Perhaps the only thing that puts me off getting an iPod is the iTunes element. Am I right in thinking that I would need to install iTunes and wait for it to scour through my thousands of mp3s, convert formats and generally bugger up my whole mp3 collection in as big a way as it can?
If I want a player that won't TOUCH the mp3s on my PC but will play them if I tell it to, am I going in the wrong direction?
Some advice please: iPods
I used to be in the same situation. I used to be very attached to Winamp. But then I got an iPod. I downloaded and played with iTunes before it arrived and played with the settings but in the end, I let iTunes do whatever it wanted to do. iTunes doesn't take over as much as other audio players do. The intergration between iPod and iTunes and the ease of use more than makes up for destroying your own organisation. iTunes actually organises files very logically.
I don't know what format my music is in anymore. They go in as unprotected mp3s but as I said, I let iTunes do it's thing. I know that if ever I really need it to be MP3 again (which I doubt I will), I can just burn it to CD and rip it.
Seriously, you won't look back.
I don't know what format my music is in anymore. They go in as unprotected mp3s but as I said, I let iTunes do it's thing. I know that if ever I really need it to be MP3 again (which I doubt I will), I can just burn it to CD and rip it.
Seriously, you won't look back.
No, when they're on the ipod they'll be in a mac format, but the originals remain unchanged. The only thing iTunes will do (if you tell it do) is update the ID3 tags, to include track/disk numbers and album art. I was very much of the same opinion, and I do still use winamp to play my mp3s but I use iTunes with my iPod and pod/vodcasts etc.DAS wrote:And what about the formats? Can the files remain untouched or do they have to be turned into m4paspojps or whatever they are?
I'm not so sure about that - I know for certain that the iPod supports mp3 and wav formats as well as Apple's home-grown AAC. For example, if you have your collection entirely in wav, the battery on your iPod will go down quicker as there's more of the file to read and therefore more work is required from the HDD.Bail wrote:No, when they're on the ipod they'll be in a mac format, but the originals remain unchanged
It would take a lot of processing power to convert EVERYTHING in a music library.
When you first use an iPod it does take an age, but once its on the iPod it stays there, iTunes and the iPod then stay in sync, it took me a while to work out (after having to pick the songs it puts on, but after a while you get in the habit of keeping iTunes "tidy" and the iPod does the same)Aston wrote:I'm not so sure about that - I know for certain that the iPod supports mp3 and wav formats as well as Apple's home-grown AAC. For example, if you have your collection entirely in wav, the battery on your iPod will go down quicker as there's more of the file to read and therefore more work is required from the HDD.Bail wrote:No, when they're on the ipod they'll be in a mac format, but the originals remain unchanged
It would take a lot of processing power to convert EVERYTHING in a music library.
Nope, they're left in the original format on the iPod too. The filenames are changed, however and they're all spread among random folders for reasons I can't understand. You can view them by showing hidden files in Windows.Bail wrote:No, when they're on the ipod they'll be in a mac format...
Categorically, the only time iTunes will convert anything is when it comes across a wma. Even then, it will prompt you first. It converts the wma into AAC (.m4a) or MP3, depending on what your setting is for importing CDs.