Hi Maurice, You wrote: >>> I am looking for something better than Switch to convert AIFF to >>> MP3 that is usable with Voiceover. and: >Do you know of a way to do this using VO, step by step.
You can find instructions on how to convert AIFF to mp3 files using iTunes in the Mailing list archives for this discuss list at: http://www.mail-archive.com/discuss%40macvisionaries.com/ Tab to the search box and put in your search terms. You can use Boolean arguments, specify date range, and search by author of post. Since this topic was recently discussed, I put in a search: from: "Esther" date: [20080201 TO 20080428] iTunes convert AIFF mp3 and got the following link (whose contents I simply pasted below): http://www.mail-archive.com/discuss%40macvisionaries.com/msg30639.html Try typing: searching discuss archives in the search box and you should get a Google-like page of results and links with post subject and brief context when you hit return. Since it helps to use the Subject line in looking through archive searches, I'm retitling this post from "Looking for better software" to "Convert AIFF to mp3 with iTunes". The archives page can also be used to read this mailing list. By default the posts are organized by Thread, but you can VO-keys right arrow to the date link and press it (VO-keys+spacebar) to see all posts organized by date, with subject and author. HTH. Cheers, Esther (pasted text follows) Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:37:22 -0800 Hi Anne and Keith, Keith wrote: >> could someone tell me what i need to convert from AIFF to MP3. also >> how to do it. if it can be done using itunes then how to do it. and Anne answered: >A.R. If you want all your iTunes library to be in MP3 format, open >your iTunes Preferences, select Advanced, and set Import to MP3. >Select the tracks you want to convert and go to Advanced in the iTunes >menus and select "Convert Selection to MP3". Anne's instructions are great if you already have the AIFF files in your iTunes library. However, I assume that you've recorded these with another application. In that case you want to follow Anne's instructions for setting importing preferences to MP3, but instead of selecting tracks for an AIFF files in your iTunes library you'll want to import them into iTunes. Here's the detailed instructions: You can convert AIFF files to MP3 files using iTunes. However, the default format for importing into iTunes is set to AAC encoding and you'll need to change that in your iTunes preferences by going to the importing tab of the Advanced menu and selecting MP3 encoding and specifying your preferred encoding quality. Start up iTunes (e.g.,from the dock: VO-keys+d, right/left arrow to iTunes, press space to open) 1. Open the Preferences menu (Command-Comma) 2. VO-keys right arrow to the Advanced menu button and press (VO-keys space). (I use the Command-6 shortcut to select this menu). 3. VO-keys right arrow to the Importing tab and select it (VO-keys space). 4. VO-keys right arrow to the encoder pop-up button and set this to "MP3 encoder". (Default is "Import using" "AAC encoder" - VO-keys space on button, type "M" to go to "MP3", and return). 5. VO-keys right arrow to quality pop-up button and make a selection. (Default "setting" is "Good Quality (128 kbps)" - VO-keys space on button and down arrow shows other options: "High Quality (160 kbps)", "Higher Quality (192 kbps)", and "Custom".) Selecting "custom" brings up another menu that allows you to specify the encoding bit rate (16 to 320 kbps), mono only encoding, frequency sampling rate, and a few other options. 6. Carriage return or go to end and press "OK" (VO-keys+END = VO-keys+FN+ right arrow on my laptop to "OK" and VO-keys space) to register your settings. 7. Import the AIFF files with Command+Shift+o (or with the Import command under the the File menu on the iTunes menu bar: VO-keys+m, "F' to go to File menu, down-arrow, "I" for Import, and return). Select the files in the Finder like window that opens. 8. If your AIFF file was named my_music.aiff, you'll find an mp3 file named my_music in your Music library. Cheers, Esther P.S. Converting AIFF files to MP3 is something that would work well with Automator with a step to find audio files with an AIFF extension, and then another step to add those files to a playlist. You'd still have to set your MP3 importing preferences at least once, since this can't be done in Automator -- it either reads your current preferences or else, if you choose a different encoder than your current preference, the last value used for that encoder.
