Converting songs to AIFF at DVinfo.net

Dan Kutler · January 30th, 2006, 09:01 PM

I just bought two songs on CD and am having trouble converting them to AIFF to import into FCP. Any suggestions?

I tried converting them to AAC in itunes but that still doesn't seem to work.

Thank you for your help.
Dan

Glenn Davidson · January 30th, 2006, 10:20 PM

Get Roxio Toast.

Min Lee · January 30th, 2006, 11:56 PM

Did you go to preference, click advanced, and change to import using AIFF encoder?

Ty Ford · January 31st, 2006, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan Kutler

I just bought two songs on CD and am having trouble converting them to AIFF to import into FCP. Any suggestions?

I tried converting them to AAC in itunes but that still doesn't seem to work.

Thank you for your help.
Dan

If you have FCP, you have a Mac. You can import CD audio into iTunes as .wav files after you change iTunes import preferences to .wav files. FCP recognizes .wav files.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Eli Mazzola · January 31st, 2006, 11:18 AM

I ran into this problem when I first started using FCP, but the solution is real simple. I usually import all my music as AAC files (although it doesn't make a difference how you import them), and then I go to the preferences and depending on which version of iTunes you have either click on "Import" or "Advanced" (and then click the "Importing" tab). Then in the pull down menu labeled "Import Using" click on AIFF. Close preferences and click the song or songs you want to convert, and then either control click or go to advnaced on the menu bar and click convert to AIFF. You could probably import them originally as AIFF files, but I've never done that. The files are put in the Music folder on the startup disk and I generally copy the AIFF files into a project folder for the video I'm working on and then delete the AIFF version from iTunes. However, that is certainly not necessary. Hope this helps.

Chris Luker · January 31st, 2006, 12:37 PM

If you've got a mac (FCP is mac only, so I guess you do) and osx, you can simply drag the files from the cd to the desktop and it will extract them as aiffs automatically. This is how I rip cds now, just drag n drop.

Ron Johnson · January 31st, 2006, 01:04 PM

There are two free-ware programs to assist:

For Audio capture (analaog + digital; internal + external), you might want to look at: Audio Hijack.

For Audio Editing, you might want to look at: Audacity. Audacity allows for format conversions.

Nice, small, simple programs for quick tasks.

rj

Nate Ford · February 1st, 2006, 12:33 PM

bummer- chris beat me to it. i was chuckling at all of the advice. double click the disc, drag the files to your hard drive.

now, if you need it to be 48khz, which is preferable if you're working in a dv seuence in fcp, then do what min lee says and set your itunes prefs to import into aiff. then, for the "setting" popup, switch from "automatic" to "custom."
sample rate:48 khz
sample size: 16 bit
channels: stereo

if you leave it at automatic (or just drag and drop,) you'll get 44.1khz aiffs which will go into fcp fine, but you'll probably need to render multi-track sections where the cd music is coinciding with dv (48khz) audio. if you get everything into 16 bit 48khz first, you'll be able to layer many tracks of sound and get realtime playback on a decent system.

David Priestley · February 2nd, 2006, 01:24 PM

if you have a Mac , go to iTunes preferences and set the file format to Aiff. then controle cliuck the songs who's format you wish to change and bingo its done.

January 30th, 2006, 09:01 PM	#1
Dan Kutler Regular Crew Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 38	Converting songs to AIFF I just bought two songs on CD and am having trouble converting them to AIFF to import into FCP. Any suggestions? I tried converting them to AAC in itunes but that still doesn't seem to work. Thank you for your help. Dan

January 31st, 2006, 11:18 AM	#5
Eli Mazzola Tourist Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4	iTunes I ran into this problem when I first started using FCP, but the solution is real simple. I usually import all my music as AAC files (although it doesn't make a difference how you import them), and then I go to the preferences and depending on which version of iTunes you have either click on "Import" or "Advanced" (and then click the "Importing" tab). Then in the pull down menu labeled "Import Using" click on AIFF. Close preferences and click the song or songs you want to convert, and then either control click or go to advnaced on the menu bar and click convert to AIFF. You could probably import them originally as AIFF files, but I've never done that. The files are put in the Music folder on the startup disk and I generally copy the AIFF files into a project folder for the video I'm working on and then delete the AIFF version from iTunes. However, that is certainly not necessary. Hope this helps.

January 31st, 2006, 01:04 PM	#7
Ron Johnson Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 103	There are two free-ware programs to assist: For Audio capture (analaog + digital; internal + external), you might want to look at: Audio Hijack. For Audio Editing, you might want to look at: Audacity. Audacity allows for format conversions. Nice, small, simple programs for quick tasks. rj __________________ Ron Johnson Portland, OR

February 2nd, 2006, 01:24 PM	#9
David Priestley New Boot Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: thrapston, UK Posts: 10	sound to aiff if you have a Mac , go to iTunes preferences and set the file format to Aiff. then controle cliuck the songs who's format you wish to change and bingo its done.

January 30th, 2006, 10:20 PM	#2
Glenn Davidson Major Player Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nevada City, California Posts: 499	Get Roxio Toast.

January 30th, 2006, 11:56 PM	#3
Min Lee Major Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 200	Did you go to preference, click advanced, and change to import using AIFF encoder?

January 31st, 2006, 12:37 PM	#6
Chris Luker Major Player Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Woods Cross, Utah Posts: 310	If you've got a mac (FCP is mac only, so I guess you do) and osx, you can simply drag the files from the cd to the desktop and it will extract them as aiffs automatically. This is how I rip cds now, just drag n drop.

February 1st, 2006, 12:33 PM	#8
Nate Ford Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: new york, ny Posts: 121	bummer- chris beat me to it. i was chuckling at all of the advice. double click the disc, drag the files to your hard drive. now, if you need it to be 48khz, which is preferable if you're working in a dv seuence in fcp, then do what min lee says and set your itunes prefs to import into aiff. then, for the "setting" popup, switch from "automatic" to "custom." sample rate:48 khz sample size: 16 bit channels: stereo if you leave it at automatic (or just drag and drop,) you'll get 44.1khz aiffs which will go into fcp fine, but you'll probably need to render multi-track sections where the cd music is coinciding with dv (48khz) audio. if you get everything into 16 bit 48khz first, you'll be able to layer many tracks of sound and get realtime playback on a decent system.