Steve Bernard, Jr wrote: > I'm not commenting on this thread as a whole but I want to correct a > few misconceptions about iTunes where I am able. > > On Tue, Jan 27, 2009 at 3:52 PM, stuart wrote: >> Getting back to the original post - why are you ripping using iTunes? >> >> Here are some of the questions I would ask if I were doing what you are >> doing: >> >> Doesn't this put you into a position of always transcoding music from >> Apples AAC format? (Ripping inside of iTunes probably creates these >> types of files, right? This is not native to SB players AFAIK. So, >> will your server always need to transcode from AAC to MP3 or FLAC or >> something else on the fly every time you play somethine?) > > AAC is the default ripping format of iTunes, but iTunes also comes > with built-in support for ripping to AIFF, Apple Lossless, MP3 and > WAV. But, yes, the SqueezeBox firmware does not natively decode AAC > files.
Yes, but I bet most people are "flying w/the default settings" (i.e. ripping to AAC). >> If you rip with iTunes will you always have to run iTunes to access your >> music? (So, correct me if I am wrong. But you will need to run iTunes >> and SC and MySQL and what ever transcoding software you need to convert >> from iTunes to a stream the SB will understand. Wow, what a lot of >> overhead for something that should be simple.) > > This is incorrect. Music ripped with iTunes can be played back using > any other application that can decode that file type. You can point > SqueezeCenter at your AAC/MP3 library and never tell it iTunes is in > any way involved and they will play fine (tracks you've ripped > yourself or iTunes Plus tracks, that is). iTunes integration with > SqueezeCenter has to do with SqueezeCenter reading your iTunes library > information for info about your music. iTunes is not invoked in any > way to facilitate the actual playback. Ok, but what about all those "bought" files? I thought, and maybe I'm wrong here, that the SC / iTunes feature was created to allow playing back of the bought (i.e. DRM encoded) music. >> If you rip with iTunes now before they get rid of DRM will you be locked >> into iTunes. Will there be a reason that will cause you to re-rip your >> CD collection after DRM is removed from iTunes (if/when that happens)? > > This is another misconception. Music that you rip yourself with > iTunes has never been encumbered by DRM. Only certain music files > purchased from the iTunes store use DRM that would restrict playback > with other players. Good to know. >> If you rip with iTunes will you be able to easily support other music >> appliances like sony walkman phones, gramin GPSs, ... ect with out >> re-ripping your CD collection? > > Yes, if your other device can play MP3, AAC, AIFF, WAV, or Apple > Lossless then you would be able to play back files ripped with iTunes > on those devices. Again, I'm betting most iTunes users rip mindlessly to AAC. Further, I'm betting AAC files don't play back on the above music appliances. >> What I do is rip my CD collection to MP3s which is fairly universal, >> even w/iTunes. And if you are really picky, you can try FLAC, which is >> not as universal. This way I can play back my collection on just about >> every music appliance I own. > > I personally maintain a FLAC library ripped with EAC for my > SqueezeCenter music and use foobar2000 and the Nero AAC encoder to > maintain a lossy library for my iTunes/iPod. I find that this works > well for my purposes. However, using iTunes as a ripper does not > cause the sorts of far-reaching problems you seem to be imagining. > > -Steve Hey, thanks for clearing these questions up. I'm a "lite" iTunes users and these questions have bothered me for some time. --- Say, would you be able to solve my biggest iTunes problem? I create m3u files when I rip my CD collections. This works well on the many music clients I use including SqueezeCenter. But iTunes always creates double entries because of these files. I understand if the paths match and are absolute this may not happen. But I routinely mount my collection on different computers at different locations. Therefore I'm not willing to forsake the powerful advantage of relative paths just to satisfy iTunes. Besides, windows does not handle absolute paths well as the user has little control over the mounting point (i.e. the windows drive letter). Is there an iTunes setting such that it will ignore or properly use the m3u files? _______________________________________________ discuss mailing list discuss@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/discuss
