Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Resolved Question

Mp3 conversion for Ipod.

May 12, 2012 2:07AM PDT

Hello Forum.
The mechanical scroll wheel/multi-switch on my Insignia mp3 player finally quit after 6 years. now I'm looking for a replacement player. I really want a Nano 5th gen, but don't want to deal with loading software.
Most players support drag&drop, but Apple requires either Itunes or a couple other shady softwares to load. I watched a Youtube vid about loading, and there is a conversion process. Why convert an already degraded file format like mp3? That makes no sense. Is it a lossless conversion? Would it take a long time to convert 16 gig of music?
I took a shot on a $30 chipod, but it didn't work. I know I should just buy the Sony, but it lacks the docking feature and the cool look of a Nano.

Discussion is locked

KEWROCK has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

- Collapse -
Not sure what you mean about "other shady software"
May 12, 2012 10:37AM PDT

when dealing with the iPod.
Sure, it needs iTunes to move the music/video from your computer to the iPod but that would not really be classed as "shady"
There is no need to convert any of your music to MP3 for the iPod. iTunes plays much more then just MP3. Where is this video that suggests that there is a conversion process necessary?

P

- Collapse -
Youtube
May 12, 2012 10:52AM PDT
- Collapse -
Interesting but may be outdated. See that old 2008 date?
May 12, 2012 11:39AM PDT

Here I can add mp3 files to my iPod and my personal iPod is that dang old HP 20GB iPod!

- Collapse -
Huh?
May 12, 2012 12:58PM PDT

Proffitt, I don't understand your response.
What is the kid converting in the vid? He clearly states he's starting out with an mp3, and the shot of his monitor shows Itunes converting somthing. It doesn't say importing or transferring, it says "converting".

- Collapse -
Here no such thing happens.
May 12, 2012 1:55PM PDT

I can only guess why something did that FOUR YEARS AGO. You'll have to ask them. Here, no such conversion happens. I have plain old MP3 files from Amazon and iTunes. These play on my Android things without mod, same for the iPod.

Are you doing this? Or just wondering?
Bob

- Collapse -
Yes
May 12, 2012 3:02PM PDT

I am planning on doing this. I want a Nano(the older 16 gig model) in metallic orange. I played with my cousins, and loved it. They're on ebay in mint shape for about $100. Thing is, like I said, the idea of propietary software and converting stuff puts me off. I borrowed my gf's new Sony Walkman. She paid $100 in Walmart. It felt really cheap, but super simple to load and use. Very intuitive buttons and menus.
I also picked up a $30 Mach Speed Eclipse 200 from Staples. Basically a Nano copy. It works OK, but it just isn't the same. I also bought a chinese knock-off from Ebay, it didn't work, and went back.

I know the thing to get is a smart phone of some sort, but I get a flip phone from work. No point in paying a phone bill. Besides I want something small, and not to depressing if it gets lost or stolen.

- Collapse -
OK, one more time,
May 13, 2012 12:32AM PDT

you do NOT have to convert an "mp3" file to "mp3" for it to play on your iPod.

Read this article from Apple: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1334?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Note that MP3 is the first one on the list.

The kid in the video has got it incorrect. Remember the bit where he mentions the dialog box which he says is asking if iTunes should convert the tracks?
He uses the phrase, "or something to that effect".

The reason that dialog box appears is because the default action of iTunes is to convert imported tracks to either AAC, MP3, AIFF, Apple Lossless or WAV format.
If that kid had his preference set to MP3, instead of something else, then that dialog box would not have appeared and the MP3 would have been imported as is.

Also, as Bob mentioned, that is a 4 year old video.

From the release day of the first iPod, the iPod has been able to play MP3 files without any conversion needed.

P

- Collapse -
Ahh, gotcha.
May 13, 2012 12:44AM PDT

I can only guess why we would use outdated information from youtube to drum up problems.

Hope this helps,
Bob

- Collapse -
And now the real story.
May 13, 2012 12:48AM PDT

That kid in the youtube video did not know what he was talking about.
The files that he was importing into iTunes, the Beatles ones, that he claimed were MP3 files were NOT.

That dialog box said the following:
"One or more of the files you are adding to iTunes, including "04 I need you.wma", are in WMA format.
iTunes will automatically convert them to AAC format so that they can be added to your iTunes library"

iTunes does not play WMA files, but it does convert them to something that the iPod can play.

Bottom line here is that the information that you are basing your reasoning on, is false.

At the end of the day, the kid in the video ended up putting an AAC file, not an MP3 file, onto his iPod.

Do not believe everything you see on youtube.

Now go and get that Nano

P

- Collapse -
Thanks.
May 13, 2012 2:41AM PDT

Thanks Guys. I'm scoping Nanos on Ebay hopefully by the end of the week I'll have it.

- Collapse -
Answer
I skipped all that.
May 12, 2012 8:07AM PDT

I have my android phone and too many other android things that just play from the media card just fine. But here's the deal. Android for some is too fiddly.
Bob