Use iTunes4 to convert AIFF files without adding to library

Jun 06, '03 09:44:00AM

Contributed by: pascalpp

As a musician, I'm frequently bouncing files from my audio sequencer (Logic) to AIFF and then converting them to MP3 for posting on the web. In iTunes2, you could convert any AIFF file to MP3 by choosing Advanced -> Convert to MP3... which would bring up a file select dialog. In iTunes3 and iTunes4, this menu item changed to read 'Convert Selection to MP3', so you had to add the AIFF file to your library before converting it, and then you'd have to remove the AIFF file afterward.

I just discovered that you can bring up a file select dialog to convert any file without first adding it to your library by holding down Option and then clicking on the Advanced menu. The menu item changes to read 'Convert to MP3...'. Yay! If you have iTunes set to encode using AAC, this menu item will read 'Convert to AAC...'.

[robg adds: Amazing; hadn't thought to try that. Even if I had, I probably would have missed it, as the iTunes menus are not "dynamic." You need to hold down Option prior to selecting the menu; unlike the Finder and many other OS X apps, you won't see changes in real time as you press and release the Option key.]

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