Importing Files Incorrectly

[SuZQ]

I've wanted to take the vocals off of a song using Audacity. I already know how to do that, but here's the problem;

When I go to "Project" and click "Import audio," in order to get the song I want, I go to "Computer > Local Disc (C): > Users > [my account] > Music > iTunes > iTunes music > [name of band] > [name of album] > [name of song]"...OR I just go to iTunes itself, right click on the song and click "Show in Windows Explorer" and right click on the song and say "Open With > Audacity."

HOWEVER, when I import the file, the two tracks that show up don't look very much like each other, and when I hit play, it sounds like either squirells screaming, or a strange sequence of beeping, like I'm on the inside of the computer or something; just spaztic spurts of noise that on last for a couple of seconds, istead of playing for 3 minutes or so.

I thought that maybe the file wasn't converted right, so I went on to iTunes and hit "convert to AAC," and when I imported it then, it did the same thing, although the tracks looked a little more identical, but still not really.

I'm new to this obviously. I have used Audacity for a couple of years now, but I've never needed to do this until now. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

[kozikowski]

Audacity can't deal with Apple AAC format.

iTunes only converts on Import, not Export.

So, change iTunes to Import WAV or AIFF format in iTunes Preferences. Then pull your music back into iTunes and then move it to Audacity.

Of course, this doesn't work with iTunes purchased music. That has FairPlay copy protection on it. Or it did. I think the latest iTunes dropped the protection service.

In any event, iTunes will or should let you burn a Music CD with your purchased music. You can then rip the music back off the the CD with CDEX and then use that for your show.

Koz

[kozikowski]

I use AAC 256 (Better) for all my iPod music, but I switch to perfect, uncompressed WAV if I need anything serious. My task is to remember to switch back and forth at the appropriate time. That will be your task, too.

Koz