[karlak]

Originally Posted by Parky

You will loose quality if you convert from AAC to MP3.

As you convert from a CD to AAC you loose quality as this is a lossy conversion, then if you convert to MP3 you loose even more quality.

In iTunes you can define the quality you use for each conversion. The usual rate for AAC is 128 and the MP3 rate is 160, but you can select any you like.

Even if you do convert AAC files to MP3 files in iTunes you will have two copies, it does not delete the original AAC files.

The best thing to do if you have the original CD's is to import the CD's again with the setting to MP3 160 (good quality), burn your MP3 CD and then delete the fMP3 files from iTunes. If you need them back to burn a different mix you can always pull the MP3 files off the CD's you have burned.

Remember you will not be able to convert tracks bought from the iTunes Music Store into MP3's as they are protected AAC files.
The only way to make MP3's of these files is to burn a CD music of the purchased music (which is then unprotected) and then import the CD as MP3's.

If anyone wants anymore iTunes advice, please just ask, I will do my best to help.

Ian

Good Shout.

I would also recommend a re-import using the MP3 format - However a lengthy process for some. This conversion could be a tempory fix, and I must say that I found no difference between the AAC and Mp3 converted file (even though I know that theoretically there is). The real bottom line is that listening to an MP3 is a compromise anyway, but in a car environment then they sound very good indeed.

I personally use nothing less than 192kbs as a compression (some are 320kbs), but this is because I have a 'fairly' good stereo system at home which seems to pick out the difference in Bass when a lower compression is used. Anyway, as mentioned if you want the better quality then be prepared to spin the orignal Audio disc.