Audacity Forum

I'm converting vinyl lp to digital using turntable to internal sound card, audacity software, wav file to clickRepair then back to audacity to label tracks, then audacity to Lame mp3 (and flac frontend for lossless storage). I import the mp3 files into itunes. I use the default settings for all programs. I've noticed the high frequency (for example: cymbals) are muffled when I playback the mp3 in itunes. Any suggestions? Should I routinely amplify or normalizebefore exporting as mp3?

Thanks (and sorry if my question is stupid)

The default settings for MP3 export might be a bit low. You have a couple of options:

1) Crank up the bitrate to maximum and use variable bit rate (VBR) for the MP3 export.
2) Export as WAV and let iTunes do the conversion, again setting the bitrate to max and selecting VBR, or alternatively use Apple's AAC format for use in iTunes and iPod.

I routinely Amplify to 0 dB before exporting my vinyl captures. Others recommend amplifying to -1.0 dB or so to allow a bit of headroom for the MP3 conversion.

I notice you've posted inthe 1.2.x forum. I'd really recommend upgrading to 1.3.12 and the latest LAME encoder. Audacity 1.2.x doesn't support VBR.

-- Bill

You might also consider using Apple's own compression format AAC - similar to Bill's suggestion: export as WAV and use iTunes to convert to AAC (this will be your default iTunes setting anyway, for ripping CDs).

See this sticky thread for an overview of my workflow: http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 28&t=18759

The advantages of AAC is that size-for-size and bitrate-for-bitrate AAC is generally reckoned to give better audio results. The key advantage of using MP3 is its portability across most portable players and player software.

And as Bill says, do yourself a big favour and upgrade to 1.3.12 - it has new and enhanced features that will help you greatly with LP transcriptions, particularly enhanced labelling functionality.

WC

To be clear....are you recommending exporting as wav and import int itunes using AAC encoder. Are the settings you recommend for itunes import the following:

Go to "edit", "prefrences", "general", "import settings" (is this for cd only, or for any file import?), choose "AAC recorder", choose setting "custom", stereo bit rate 320 kbps (the maximum)? Sample rate "44.1 kHz"? Do you recommend checking the box for "use variable bit rate"? What about the box for "use high efficiency E? And the box for "optimize for voice"? Or import using AAC recorder with default settings

Thanks.

"Import settings" in iTunes is for all file imports, or for converting one format to another.

Yes, go to Edit > Preferences and click "Import Settings".

In iTunes 10.1.1 for Mac I do not see a "Custom" setting option for the AAC Encoder. "iTunes plus" is the highest quality I see, and is "256 kbps stereo, VBR".

For the "MP3 Encoder" the options you talk about are there: "Custom" setting, then 320 kbps, use VBR, Quality: Highest, etc.

It's up to you. WC likes AAC, I use MP3 320 kbps VBR at Highest Quality and Smart Encoding Adjustments. I depends on what you want to do with the files after you have encoded them. As WC points out, AAC is not universally supported while MP3 generally is.

-- Bill

@Bill on my Windows iTunes 10.1.1.4 I certainly get a Custom setting for my AAC imports. With AAC selected in the Import Settings>Import using box - in the Import Settings>Setting the options are: High Quality (128 kbps) (that's not wht I call high quality), iTunes Plus (which is 256 kbps VBR), Spoken Podcast (whiich is 64 kbps) and Custom. Selecting the Custom option brings up a dialog box titled "AAC Encoder" which is wher you can make your required settings - and these go up to 320 kbps.

baron5nc wrote:are you recommending exporting as wav and import int itunes using AAC encoder. Are the settings you recommend for itunes import the following:

Go to "edit", "prefrences", "general", "import settings" (is this for cd only, or for any file import?), choose "AAC recorder", choose setting "custom", stereo bit rate 320 kbps (the maximum)? Sample rate "44.1 kHz"? Do you recommend checking the box for "use variable bit rate"? What about the box for "use high efficiency E? And the box for "optimize for voice"? Or import using AAC recorder with default settings

@baron5nc - Yes, as Bill says above the import settings are used both for importing from CD and for internal conversions that you ask iTunes to do for you. It does not apply to audio file formats that you inport into Audacity I always think the iTunes user interface is confusing in this respect.

So what you need to do is go to Edit>Preferences>General>Import settings and select AAC and then select custom (you know how to get there I see) and make the custom settings you require. Yes I do use VBR (Apple made it the default a couple or iTunes releases back anyway IIRC) - you get better value for your compression. No I don't use either High Efficiency or Optimize for voice - to be honest I've no idea what they do, there's no roll-over help and I can't be bothered to trawl through the iTunes manual ...

Once you have made these settings the you can then deal with your WAV files (and yes these should be 44.1kHz and 16-bit PCM stereo) - as I point out above these are not converted by iTunes on import - and note carefully that the iTunes UI doesn't say "Import File" it says "Add File to Library" and "Add Folder to Library". So the WAVs are added to your library as WAVs - so then you get iTunes to convert them to AAC, to do this slect the WAV files and right click - you will see an option called "Create AAC version", click on that to do the conversion. And note carefully that this does not convert the WAV it makes a copy AAC - so you will then need to remove the WAV files from your library, otherwise it will get huge.

And don't forget that the AAC custom settings that you selected for this conversion will than be the ones used for future CD imports - which you probably want anyway as it is your own chosen quality setting.

WC

waxcylinder wrote:@Bill on my Windows iTunes 10.1.1.4 I certainly get a Custom setting for my AAC imports. With AAC selected in the Import Settings>Import using box - in the Import Settings>Setting the options are: High Quality (128 kbps) (that's not wht I call high quality), iTunes Plus (which is 256 kbps VBR), Spoken Podcast (whiich is 64 kbps) and Custom. Selecting the Custom option brings up a dialog box titled "AAC Encoder" which is where you can make your required settings - and these go up to 320 kbps.

Must have been too late when I posted that! Yes, I now see the "Custom" setting for AAC as you describe.

-- Bill

When you amplify do you go into "Edit", "Select", "all" to highlight your entire recording?

To amplify to a particular dB level (WC recommended -2.0 dB) do you set the top box in "Effect", "Amplify " to -2.0 db, or the new peak amplitude to -2.0dB ? Do you check the "allow clipping" box?

Thanks. BTW, I just used Audacity 1.3 for the first time - the process seem identical to 1.2 so far.

baron5nc

The quickest way to select the whole project is to use the keyboard shortcut CTRL+A - or if you just have a single stereo track, just click in the empty part of the Track Control Panel at the left of the track.

I set the new peak amplitude to -2.0dB

I never check the allow clipping box

Glad you like 1.3 - and yes although the processes are similar there are a lot of new features that you will find useful. Labelling, for example, is much improved in 1.3

WC