[eclein]

I started ripping my CD's again to Apple Lossless and then realized if I sync my ipod touch I won't be able to fit them. So I'm wondering what you guys do? Do you rip in a high quality file format first (to use for playback via squeezebox etc.) and then convert to mp3 for your portable devices? OR do you maintain two or more libraries with different file formats?

[lcrim]

I have been ripping to flac for the convenience of using metadata tagging.  If I want to put something on the Ipod, I use DBpoweramp Batch converter to Apple Lossless.  It does take a few steps but its not that time consuming.  You don't need to watch it.

[mcgsxr]

I am with lcrim on this one - everything gets ripped to FLAC.

When my wife demands mp3 for her portable device (I don't own or use one) then I batch process the tunes she wants into mp3, they get loaded on her device, and then delete the mp3 files - I won't waste HD space on that format!

[ctviggen]

I have been ripping to flac for the convenience of using metadata tagging.  If I want to put something on the Ipod, I use DBpoweramp Batch converter to Apple Lossless.  It does take a few steps but its not that time consuming.  You don't need to watch it.

How do you get iTunes to realize that there are new songs in the iTunes directory?

[srb]

It depends on whether you would rather have the entire library on the iPod at a lower (MP3) quality, or would rather have a random portion of your library on the iPod at a time, with the full fidelity of Apple Lossless.
 
If you would rather the have full library at lower (MP3) quality you can either:
 
a. maintain a second library with MP3s (as you mentioned) or
 
b. keep the MP3s in the same library, and create a Smart Playlist filtered for for each filetype.  You would use one Smart Playlist (for example "Music - ALAC") to play from the server and another (for example "Music - MP3") to sync to the iPod. 
 
 
If you would rather have a random portion of your library on the iPod at a time with the full fidelity of Apple Lossless (if this scenario works for you, it requires no extra files, space or time consuming manipulation):
 
You can create a Smart Playlist (for example "iPod Synch") and select 'Limit to xx GB selected by Random'.  The number of GB would be equal to or slightly less than the Capacity shown in Settings > About on the iPod.
 
In either case, you would set the iPod synching in iTunes to synch to selected playlists, rather than automatic synching of the entire library.
 
Steve

[mcullinan]

Screw low res files! They are low for a reason! Get a bigger iPod!
BE a man!
M

[eclein]

Steve, thats a great idea, I'll do a smart paylist that will work best as I listen via SB now 99% of the time and only use my ipod to control SB. I would have never thought of that...Thank you!

Screw low res files! They are low for a reason! Get a bigger iPod!
BE a man!
M

--Your right about low-res though, once I started to finally hear them (my current mp3's) via SB I quickly discovered they are mush

[pardales]

I have more than one computer right now (both Mac's). On one I have my ALAC/AIFF library, which is connected to my stereo, and on the other I have my AAC version of the same library. I sync my iPod to the AAC version.

[ctviggen]

They don't make iPods big enough to hold my FLAC files.  Also, I honestly don't think that using an iPod to listen to music in a car makes any difference as what the file system is.  I prefer to have all my music accessible on the iPod.  At work, I use a portable drive with all my songs on them and listen through a tube amp into headphones.  At home, I listen via two Squeezeboxes.  So, the only time I listen to the iPod is in the car, when I don't need high fidelity. 

I still don't understand.  I have two separate folders, one for FLAC, and one for iTunes.  If I batch convert the FLAC files and put them into the iTunes library, how does iTunes know that its library folder has additional songs? 

[srb]

Steve, thats a great idea, I'll do a smart paylist that will work best as I listen via SB now 99% of the time and only use my ipod to control SB. I would have never thought of that...Thank you!

One small step I forgot to mention:  The Smart Playlist does not seem to re-randomize, even after closing and reopening iTunes.  Simply edit the playlist, remove the 'Limit to' checkmark, then click OK.  Then edit again, put back the checkmark, click OK, and the playlist will re-randomize to a new subset of songs.
 
I have a 30GB iPod which doesn't have enough capacity, so I use this method.  I am thinking of getting an 8GB iPod Touch for remote control duty, as the 64GB model would still be too small to hold the Library.  Then I will probably get another Touch in the next generation or so, when the 128GB model becomes available.
 
Steve

[ted_b]

EAC can rip to multiple formats at the same time.  I do MP3 and WAV.  Why?  Well, I listen to WAV on my MAC music server and find it the best sonically, but use MP3 for a couple tasks.  First, it is my metadata template for WAV tagging (see thread where we discuss this) and it is my low-rez alternative for my workout iPod.  But yes, if you are using the iPod for anything remotely close to serious listening then use WAV, ALAC or AIFF and either get a bigger iPod or reload it when needed.  The plethora of great portable headphones, headphone amps, etc can easily show the limitations of MP3/AAC, and can conversely show the wonderfulness of lossless audio.

[eclein]

As always you guys give me great insight. I'm ripping all CD's I own (only like 50), and anything new to ALAC and I'll deal with lower track count on my ipod-its an 8GB. The balance of my library is made up of CD's I've borrowed from local library so they'll stay MP3...Yesterday was the first time I heard ALAC files through my SB and thats the way to go for me.
 I played some music through my PS3 last night the way I was listening to it before.... What a nice sound I get now with the SB in comparison.
   Thanks again.
 

[srb]

How do you get iTunes to realize that there are new songs in the iTunes directory?

I still don't understand.  I have two separate folders, one for FLAC, and one for iTunes.  If I batch convert the FLAC files and put them into the iTunes library, how does iTunes know that its library folder has additional songs?

If I understand your situation and question correctly, you are using an external program like EAC to rip both FLAC and MP3 versions.  Are you putting the MP3s into iTunes' own iTunes folder or into a separate "iTunes" folder you have created on your hard drive?
 
iTunes does not "monitor" folder contents and automatically display them in the Library, as do some other media players, so it won't know about new files that you have added to your "iTunes" folder.  You have to add them to the Library by either dragging them into iTunes or by adding them from File > Add File (or Folder) to Library.
 
Since iTunes will allow duplicate copies of songs, you can't add the entire contents of a folder that contains songs you have previously added, every time you want to bring iTunes up to date.
 
If the checkbox "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library" is checked (under Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab), iTunes will make a copy of the files in it's own folder structure and use that.  If it is not checked, iTunes will use a pointer to the files in the specified folder.
 
I would suggest
 
1.  Rip and initially store your MP3s in a folder outside of iTunes
 
2.  Under Edit > Preferences > Advanced tab
-     Check "Copy files to iTunes Media folder when adding to library"
-     Check "Keep iTunes Media folder organized"
 
3.  Add the files to the iTunes Library by either dragging or using File > Add Folder to Library
 
4.  Delete the original files in the MP3 rip folder.
 
Using this method, the files in the MP3 rip folder will always be newly created ones, so you can simply add the entire folder each time you update iTunes while avoiding duplications (as long as you remember to delete the original MP3s after they are copied to iTunes).
 
Steve