I am using the current version of Audacity.
Recently, when I create a M4A (ACC) file in audacity and import it into iTunes, the audio file length is changed to 789:57:13 and is not playable in iTunes or on my iPhone. It is playable through a third party app called Audipo.
If I reimport files created on older versions of Audacity, they are imported correctly.
I have spent two days trying to solve this issue. Is there someone who can help?
I am using version 2.3.1 of Audacity with Windows 7.
they are imported correctly.
Also an older iTunes, right?
One workaround is convert the work to uncompressed, lossless WAV and import those. You can steer iTunes to import different formats and it will compress the work back down. There was also the possibility (from one post) to import the work, then pull it back out of iTunes to the Mac and then import it again.
I don’t know. I don’t work very often with M4A.
Koz
Yes, I can import it in a different format and then change it to the ACC file. This requires several extra steps and about 10 minutes to complete. Since these files are created 2-3 times a week, I prefer to find the solution instead of a work around.
I very much appreciate you taking the time to reply. It is a temporary fix while I look for the solution.
BTW: It was an older version of iTunes but the older ACC files created with older versions of Audacity still import correctly.
This is probably and FFmpeg (or iTunes) issue so there may be nothing the Audacity developers can do…
Doug, I am looking at the iTunes side as well, in fact that is where I started. Nevertheless, all files import correctly EXCEPT those created in Audacity since late January. This leads me to think it is a problem with the file created in Audacity rather than iTunes.
Any help would be appreciated.
This iTunes problem apparently goes back to at least 2012: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/159437
What does Windows Media Player say about the files?
Steve, I have seen the link you sent about Apple. It is a very similar issue. The main difference is I have this problem with every file created from audacity and no other files. For that reason, I lean toward it being an audacity problem but am by no means completely convinced of that.
I reread 9 & 10 from the audacity frequently asked questions. I did not see anything related to this issue.
It does open and play normally in Media Player.
What does it do?
Steve:
I’m sorry I wasn’t clear. The m4a files that do not import into iTunes correctly do play correctly in Media Player.
Di you just update your ITUNES to the newest version? This is the same issue that I am having with my audacity songs that are in iTunes that are M4a converting to 789 hrs. As far as I can tell this all happened with the last ITUNES upgrade to 9.3.4. My 2nd computer has NOT been updated and all of the files are OK and they are the exact same songs. I have duplicate on both computers as back-up.
There’s no way that I would ever choose to install iTunes on Windows. In my opinion, it’s bloated, buggy adware; a parasitic tendril of Apple’s empire. 
I think that squarely puts the problem into Apple’s court.
There are several different codecs for encoding M4A/AAC. Audacity uses an open source codec that is built into FFmpeg. Apple have their own codec for AAC. My guess is that they have made their latest version of iTunes compatible with AAC files encoded with their codec, but have broken compatibility with other codecs.
From searching Google, it appears that the time “789:57:13” is just a generic iTunes error which means “something went wrong”.
Any suggestions on what to do? This is a wide spread problem. I am sending daily message to Apple. If I didn’t have so many songs, it wouldn’t be a problem, I could just recreate them in Audacity and change them to mp3. But I have thousands affected and over 250 playlist with most songs in multiple playlists. Everyone affected needs to send a message back to Apple thru the feedback to wake them up.
Do you use an iPod? If you do, then Apple have got you pretty well tied in. If not, have you considered switching over from iTunes to a better media player?
Limited use of IPOD. My problem is that I am not very techy and scared of new programs. I don’t want to loose my 250 playlists. I DJ for a dance studio and have everything identified by Genre (i.e. Waltz, Foxtrot). I have all the BPMs in, rated by star, comments (i.e. I know what country the song originated as I did a around the world playlist once). I don’t know what is going to happen if I transfer to a new program. I don’t really want to start from scratch, but on the other hand, I can’t convert from m4a to mp3 files on thousands of songs, with the compounding affect, as you know that it sets up a new song in the new format.
Last time I looked, iTunes play lists could be exported as M3U files. M3U is a standard format that is widely supported by other audio players https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M3U
I don’t know if iTunes still supports this, or if you can export all your playlists as a batch, but perhaps worth taking a look. I certainly would not want to be relying on iTunes.
I think that squarely puts the problem into Apple’s court.
There are several different codecs for encoding M4A/AAC. Audacity uses an open source codec that is built into FFmpeg. Apple have their own codec for AAC. My guess is that they have made their latest version of iTunes compatible with AAC files encoded with their codec, but have broken compatibility with other codecs.
From searching Google, it appears that the time “789:57:13” is just a generic iTunes error which means “something went wrong”.
I would agree with you EXCEPT I can import any M4A/AAC file I created in Audacity before early January and it is imported correctly. For me, this problem began in early January which was well before the last update on iTunes. If it was simply faulty coding in the newest version of iTunes, then every file, regardless of the creation date should import with the same error.
While I have not ruled out a problem in iTunes, the fact that I can import files created before early January correctly and cannot import files created after that date, leads me to believe the problem is with Audacity.
I appreciate any input and will try all reasonable suggestions from Audacity or Apple to solve this problem.
Masterdance, a work-around until we solve this issue that DOES NOT INCLUDE redoing the files is as follows.
Download the iP{hone app Audipo. Continue to use iTunes to create your playlist. These songs and these playlist will play on Audipo even though iTunes shows am incorrect ending time.
Thank you for the suggestion, but I don’t have an iPhone. I use an Android and a PC. I use my music to play at DJ gigs. Apple needs to own up and fix the problem. Multiple users, including MAC users are complaining about the last upgrade.
Someone from the apple forum sent me the link for the older versions of ITUNES and I was able to reinstall an older version of iTunes. All my songs are back to their original times.