How can I get my existing AAC files to work with my iPod?
First, you need to get iTunes 4 and the iPod Updater 1.3. Start downloading the installers while you read this...
Now let's start with a little explaination. For reasons beyond our imagination, Apple didn't consult us when designing iTunes 4. In order for iTunes to properly handle files created by AACelerator the type and creator for the MPEG-4 files need to be set properly. iTunes expects AAC files to have a creator of "hook" and a file type of "M4A ".
The major difference in AACelerator 1.02 is that the files should be brought into iTunes as MPEG-4 files, not converted to AAC files. Converting the files first using the old make4iPod AppleScript dropplet is not recommended. Instead, we recommend converting the type and creator codes after the songs have been imported into iTunes using the scripts described. However, once these codes have been set correctly files will play back in iTunes with all effects (cross-fade and equalizer settings) and synchronize with an iPod. The quality of playback on an iPod is outstanding!
Downloading the latest version of AACelerator (1.01) installs two AppleScripts into the iTunes Script menu. The scripts work as follows:
- make4iPod
To convert song files created with AACelerator into AAC files capable of being synced with your iPod, select them in the main browser window of the iTunes music player an select the script "AACelerator - make4iPod" from the iTunes Script Menu. The script will only change files created with AACelerator or that have type and creator codes of "mpg4" and "TVOD". MP3 files, purchased music, and other types of audio media files will not be changed. However, the resulting AAC files, if transferred to another computer, will loose their tag information if added to that computer's iTunes application. So, we also included the next script. - restoreMP4
If you wish to restore the original type and creator codes of MPEG-4 files for transfer to another computer, select the audio tracks in iTunes' main browser window and choose the script "AACelerator - restoreMP4" from the script menu. This will allow tag information embedded in the audio file to be properly recognized when re-importing into another computer's iTunes library. This script only affects files ending in ".mp4" and that have type and creator codes of "M4A " and "hook".
The latest version of AACelerator (1.02) has a removed the iTunes check box found in version 1.01. The favored method of obtaining iPod compatibility while maintaining the highest level of tag transfer into iTunes is to bring the AACelerator created files in as MPEG-4 files. iTunes will recognize the tag embedded in the audio file. Once the audio tracks have been integrated into your iTunes library, use the make4iPod script to convert the tracks to AAC files.