converting WAV to MP3 files for iPod?

[Godzilla]

Can i convert files i already have on my PC as WAV to mp3? I ripped everything lossless but want another low rez copy for my iPod. Is this possible within Windows Media Player or do i need something else?

Many thanks!
Godzilla

[kevinkr]

Which model iPod do you have? Later models apparently do play wav files. I have not tried this on my classic, my first gen did not.

You can probably import them using iTunes, I seem to recall there is an option to convert to AAC on import. Recollection could be faulty.

Recommend Apple lossless codec instead of mp3/mp4a if you have a classic or predecessor with a large HD.

[john blackburn]

Exact Audio Copy will let you drag and drop WAV files in and encode them. I've only just started using it but it seems stable and above all it's free.

http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/en/inde...rces/download/

Hope it helps

John

EDIT Sorry hadnt noticed the Ipod bit, I have a no name MP3 player. It may still work thouhgh, give it a go.

[Godzilla]

Thanks guys! I will give it a try.

Godzilla

[ezkcdude]

Originally posted by Godzilla
Can i convert files i already have on my PC as WAV to mp3? I ripped everything lossless but want another low rez copy for my iPod. Is this possible within Windows Media Player or do i need something else?

Many thanks!
Godzilla

Converting to mp3 is very easy these days. I use Razor LAME, a very powerful (customizable) mp3 converter. Don't be thrown off by the fact that the last revision was in 2006 - it still works great. LAME is probably the best mp3 algorithm you will find.

[kevinkr]

Originally posted by ezkcdude



Converting to mp3 is very easy these days. I use Razor LAME, a very powerful (customizable) mp3 converter. Don't be thrown off by the fact that the last revision was in 2006 - it still works great. LAME is probably the best mp3 algorithm you will find.

I totally agree, but why use lossy compression at all if you don't need it? Anything beyond the Nano has enough capacity for Apple Lossless, and it sounds significantly better in most cases than mp3 or mp4 (aac) at 320K..

[ezkcdude]

Originally posted by kevinkr



I totally agree, but why use lossy compression at all if you don't need it? Anything beyond the Nano has enough capacity for Apple Lossless, and it sounds significantly better in most cases than mp3 or mp4 (aac) at 320K..

Just answering the OP's question. Also, if you have over 1000 albums (for example, like I do) - that's way more than can fit on any iPod uncompressed. BTW, I can't hear any difference between wav and even 192 - especially from an iPod.

[kevinkr]

Apple lossless will give you about 50% reduction in file size over wav best case. I have about 1400 songs on mine which are a mix of 128K, 256K, 320K in AAC and mp3. All new rips are to ALC and I can hear a significant difference between the different levels of coding with a pair of moderately cheap JVC phones. 192K does sound a lot better than 128K.. I find subtle improvements going from 320K to ALC, however I am often stunned at what I still can't hear through those headphones..

The iPod as a source in a hifi system is all but unlistenable IMO, and you are right about the overall sound quality.. I'd like to get my hands on the new wadia doc (spdif out) and see how my classic fares as a media server against my much larger homebrew.

[ezkcdude]

Originally posted by kevinkr
Apple lossless will give you about 50% reduction in file size over wav best case. I have about 1400 songs on mine which are a mix of 128K, 256K, 320K in AAC and mp3.

What if you had 10,000 songs (like I do)? You're gonna need a bigger iPod.

[kevinkr]

Originally posted by ezkcdude



What if you had 10,000 songs (like I do)? You're gonna need a bigger iPod.

That is true, and access times are significantly increased by the larger file sizes as well. (The classic is not all that fast anyway, but recently they did fix coverflow - works way better now.) My iPod has a 160GB hard drive so 10K songs in ALC format definitely won't fit on it either... I do find that there are only a couple of hundred songs I listen to regularly so it works for ok for me.