iTunes 7.0
Fall 07
Table of Contents
Introduction
3
Layout of iTunes
3
Playlists
4
Create a Playlist
4
Create a Smart Playlist
5
Burning to CD
5
Burning Preferences
5
Importing Files
6
Encoding and File Formats
6
Importing
7
Finding Imported Files
7
Changing File Format
8
3
iTunes can be used to listen to audio Cd’s and MP3s, create playlists, convert audio formats, and burn Cd’s. You can add music to the iTunes Library, or create a playlist to listen to or burn to Cd.
Layout of iTunes 7.0
Notes
The green + button will shrink the window to display only the controls. Press it again to
show all information.
The Browse button will show all artists and albums in the iTunes Library; select one to
show the songs available for that artist or album.
Click on the information bars to organize files - you may organize them by artist, track number, album, time, etc.
Control + Click on information bars to choose categories from a pop-up menu.
Introduction
Play / Pause Next Track Volume Create Playlist Shuffle Repeat Show/Hide Artwork Burn Disc Browse Library Eject Disc View modes Find Songs,Albums, Artists
Choose Source for Playing
Music Playlist Information Bars
File Size Total Previous
Playlists are lists of songs you can create to organize your library or burn to a Cd. If you want to make a Cd, you need to add the songs to a playlist, then burn it to a Cd. Adding a song to a playlist does not remove it from the library; it places a reference to the file in the playlist (there is still only one song file on your hard drive, but you can choose to play it from the Library or from different playlists).
NOTE
You can create a standard playlist or a Smart playlist. Standard playlists are created manually and are not automatically updated. Smart playlists are created based on criteria you choose, and can be automatically updated as the Library changes.
Creating a Playlist
1 • Click the + (Create a Playlist) button •
A new playlist will appear in the Source window; give it a title.2 • Drag files from any Source to the Play
list•
Choose files from the Library or an Audio Cd; drag and drop them over the title of the Playlist in the Source window. If you choose files from an audio Cd, iTunes will automatically import them to the hard drive. Check Importing options in iTunes Preferences (see Importing section).3 • Click on the Playlist •
View files in the playlist, organize them and play or burn to Cd. When a list is selected, the Burn button appears.NOTE
To remove items from the playlist, select a file and press the Delete key (this does not remove the song from your Library or hard drive).
To quickly create a playlist from selected songs, choose them in the Library or Cd (Command + Click) and then go to File > New Playlist.
5
Creating a Smart Playlist
1 • Go to File > New Smart Playlist •
2 • Choose Criteria •
To have iTunes add songs that match specific criteria, make sure “Match the following condition” is checked, then make your selections from the pop-up menus. To add more criteria, click the Add (+) button.3 • Limit duration or size •
To make the playlist a specific duration or size (for example, not to exceed 700 MB, the size of a Cd), select “Limit to” and make your selections from the pop-up menus.4 • Choose to automatically update •
To have iTunes continually modify your playlist as songs are added or removed from your Library, make sure “Live updating” is selected.5 • Click OK •
Any songs in your Library that match the settings you selected are added to the playlist. A Smart playlist icon has a gear icon on it.Burning Preferences
1 • Go to iTunes > Preferences •
Click the Advanced iconand then click on Burning.
2 • Choose Audio CD •
Choose the correct disc format for your use; Audio Cd will play in most consumer Cd players. MP3 Cds will only play in devices enabled for MP3 recognition. Data Cds or Dvds writes song files and program files (for example, playlist files that tell iTunes which songs belong in a playlist); this format may not play in some devices.3 • Select options •
You can choose to place silence between each track on the Cd, or choose “none” for continuous play. To have all songs on the Cd play at the same volume level, select the Sound Check box.4 • Click OK •
Burning to CD
5 • Select Playlist to burn •
Click on a playlist in the Source window. Check the size of the playlist at the bottom of the iTunes window - make sure it will fit on one Cd unless you don’t mind writing to two discs. All Cds have their capacity printed on them; most are 650 MB or 700 MB.6 • Click the Burn Disc button •
7 • Insert a blank CD •
Click Burn Disc again to start writing files to the disc. The Display shows how long the final Cd will play; once the Cd is being burned, the Display shows the remain ing time for the task. It takes several minutes to burn an audio Cd.To Cancel burning, click the “X” button display window. Cd-r discs can only be used once, so you will not be able
to use the Cd after canceling. If the playlist contains more songs than will fit on the Cd, iTunes will burn as many songs as will fit on one disc, then ask for another disc to continue burning the remaining songs. If the Playlist contains any songs purchased from the iTunes music store, you can only burn the playlist seven times.
You can import songs from Audio Cds into the iTunes Library. Imported songs are encoded and stored on the hard drive; this allows you to listen to them without having the original Cd. Encoding and storing song files can be a bit confusing, so the process will be explained in detail here.
Encoding and File Formats
When iTunes encodes a song file, its format is changed from an Audio Cd file format to one that can be easily stored on a hard disk and played with iTunes. For example, the MP3 format compresses a song so that it takes up less space on a hard disk, while still maintaining good audio quality. Each format compresses files differently. You must choose the format
before you import the file.
AAC •
This is the default encoding format in iTunes. AAC-encoded files will sound as good as or better than MP3 file encoded at the same bit rate. AAC files are also smaller than MP3 files, which allow you store the most musicon your hard drive.MP3 •
This is a common encoder that compresses song files and maintains audio quality. MP3 is used mostly for sharing music because of its small file size; MP3 Cds can only play in enabled devices.AIFF and WAV •
AIFF and WAV encoders do not press song files. They are very high quality files that take up a large amount of hard drive space. If you plan to burn quality audio Cds or use a song in iMovie, you should choose AIFF format for the best results. The WAV format is primarily for use with Windows computers that do not use iTunes or do not have MP3 software.Apple Lossless •
Apple Lossless offers the same quality as AIFF or WAV, but takes up about half the space. This for mat can be played in iTunes, and applications that support QuickTime. Apple Lossless can also be used for burning to a Cd, but may not be compatible with all programs or7
Importing
You may manually import song files, or iTunes will automatically import them if song files are added to a playlist from an Audio Cd. This section explains how to import manually.
1 • Set Importing preferences •
Go to iTunes >Preferences click on Advanced and click the Importing icon.
Choose which encoder is best for your purpose according to the explanation above. You may choose to play songs while importing by checking the box. Always check to Create file names with track number. Error correction is optional.
Click OK.
2 • Insert an audio Cd •
After a moment, the songs on the Cd are listed in the iTunes window and the Import button appears.3 • Select cd and choose songs to import •
Click to remove the checkmark next to any songs you don’t want to import into the Library.
4 • Click the Import button •
To cancel import, click the “X” in the Display window.Finding Imported Files
iTunes automatically creates a file system when it imports files. You may need to locate song files to open them in other applications like GarageBand, Audacity, iMovie, or iDvd. or to restore them in the iTunes Library if the file system is changed. The default path is Macintosh HD:Users:student:Music:iTunes:iTunes Music
1 • Open the Macintosh HD •
2 • Open the Users folder •
3 • Open the Student/Home folder •
4 • Open the Music folder •
5 • Open the iTunes folder •
6 • Open the iTunes Music folder •
Default
iTunes Folder Artist Folder
Album Folder
Changing File Formats
Converting Format
1 • Go to iTunes > Preferences •
Click on the Advanced icon and then click on the Importing tab.2 • Choose a format •
Choose a format from the Import Using pop-up menu. This is the format you want the fileconverted to. Click OK.
3 • Select songs to convert •
Select song(s) from the Library, then choose Advanced > Convert Selection to(the menu will show the format option you just selected in the Preferences). The song in its original format and the newly converted file appear in the Library.
To find out the format of an iTunes file:
- Select the file
- Go to File > Get Info
or Control+Click the file and choose Get info
- Look at the Summary tab
You may need to change the format of a sound file in order to use it in another program or to burn it properly (for example, compressed MP3 to uncompressed AIFF). You can convert a song to a different format while keeping a copy of the original. When converting from compressed to uncompressed, you shouldn’t notice any reduction in sound quality. However, when converting between compressed formats (MP3 to AAC), you may notice a reduction in the sound quality. For the best results, if you want your music encoded in a different file format, you should import the music again from the original source using the new encoding format.
Finding where your files are located
If you cannot find your files here, select a song in the Library and go to File > Get Info. In the Summary tab, look at “Where:” to find
the folder where that song is stored in.
