Really fast play back

[momara]

When I open any type of media from my computer and hit the "play" button in Audacity, it speeds through the song so fast that all I hear is about a second of the entire fast-forwarded song. What have I done wrong?!?!

[Locopomo]

Are you sure that it's any type? This usually happens when you try to play a file type that Audacity doesn't actually support - Audacity has a bad habit of having a go anyway and plays the "blip" you hear. Often it's iTunes that's the issue - it's files are in MP4 format which is not supported. Could you confirm exactly what type of files your trying?

[momara]

It is in fact with media that has been imported to iTunes. Is there anyway to to convert them into something else, or am I doomed?

[waxcylinder]

What you mean is that you have your iTunes set to rip/import as AAC/MP4 - you could choose to import into iTunes as MP3 or WAV instead (you probably don't want to do that though as bitrate for bitrate AAC gives better quality than MP3 - and WAV files are MUCH larger).

There are a couple of options for you, depending on whether you ripped from a CD or bought from the iStore.

1) if you still have the CD: rip the CD or the chosen track(s) into iTunes again (under a slightly different name) as WAV(s). To do this you will temporarily need to reset your iTunes to rip as WAV and then reset it to your preferred encading afterwards. You can then load the WAV file into Audacity - iTunes will have put it in your music folder (wherever you told iTunes to put it when you set iTunes up) - so take a copy of that WAV file and put it somewhere else in your filing system.

2) If you bought the song from the iStore: you can play the track in iTunes and simultaneusly record it in Audacity.

There is even a third option:

3) If you search t'interweb you should be able to find software which will perform the MP4 conversion for you into form that Audacity can handle e.g. WAV or MP3 (WAV would be better as MP3 is also a lossy compessed format like MP4)

Option 1 above will give you the best audio qulaity to work with.

WC