This week I look at a bit of interrogative sentence about rive audio files , which file format to apply for ripping CD , and updating podcasts , plus portion out a steer for alive performing artist who expend music in their iTunes libraries .
Q : I have tracks on my iPod of complete concert . The tracks can last several time of day as one Song dynasty . Can I insert breaks so I can distinguish the songs as case-by-case course alternatively of one foresighted one ?
Yes , but not with iTunes . My pet prick for edit out track in this manner is Rogue Amoeba ’s $ 32Fission ( ) . If there are silent space between the songs , Fission can find them and suggest where to split the data file . But if not , you may scrub through the Indian file , feel them yourself , and split the single file wherever you want . And as a non - destructive audio editor program , Fission does n’t cheapen the character of the audio in any mode .
Q : iTunes on occasion narrate me it block update a podcast because I have not listened to it in a while . Can I disable that characteristic ? I always want the new podcasts .
Unfortunately , you ca n’t . However , one of Doug Adams ’ AppleScripts , Update Expired Podcasts(payment request ) , lets you update all of your podcasts speedily . Instead of clicking each!button next to each podcast , then clicking a dialog box alternative , just run this script , and all your podcasts will be updated .
Q : I would like to improve the good quality of my stereo system and am consider re - ripping all of my CDs into iTunes on my Mac . Which is the in force encoder to use and what bit rate should I use ?
The query of encoder and bit rate is a thorny one . The short answer is this : employ the one that sounds skillful to you . I wrotean article on my blog about how to determine this .
I call back the first head is whether you should rip the cadmium in a lossless format ( Apple Lossless ) or a lossy one ( MP3 or AAC ) . If you only project on listen on your two-channel — and not on a roving twist — and have sight of storage space and not too much music , you might as well go for lossless . A CD of music in Apple Lossless format contain up about 300 mebibyte to 500 Mbit .
However , if you desire to use the files on an iOS twist , then you ’ll want to compromise with a constrict format to save space . AAC is in general better quality than MP3 at the same scrap rate , and you necessitate to equilibrate the amount of medicine you have with the amount of space you need to throw it .
Again , adjudicate the unreasoning test I suggest to reckon out what sounds good to you , and with your audio equipment .
Q : I ’ve got a playlist countersink up in iTunes , which I intend to use for live backup tracks at a gig . How do I get the songs tonotplay sequentially , so that each track ends without start the next ?
As I understand , you desire to be able-bodied to part these backing trail when you want , and not have to occupy about pause iTunes when one terminate . There ’s actually a way you could do so , but it ’s a act nonintuitive .
In your play list , you ’ll see little loge with checkmarks next to each track . If you uncheck these boxes ( either by checking them individually , or by selecting a group of tracks , right - clicking , then choosing Uncheck selection ) , iTunes will stop after each rails you play ( or skip to the next checked track , if there is one ) .
However , to play the next track , you ’ll need to double - click it . you’re able to get around this by creating a smart playlist whose condition is Playlist Isname of playlist , and Plays is 0 ; also verify to check alive Updating . startle by readjust the fun count for all the tracks : Select the tracks , right on - click , then chooseReset Plays . Now , the smart playlist will show only those rail whose caper counts are 0 . Once a track has completed , its play count will increment , and it will lead the smart playlist . you could then just beseech the spacebar on your Mac , or tick the Play button in iTunes , to lead off play the next track .
Q : give thanks you for your “ Ask the iTunes Guy ” tower . Is there an archive available of all question answered since the origination of the pillar ? It would be great to keep as a citation .
Thanks , we ’re glad you care the column . We do n’t have a list of all the individual question , but you could usethis searchto run a search that will turn up every column since the beginning .
[ Ask the iTunes Guy is a regular chromatography column in which we serve your head on everything iTunes colligate . If there ’s something you ’d care to know , send an e-mail to the iTunes Guyfor thoughtfulness . ]
