15 Oct, 2008
Want to create an audio podcast? Do you have a new iPod or are you going to get one? The latest models of the iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPod Touch and iPhone all have the ability to record audio, which later can be brought into iTunes, turned into a podcast, and uploaded anywhere you’d like to deliver it.
The only requirement for the latest iPod Nanos and Classics is earphones with a built-in microphone or any other iPod compatible microphone. (If you own an older iPod Nano or Classic, see posts about purchasing and using the Griffin iTalk device. This is no longer needed on the latest versions of the iPod.)
For the iPod Touch and iPhone there is a free application from the iTunes Application store called iTalk Recorder which will also accomplish the task of recording audio from a microphone connected to your device.
Of course, there are cheaper recorders than an iPod. An Amazon search for “digital mp3 recorders” reveals all sorts of portable recorders at prices for anyone’s liking.
Regardless of whether you capture your audio with an iPod or other device, once the device is hooked up to your computer you can easily drag the files to iTunes to convert the files, rename them and add all of the necessary information.
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15 Sep, 2008
iTunes can easily convert audio files that were recorded with portable devices such as iPods or other recorders to podcast formats such as AAC or mp3 (see post on The Difference to learn more about these formats). The following video covers converting files with iTunes and adding information such as titles and artist:
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Here is a step by step for converting files to AAC or mp3 format:
Convert to AAC (m4a)
- Drag the file to iTunes.
- While the file is highlighted click the Advanced menu at the top.
- Choose Convert Selection to AAC (for MP3 conversion see below)
iTunes makes a duplicate copy of it in the new format. To check the file type (since you now have the original WAV file and an AAC file with the same name, right click your file and choose Get Info. There you will see the file type and be sure you choose the converted one). You can also add information to the track, as well as podcast artwork that you have designed. Drag converted the file out of iTunes to your desktop for easy uploading.
or Convert to MP3
- Follow the directions above using the Advanced menu, but prior to doing so, go to iTunes > Preferences > Advanced > Importing
- There, change the Import Using: AAC to Import Using: MP3 Encoder
- Now when you highlight the track and choose Advanced on the top menu, you will see Convert Selection to MP3 rather than AAC.
Thanks Doug Seidler over at NESAD for pointing this out to me!
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21 Mar, 2008
There is some confusion over AAC and MP3 audio files. AAC is the newer format (popularized by Apple’s adoption of it in its music store) and has many advantages over the older MP3 format, including higher sound quality and smaller file size. The iTunes Music Store supports both AAC and MP3 formats. If you read up on the two, you will see that AAC is slated to replace MP3 as the most widely used format. (FYI: the MP3 extension ends in .mp3 while the AAC extension ends in .m4a)
If you have an older MP3 media player that doesn’t play AAC files but plays MP3 files, no problem! Read the rest of this entry »
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19 Feb, 2008
If you are using Audacity and can’t export your project to the MP3 format, you can export it as a WAV file. WAV files are extremely large. This is fine, but if you want to upload that file to iTunes or Blackboard, you will want it to be smaller and compressed, in either AAC (m4a) or MP3 format. Here’s how you can use iTunes to accomplish this:
Convert to AAC (m4a)
- Drag the file to iTunes.
- While the file is highlighted click the Advanced menu at the top.
- Choose Convert Selection to AAC (for MP3 conversion see below)
iTunes makes a duplicate copy of it in the new format. To check the file type (since you now have the original WAV file and an AAC file with the same name, right click your file and choose Get Info. There you will see the file type and be sure you choose the converted one). You can also add information to the track, as well as podcast artwork that you have designed. Drag converted the file out of iTunes to your desktop for easy uploading.
or Convert to MP3
- Follow the directions above using the Advanced menu, but prior to doing so, go to iTunes > Preferences > Advanced > Importing
- There, change the Import Using: AAC to Import Using: MP3 Encoder
- Now when you highlight the track and choose Advanced on the top menu, you will see Convert Selection to MP3 rather than AAC.
Thanks Doug Seidler over at NESAD for pointing this out to me!
Share This
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