Software suggestions needed - Converting music files

Carole · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Seattle

I am working on a website for a musician. He wants to convert the music files on his CDs to downloadable files like the ones on iTunes. I'm assuming that involves some kind of encryption. He wants files that are mp4 or mp4a. Is that correct? I'd appreciate any suggestions for software that will do this.

Thanks,
Carole

Brien · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:19 am Post subject: Apples and more apples

Have a look at this:

http://www.apple.com/lae/itunes/

and this:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=encode+your+music+into+AAC+format

Sounds like you guys are just trying to get the songs off the cd, right?

Carole · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Seattle

Thanks, Brien. I will check out those links now.

And yes, we are going to just take the files off his CDs. I have all kinds of programs to do this with for a PC, but now that I have the Mac I'd like to be able to do this work on it. The less I have to use the old PC, the happier I am Smile

Thanks again,
Carole

Carole · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Seattle

I checked the links but that is not what I am looking for. I need a program that will let us rip his CDs, and save the files in mp4 format so that I can upload the files to his website and we can sell them as downloads in his online store.

If I use iTunes to rip the CDs, I end up with 40MB files...I need something that will condense those to an excellent quality, fast downloading files like the ones you buy at iTunes Music Store.

Any ideas?

Carole

Brien · Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:49 am Post subject:

It is a process. When files are ripped from a CD they may be in a wav format, or the suitable MAC equivalant...whichs means a large file.

A typical MP3 file has approx. 1meg per one minute of song versuses 10 meg for the same amount of song length via wav or the suitable MAC equivalant.

The encoding part is going to cost ya. Take a look at http://www.macromedia.com/ thier encryption example can be seen at http://www.artistweekly.com

If its just a plan ole' file then that shouldn't be too difficult.

dburney · Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 3

iTunes will do exactly what you need. The files from the iTunes store are AAC (mp4) files and come in at around 1MB per 1 min. iTunes will rip songs in this exact format, usually by default. I don't know how your tracks are being ripped to be 40MB unless they're getting ripped to AIFF. Try checking your preferences (under the iTunes menu at the far left). Go to Advanced, Importing and make sure it is set to AAC; High Quality; etc. This should result in some reasonable sized files. The last CD I ripped ranged from 2-5MB per song depending on the length.

Brien · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 2:09 pm Post subject:

I just covered that. "A typical MP3 file has approx. 1meg per one minute of song versuses 10 meg for the same amount of song length via wav(AIFF) or the suitable MAC equivalant. "

She wants them off an existing CD, not to become a subscriber to rip-off music sites.

dburney · Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 3

iTunes will rip from the CD in either MP3 or MP4 - the MP4 format (AAC) is what the music store uses. MP4 will produce a higher quality audio file @ 128kbs than an MP3 while maintaining the 1MB = 1 min ratio. I was just trying to make it clear that iTunes will work for this situation requiring MP3/MP4 files suitable for download.

Carole · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Seattle

Ok, I did that and changed the selection to AAC. I am now getting m4a files which are 5-6 megs and that's great for downloading. I checked the files that I had purchased from iTunes and they are coded m4p. Is there a difference in that to m4a?

Thanks for all your help!

Carole · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 5 Location: Seattle

And the next problem is that m4a files when burned onto a CD do not play. I just did that with a file that I imported as an m4a and tried it on both my Mac, PC, and home stereos and none of them will play the CD. So how do I convert a m4a file into a downloadable file that people will be able to burn onto a CD?

Thanks,
Carole

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