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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30 Mar, 2008
Do you need to capture video for your podcast? The Flip Video Ultra pocket video camera is a perfect solution for capturing video on a shoestring budget. There are no cables, no extra pieces, and no manual required; simply start and stop recording in a snap. Then, pop out the USB arm and connect to your computer. The camera comes with software installed that lets you name, edit, mix, and compress your video clips. Watch the short video on Amazon about just how easy this camera is to use.
This is a great solution for those needing to capture short clips in the classroom or on the go. The Flip is small and lightweight, has two double AA batteries, and records up to an hour of video. The software will compress your video files to just the right size for web delivery. I’ll be creating another post in the near future with some tutorials, but for now check out David Pogue’s recent review of The Flip in the NY Times. For an entertaining Pogue-esque spin on the joys and ease of using this nifty little video camera, see the video he created (using the Flip) too!
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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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11 Mar, 2008
Apple’s QuickTime Pro is $29 and allows to you to record audio and video, and also enables you to compress and export these and other media files to various web-ready and iPod-ready formats, and works on Macs or PCs (internal or external microphone and/or internal or external webcam needed for capture). QuickTime Player is free and required to upgrade to the Pro version. The Player comes on every Mac, and on a PC when you download iTunes. If for some reason you don’t have the Player on your computer, you can download it free.
Apple has some tutorials for QuickTime Pro posted on their website:
Mac:
Creating an audio podcast with Quicktime Pro
Creating a Video podcast with Quicktime Pro
PC:
Creating an audio podcast with Quicktime Pro
Creating a Video podcast with Quicktime Pro
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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!
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