standardizing mp3s

[cdrmac]

I have a collection of MP3 files on CDs from my former computer days. They are encoded at various bit rates. How can I get them into iTunes at a standard bit rate. ie. some CDs are at 192 and a few at 160. I would like them all at 124 to save hard drive space.
When I try to use the "import" command, the flles are not recognized. If I use "add to library" the bit rate is not changed.
I think I am using OSX 10.5 and iTunes iTunes 4.6.

[Maverick]

uhmm... there's no OSX 10.5.

maybe you mean 10.3.5

[Macmon]

You have to convert it first to standard aiff file then reconvert it to your MP3 settings.

[Henjie]

Originally posted by cdrmac
I have a collection of MP3 files on CDs from my former computer days. They are encoded at various bit rates. How can I get them into iTunes at a standard bit rate. ie. some CDs are at 192 and a few at 160. I would like them all at 124 to save hard drive space.

Unless you're really starved for hard drive space, I recommend just leaving the files alone. MP3 is a lossy codec so the more you reencode, the more the quality degrades. And I personally feel that 192Kbps is the minimum acceptable bitrate for MP3s. :-)

But if you really want to reencode your collection to 128Kbps, you need to add everything to your iTunes library first. Then go to Preferences -> Importing; Import Using: MP3 Encoder; Setting: Good Quality (128Kbps). Select all the files, go to Advanced -> Convert Selection to MP3. When iTunes is finished with the reencoding process, you can safely delete the original 192Kbps/160Kbps MP3s, leaving the duplicate 128Kbps MP3s in your music library. ;-)


~Henjie

[Edited on 10-5-2004 by Henjie]

[maryannemoll]

what henjie said here works for me. from aiff file or mp3, i just drag the icon to the itunes playlist i have created, then when it has finished importing, i go to advanced then convert to MP3 higher quality (which i have preset already). should be no problem.