Song Info is locked, i cannot change it

In Windows Exploder, make sure the files are not Read Only. Select it, right click - properties.

And you did obtain these files legally, correct?

Sorry. Didn't see the Mac.
Make sure you have Read/Write permissions to the folder and all items in the folders.

this may not be the appropriate thread to post my question, but can't seem to find an answer to my problems... Let me explain... I'm importing my CD collection in WAV sound files at 1411 kbps. For some reason, the artwork automatically downloaded by iTunes is sometimes wrong or even does not find any. I tried pasting the artwork from images obtained from amazon or rateyourmusic, but when I do the "get info" on an individual track basis, the tab for "illustration" / "artwork" is greyed out / deselected / blocked and inactive; when I do the "get info" with multiple tracks selected, I can see the little square reserved for "artwork", I'm able to paste the image I like, but the image is not visible in none of the view formats... However, this does not happen in AAC sound files; in "compressed" formats I can change artwork with no problem whatsoever... Any clue why this happens????

You cannot store artwork in WAV files.

Since you have a Mac, any reason you are not using AIFF?And any reason you are using an uncompressed format?

You cannot store artwork in WAV files.

A Bug? or purposedly?.... In any event, iTunes does save artwork in most of the albums I've loaded as WAV sound files. However, the art cannot be changed if by mistake iTunes brings up the wrong cover...

Since you have a Mac, any reason you are not using AIFF?And any reason you are using an uncompressed format?

... I'm using uncompressed WAV format in order to maintain original quality... I know that only audiophiles may hear the difference, but since I'm taking the time to load my CD collection (+1500), I thought it would be better than using a compressed format, as "inflating" a compressed sound file may not always work....I'm also using iTunes as a backup music library... Would you recommend using AIFF? Would it allow artwork changes? To tell you the truth, I'm thinking about going back to AAC 320kbps...

Thank you very much for your help.


PowerBook G4 12" 1.5 Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.9)

It has nothing to do with Apple.
Microsoft did not design the WAV file format to hold artwork in the song file.

... I'm using uncompressed WAV format in order to maintain original quality
...
Would you recommend using AIFF? Would it allow artwork changes?
AIFF and WAV are identical to the original file (and each other). AIFF was co-developed by Apple and WAV was co-developed by MS/IBM.
No audio is converted. It is simply transferred to the HD and a few bits of info are added to the file to make it usable on the computer.
If you are using it as a backup and want maximum quality, I would recommend Apple Lossless (~%40 less file size but zero audio quality loss).

To tell you the truth, I'm thinking about going back to AAC 320kbps...
Try it with a few different CDs and see which you prefer before you get almost done and decide you like the other ( AARRGGHH!!).
I doubt you'll tell much difference between AAC 320 and the original.
Convert to 320 AAC and then use those files to burn an audio CD and see how it compares to the original CD. Use a regular CD player/stereo, not a computer to get a better comparison.

Many many thanx. I'll try the Apple Lossless to see how it works... Really useful info.

Chris, I've switched to AIFF and seems to work fine (at least there are no grayed areas in the "get info" tabs)..... However, it seems that I cannot manually add artwork if the album is not in iTunes Store... (keeps telling me that it could not find artwork in iTunes Store, and won't let me add it manually).
Any way to get around it?
thanx again for your help! (I'm running iTunes 7.3 now...)

Hi, I have this same problem, so I thought I would recycle this thread instead of creating a new one. I have a large batch of audio files, 48 one-hour shows I recorded on 12 4-hr DVD-R's. I imported them from a DVD-R, extracted the audio to a PC as mp3 files. Then I burned a bunch of DVD data discs, putting the 48 hrs of audio on about a dozen data dvds. I then dragged the mp3s into my Imac G5, and it worked. I am enjoying the audio and listen to it on my ipod.

But the track names are too vague. I need to edit them as to which shows are which, but when I use 'get info' the fields are either grayed out or accept no data. The files have '.mp3' at the end. I have read/write permission. I have to open in an audio editor to change the name, and I just want to do it in iTunes.

Ideas?

To add artwork manually, right click - get info.
Paste the artwork into the Artwork box.

Thanks, but I am not trying to add artwork here. Just change song title, album, genre, etc. Also just apple mouse, which has no right-click.

I responded to EmiFig.
Make sure the files are not Read Only.
Make sure you have permissions to the folders the files are in.

*just apple mouse, which has no right-click.*
control click does the same.

Aha, thanks. Yes of course, ctrl-click. As for permissions, since I am the only user and administrator, how could I not have permission? The files are not read-only, but read-write. How would I check the folder permission?

I am able to edit other songs by the same artist within the iTunes folder.

I am having the same problem as Dan Styklunas. Certain, seemingly random mp3 files in some albums appear to be locked although the permissions are read/write. I am trying to back up my music to an external hard drive and most files copy without a problem, but the occasional file will not. I am unable to edit the filenames of these files in "Get Info" and it says they are busy and cannot be changed as they are being used by Mac OSX. Is there any way of stopping this, it is most irritating to lose odd tracks from albums!