Converting AIFF files to take up less space

Hi--I recently converted about 50 songs from old cassette tapes to export into iTunes. I used Audacity which went pretty smoothly. I did not realize when converting all the aup files from Audacity to aiff files for exporting that they were such large files. A 4 minute song took up about 40MB. I didn't realize this until all was exported to iTunes and then synced to my iPhone. 50 songs ate up almost half the available space!
Is there an easy way to go back and convert the aiff files to a smaller format that won't compromise the quality too much? I assume I can then re-sync after deleting the aiff files to get some of my space back on the phone? Thanks for any suggestions...

You can use iTunes to convert any copy protection free songs in your library another format. When you convert a song in iTunes it will be converted to the format that you have set to import your CDs in. Converting creates a second copy of the song in the format you have chosen which gives you the opportunity to either keep or delete the original. Go to iTunes>Preferences>General and click on Import Settings,, Change your Import format to AAC Encoder for example and choose the Setting or "bit rate" you want (the default setting iTunes Plus will give you a bit rate of 256kbps). Go back to your library and highlight the songs you want to convert and go to the Advanced menu at the top of your iTunes window and choose "Create AAC version": iTunes: How to convert a song to a different file format

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I imagine I could copy the files to an x-drive, delete what i have in the iTunes folder, and then reimport as .aac. Perhaps that's easiest?
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Not what I prefer to do. Ideally it would be to have one version of the 8 cds in AIFF and another labelled differently and in AAC.
The best I have found is here: https://discussions.apple.com/message/8258383#8258383, ie to use smart playlists, convert everything to aac, keep both sets, but restrict which ones go onto the ipad (AAC there, not AIFF).
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I don't have the original cds here at the office, only the files in AIFF. There seems to be no good way to import the files AS aac; when you add them, they come out in aiff.
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What am I missing?
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Message was edited by: s-cone

Actually i just figured out a work around of sorts. Highlight several songs > create lossless version > after the lossless versions are created, the original AIFF are still highlighted and can easily be deleted, leaving the Lossless versions on iTunes and all the AIFF are in the recycle bin. Thanks for your help.
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[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+customize+the+toolbar]
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Can't convert AIFF to MP3

Can’t convert songs in iTunes. I have iTunes 7.02. I’ve followed the process as detailed in iTunes help as well as in a “missing manuals” book.
Here’s what I’ve done to try to change a song from AIFF file to MP3:
1) In iTunes, chose iTunes > Preferences
2) Chose “Advanced”
3) Chose “Importing”
4) Was told to use “Pop-Up” menu to select between: AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless Encoder, MP3, or WAV;
However, there is no “Pop-Up” menu........never has been;
So,
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5) Clicked “OK”
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Presumably, after you do that (which I couldn’t) iTunes automatically converts selected song to the format I’ve chosen, plays it through while converting, resulting in a duplicate song, only in MP3 format. The original AIFF song is supposed to remain in the Library.
So why aren’t things happening they way iTunes Help and the book I’m using said they would?
Finally, after changing things in iTunes Preferences, how do I leave "Preferences": for example: should it always be left: Import Using: AIFF Encoder and Setting: Automatic?
My iMac specs should be listed below.
Any suggestions? Thank you in advance.

hi nemateoz,
here are some clarifications;
"However, there is no “Pop-Up” menu."
correct, its a drop-down list.
"Went back to Preferences > Advanced to try and click “Convert Selection to MP3"."
no, this option isn't located in the Advanced tab from the iTunes preferences but in the menu "Advanced" of iTunes (as Files, Edit, etc). This may be confusing thaugh.
"The original AIFF song is supposed to remain in the Library."
Correct; files will be duplicated. if you want to sort them easily, right click on any colum title of your library view and select "Genre". this will add a colum showing the file genre (aiff, mp3, etc) so you can sort them.
"So why aren’t things happening they way iTunes Help and the book I’m using said they would?"
i don'T know where you got your information. maybe you just got confused between advanced menu and advanced tab in preferences.
"Finally, after changing things in iTunes Preferences, how do I leave "Preferences": for example: should it always be left: Import Using: AIFF Encoder and Setting: Automatic?"
depends on what you would like. usually, people will convert aiff files to mp3 or m4a directly from CD; i.e. after inserting a CD, by just clicking "Import CD" button on the lower right corner will import/convert files based on your itunes preferences settings.

Can I put .aiff files on a 4th generation Touch?

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Want to convert .aiff files (8 cds) to .aac format without duplicating
http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=52271
http://www.ehow.com/how_6901066_import-aiff-wav-ipod.html

Is there a way to convert my existing music ( on my i-pod gen 2 ) from AIFF to the Apple Loss-less file type ?

Hi Folks,
Hope someone can help -
After spendings Hours / Days loading copying masses of music ( mostly CD's) to my recently acquired i-pod touch
I'm now fast running out of space!
Most all of this was loaded using the AIFF file format - which I now realise is almost twice the file size
when compared to the Apple Loss-Less format -
I've tried selecting high/lighting tracks ( on the pod ) then select File ( top right on tab ) & then Right Click >
But the option to convert to Apple-LL is 'Greyed out' ?
How do I convert them ? ( Preferable in groups or at least Album by Album rather than starting all over from scratch! )
Await your thoughts Regards M.G.
Apoligies if Iv'e missed out any relevant details - As youv'e probably guessed I'm a bit ~ new to this ~

Hi IIIaass,
Yes I've tried diffrent kbps settings but as I don't know how they copare with AplesLL
it's a bit hit & miss??
Basically all my music is for Dance sessions which often get played at a fair
old volume ( to fill the hall ) which is why I've decided to get it all in one format -
Iv'e just purchased an i-Pad ( to replace my i-Pod ) as it has much larger
storage capacity. It's only a Gen1 - but is soley for music
( so not bothered about internet or watching DVD's etc )
Yes Iv'e had a Google - but it doesn't sound promising
( the few that do seem to be compatable still have problems with 'Tags' or
something to do with track lists / data ?? )
I'm gonner stick with Apple LL - It's what the i-Pad was made for ( me thinks )
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I ask this because if I recall correctly? Under the heading where you can
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I think what I'm trying to ascertain is - Would I get far better results by buying CD's
& manualy copying them to my i-tunes device - rather than downloading inferior versions?
My reasoning re- going this route is - I'll always have hard copies to keep ( literally )
Along with the saving grace ( & heart ache ) if/when a device fails or the system
crashes I'd risk loosing everything !
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Kind Regards M.G.

I have my library in AIFF format on my iMac. I want to converte all in Apple less loss on my macbook pro. how can i do? becouse if i converte the files, i find on library the two version, AIFF and Apple lessloss....

about 300 CD imported on my IMAC in AIFF version.
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I import on the finder'S macbook pro all the library ( many gigabyte in AIFF version). I open Itunes, add to library the folder, on preference i set Apple lessloss, but itunes import AIFF version.
If i converte on itunes the files, i find all the two version: AIFF and Apple lessloss. I cannot remove manually all the file AIFF....
Duplicate files is impossible to remove with 11 version...

Select 'Songs' then 'List'. Click on the top of the 'Kind' column to sort by type of file, thus bringing all the AIFF files together. (If you don't have a 'Kind' column, enable it in View>View Options).
Click on the top AIFF file in the list, then shift click on the bottom one to select them all. Hit the delete key. At the prompt, be sure to choose to move them to the Trash or they will disappear from the list but remain in the actual Library in the Finder.

Converting AIFF files to take up less space

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