file" I try "raw data file." However, when I load the file as "raw data" it gets loaded, but that's the end of it. The only sound I get is static. Any ideas?

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Sep 3, 2016 5:09 PM in response to Niku
    Level 5 (5,820 points)
    Mac App Store
    Sep 3, 2016 5:09 PM in response to Niku

    FWIW, Audacity's site is up.

    http://www.audacityteam.org/

  • by Niku,

    Niku Niku Sep 3, 2016 6:13 PM in response to dialabrain
    Level 2 (305 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 3, 2016 6:13 PM in response to dialabrain

    Not for me. I just tried Safari, Opera and Google Chrome and got the following results:

    Safari: Safari can’t connect to  the server.

    Opera:This site can’t be reached

    Google Chrome: This site can’t be reached

     

    I also tried a little trick that helped me the other day: unplug computer from the wall for 15 seconds, but it didn't help this time. I'll call Apple tomorrow if the site still can't be reached by then.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Sep 3, 2016 11:34 PM in response to Niku
    Level 9 (77,739 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 3, 2016 11:34 PM in response to Niku

    What happens if you drag the file onto the QuickTime Player?

  • by Niku,

    Niku Niku Sep 4, 2016 7:54 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 2 (305 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 4, 2016 7:54 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Thank you. I have been thinking about trying QuickTime, but it took your question to goad me into actually doing it. It took awhile, but a reasonable while. I mean, I had to fumble around at first, but I kept making steady progress, enough to keep me going. Finally, I managed to record the entire piece in what QuickTime calls its "High" recording quality. And now, I'm going to record it in their "Maximum" quality. The difference between the two is that "High" is a compressed AAC audio while "Maximum" is an uncompressed AIFF-C audio. Of the two, I think the uncompressed version is better for editing, and that's what i'm going to try next. Fortunately, my computer still has plenty of room left. That's important because the compressed version is about 56MB, while the uncompressed  is about 256GB (these are rough numbers because I can no longer see the real ones) .

     

    AIFF-C is acceptable to iTunes, while AAC is  not. That means I'll have to do without iTunes for now because I want to work with the uncompressed one (AIFF-C).  However, this situation does present a problem. I've read that sound quality suffers when switching between sound formats, so if I choose to switch from my CDs AAC to AIFF-C I will be able to keep the file uncompressed, but I'll have to change formats. Isn't that what they call a Hobson's choice?

     

    This is already too long, so I'll end with a question: how can I edit my QuickTime recordings, both of them?

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Sep 4, 2016 8:02 AM in response to Niku
    Level 9 (77,739 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 4, 2016 8:02 AM in response to Niku

    You say the file is on an audio CD. If this is the case all you need to do is load the CD, open the icon, and drag the file to the Desktop, where it will appear as an AIFF file. You can then open that in Audacity and edit or process it. I don't know why you're talking about 'recording' it in Quicktime, perhaps you mean just opening it. You can trim files but not otherwise edit them in QT but I wouldn't bother. You can't edit it in iTunes at all, only convert it from one format to another. If that's all you want to do you can drag an AIFF file in and concert it as I described earlier.

     

    If when you drag the file from the CD to the Desktop it appears as a M4a file then the CD is a data CD, not an audio CD. In any case that should work if dragged into iTunes, and Audacity on a Mac should be able to open it.

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Sep 4, 2016 8:06 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 5 (5,820 points)
    Mac App Store
    Sep 4, 2016 8:06 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    FWIW, I think the terms being used are a bit misleading. I believe he downloaded a file which was supposed to be an AAC file. I don't understand why the term "CD" enters into this post.

  • by Niku,

    Niku Niku Sep 4, 2016 8:11 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 2 (305 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 4, 2016 8:11 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    It has been recorded in QuickTime because that's what you asked me to try, or at least that's what I thought you said. Anyway, it has now been RECORDED IN QUICKTIME. All I have to do is click on the Quicktime Icon and I can hear it again. To me, that means that it has been recorded.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Sep 4, 2016 8:14 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 9 (77,739 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 4, 2016 8:14 AM in response to dialabrain

    He said it was a CD in his first post, and later that it is an audio CD - but you may well be right and he's misusing the term and is simply talking about a straightforward file. As far as I can gather Audacity wouldn't open it, which is why I suggested QT merely to see if the file was valid.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Sep 4, 2016 8:16 AM in response to Niku
    Level 9 (77,739 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 4, 2016 8:16 AM in response to Niku

    Niku wrote:

     

    It has been recorded in QuickTime because that's what you asked me to try, or at least that's what I thought you said. Anyway, it has now been RECORDED IN QUICKTIME. All I have to do is click on the Quicktime Icon and I can hear it again. To me, that means that it has been recorded.

    I suggested you open it in Quicktime and I imagine that's what you've done. So as it plays in Quicktime evidently the file is OK. It should work if you copy it into iTunes which uses the Quicktime decoder to play compressed files).

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Sep 4, 2016 8:17 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 5 (5,820 points)
    Mac App Store
    Sep 4, 2016 8:17 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    I don't have any AAC files on hand so I'm going to make one. I'm surprised Audacity won't open them.

  • by Roger Wilmut1,

    Roger Wilmut1 Roger Wilmut1 Sep 4, 2016 8:20 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 9 (77,739 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 4, 2016 8:20 AM in response to dialabrain

    Audacity's website says that the Mac version will open them but for the Windows version you have to download some additional software. Obviously he has the Mac version.

  • by Niku,

    Niku Niku Sep 4, 2016 8:23 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1
    Level 2 (305 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 4, 2016 8:23 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

    Okay, but this conversation is getting away from me, and I obviously don't understand why some of the points are being made: (To say CD or not to say CD). What? Why? Anyway, I'm going to drop out now and continue with my explorations on my own. Thanks for your help so far. I couldn't have made it to this point without your help.

  • by Niku,

    Niku Niku Sep 4, 2016 8:46 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 2 (305 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 4, 2016 8:46 AM in response to dialabrain

    Audacity can be "fixed" so that it will accept AAC, but it isn't easy. I may try again, but my first attempts ended in frustration. You'll find out how yourself but for now I can say that the "fix" involves downloading something. A plug? I don't remember the terms, but the process was difficult, complicated, and daunting, to me at any rate. Good luck. Hey, maybe if you're successful with the procedure, you can explain it to the rest of us in easier and more direct terms. I just couldn't cope with all of the detours.

  • by Niku,

    Niku Niku Sep 4, 2016 10:54 AM in response to Niku
    Level 2 (305 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 4, 2016 10:54 AM in response to Niku

    The sites I saw before made this operation the impossible dream. They made you want to cut your wrists after trying to follow their instructions. This guy DOESN'T hate the human race. This guy shows you how easy it is to prepare Audacity to accept AAC imports. Here's the link.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYTnrrBtLe

    Too bad I STILL can't get through to Audacity.

Previous Page 2 of 3 last Next