Our laptop has 3gb free space, the ipod we just bought has 30gb free space.

iTunes, as I understand it, wants to mirror the contents of the iPod onto iTunes - or rather you have to create what you want on the PC then copy it to the iPod.

We have a problem, because we cant create all of our AAC files in iTunes because we have no HD space.

I dont find the software very easy to use, but there appears to be a way it could be done by only syncronising "checked files".

Ideas?

The easiest way is IMHO to just add more Hard Disk.

When an 80GB drive is in the region of £30, you have to ask is that worth an hour of your time?

I'd go with the bigger HDD too. I'm no itunes / ipod person (have a Sony mp3 player) but more storage space will benefit not only itunes but for general other stuff too.

The easiest way is IMHO to just add more Hard Disk.

When an 80GB drive is in the region of

On second thoughts, I thought you'd be able to select an option to just use the original MP3 files without transcoding / duplicating to AAC. Even Chronicstage allows you to do that, and it's well handy saving HDD when you already have the music in compressed format. Surely an ipod can now read native MP3 files ???

On second thoughts, I thought you'd be able to select an option to just use the original MP3 files without transcoding / duplicating to AAC. Even Chronicstage allows you to do that, and it's well handy saving HDD when you already have the music in compressed format. Surely an ipod can now read native MP3 files ???

Now I dont have an ipod, but I wouldnt bet my life on it supporting mp3's

Now I dont have an ipod, but I wouldnt bet my life on it supporting mp3's

eerrmm... the iPod is an mp3 player :confused:

You don't have to transfer your files into AAC format in order to copy them to the ipod.. unlike the earlier Sony NetMD's and the likes had to.

The ipod options wont appear in the preferences unless the ipod is actually connected to the machine.

I you don't have a collection of mp3's on your machine to start with iTunes has the facility to rip songs from cd's to mp3, aac, wav.. etc... You can also import your existing mp3 collection into iTunes by simply dragging and dropping the file(s)/folder(s)... just go through you preferences first to set how you want itunes to manage your files.

HTH

Trouble is that we have 100+ CD's already as WMA's for playing from DVD's in the car

Converting them isnt an issue as I've done that by installing iTunes on my work PC and setting it off over night. So I now have 3 DVD's with AAC files on them.

I dont want to have to bring the iPod to work just to add tracks to it.

If I had 3 DVD drives in my laptop I guess that wouldnt be a problem

Trouble is that we have 100+ CD's already as WMA's for playing from DVD's in the car

Converting them isnt an issue as I've done that by installing iTunes on my work PC and setting it off over night. So I now have 3 DVD's with AAC files on them.

I dont want to have to bring the iPod to work just to add tracks to it.

If I had 3 DVD drives in my laptop I guess that wouldnt be a problem

That will teach you for using wma.

eerrmm... the iPod is an mp3 player :confused:

You don't have to transfer your files into AAC format in order to copy them to the ipod.. unlike the earlier Sony NetMD's and the likes had to.

The ipod options wont appear in the preferences unless the ipod is actually connected to the machine.

I you don't have a collection of mp3's on your machine to start with iTunes has the facility to rip songs from cd's to mp3, aac, wav.. etc... You can also import your existing mp3 collection into iTunes by simply dragging and dropping the file(s)/folder(s)... just go through you preferences first to set how you want itunes to manage your files.

HTH

If I remember correctly the first ipods only played aac format and only ones you had converted or bought from apple. Mp3 might have been added later, therefore it wasnt originally an mp3 player. Just like all vacuum cleaners aren't made by hoovers.

That will teach you for using wma.

:P

When I got my car headunit I posted here about file formats and bengie (who had a very similar unit at the time) said "Use variable rate WMA" - so I did

There's an option in itunes to just link to original mp3s, and not duplicate them in the "itunes music library folder". I did a google earlier and had a wander around apple's website, so it should be possible.

Even Chronicstage does it on my Sony mp3 player :P

If I remember correctly the first ipods only played aac format and only ones you had converted or bought from apple. Mp3 might have been added later, therefore it wasnt originally an mp3 player. Just like all vacuum cleaners aren't made by hoovers.

The iPod has ALWAYS supported mp3's... clicky and "mp3 player" isn't a brand like hoover

but I get your point... would of been better to say that not all personal stereo's are walkmans

iTunes will convert wma to mp3 or whatever but you will need the drive space for the new mp3 files.. at least until you the conversion is complete then you can delete the wma's...

i dont store any music on my PC.

to transfere music already on your pc.

All you have to do is see pic 1.

Manually manage music and videos. tick it.

You can then directly drag music from a folder. Pic 2.

-----------------------------------

off a cd: rip music to itunes library and drag over, then delete music from library.

:P

When I got my car headunit I posted here about file formats and bengie (who had a very similar unit at the time) said "Use variable rate WMA" - so I did

Thats where you went wrong. You listened to Bengie.

The iPod has ALWAYS supported mp3's... clicky and "mp3 player" isn't a brand like hoover

but I get your point... would of been better to say that not all personal stereo's are walkmans

iTunes will convert wma to mp3 or whatever but you will need the drive space for the new mp3 files.. at least until you the conversion is complete then you can delete the wma's...

I stand corrected (said the man in the orphapedic shoes.)

Didnt the original software try to get you to make them aac3 though? Like media player used to insist you convert to wma by default?

i dont store any music on my PC.

to transfere music already on your pc.

All you have to do is see pic 1.

Manually manage music and videos. tick it.

You can then directly drag music from a folder. Pic 2.

-----------------------------------

off a cd: rip music to itunes library and drag over, then delete music from library.

Excellent - I shall try that this evening!

I stand corrected (said the man in the orphapedic shoes.)

Didnt the original software try to get you to make them aac3 though? Like media player used to insist you convert to wma by default?

I've no idea about that as I only jumped on the iPod/iTunes bandwagon 2 years ago after being completely fed up of the software for my Sony NetMD..

That definitely required you to convert the files before it could put the music onto the player.

The iPod & iTunes has been trouble free so far...

To makes things clear. Itunes and Ipod support:

AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, MP3 & WAV files.

See picture, you can set to which type of file you want to import your CDs to.

I always use MP3 as its compatible with all media players.

Didnt the original software try to get you to make them aac3 though? Like media player used to insist you convert to wma by default?

I have a 5gig iPod, bought in 2001 when they were originally released. The iPod has always been able to play MP3's, since day one. Admittedly, AAC is the default format for ripping in iTunes but it's simple to change to MP3; just alter the preference.

Whilst we're on the subject ('cause I've heard it called wrongly so many times in work), AAC is NOT an Apple format; it stands for 'Advanced Audio Codec' & is the creation of Dolby labs. iTunes rips to standard AAC format. This has no DRM attached. The songs you buy from the iTunes music store are different, being 'Fairplay AAC'. This is basically AAC, with Apples DRM attached.

There is much FUD spread about the iPod. Go here: Apple (UK and Ireland) - iPod + iTunes or here: Apple iPod Specs @ EveryiPod.com for some facts.