Unable to import audio from iTunes

[songbird]

I just downloaded Audacity that I used on my PC successfully before. Now when I tried to download the Mac version for Mac OS X I can't seem to import audio from iTunes. It says it cannot support this kind of file. What do I do? I need help a.s.a.p - I need to edit a song to be ready tomorrow. Please help me and I'll be

[kozikowski]

Audacity will not recognize iTunes AAC sound format. You can use iTunes to make a WAV copy of your song by going into...

iTunes > Preferences > CD Import Preferences > WAV (Auto)

Control-Click on your music and select "Make A WAV Version."

That WAV version should open up in Audacity.

Koz

[billw58]

iTunes > Preferences > CD Import Preferences > WAV (Auto)
Koz

In iTunes 9 that's now iTunes > Preferences > General, then click the "Import Settings" button.

-- Bill

[kozikowski]

Missed a click. Sorry....

Koz

[songbird]

Thanks a lot, now I succeded to import audio. But Audacity is not working properly. It refuses to cut out the parts I want to cut out, but cuts a bigger part. Altough the soundwave is showed there is no sound on some parts. Funny. Do you know anything about that?

[waxcylinder]

In 1.2.x use Edit > Snap-To and select Snap Off from the drop down

WC

[macxiv]

Hi All, I'm using Leopard updated today and iTunes 9. Here is the simplest way to get from iTunes format to MP3. Follow this path:

iTunes > Preferences > Import Settings button

On the Import Settings dialog, click on the dropdown to the right of the text "Import Using:"

Select the "MP3 Encoder" from the dropdown

Hit "OK" on the Import Settings dialog.

Hit "OK" on the main Preferences dialog.

Ta da! Now all you have to do is right-click on a song in iTunes and the menu gives you the option "Create MP3 Version."

Choose that option, then follow the path (Your Home) > Music > iTunes > iTunes Music > (Desired Song folder) > (Desired Song.mp3)

So far, Audacity works well with MP3's created this way.

Hope this is helpful. Mac

[kozikowski]

<<<Hope this is helpful. Mac>>>

It's perfectly helpful, but not if you want to edit the work in Audacity. MP3 and AAC formats both damage the sound when you use them. Audacity does it twice, once going in and then once again on the way out. Much better WAV. The quality of the work freezes until you're finished production.

Then, if you need to, Export as MP3, or whatever you want. WAV is a production format, MP3 is a delivery format.

They don't cross well.

Koz

[steve]

Audacity does it twice, once going in and then once again on the way out.

Not strictly accurate - Audacity does not damage the sound on the way in, but if the file that is being opened/imported is in a lossy format (such as MP3 or AAC) then the sound has already been "damaged". Exporting from Audacity in a lossy format will compound the quality loss.