itunes playlist question

[9000]

anyone know if it's possible with itunes to condense a playlist of multiple files into one large file?

[johansen smith]

no, I think you need mp3 joiner software for that

[9000]

no, I think you need mp3 joiner software for that

thanks. recomendations?

[johansen smith]

are you on a PC or Mac?

[9000]

are you on a PC or Mac?

pc, like the commercials.

[Elijah]

The easiest thing to do would be to use a stream-ripper program (like one of these (http://www.versiontracker.com/php/search.php?mode=basic&action=search&str=record+stream&srchArea=windows&x=0&y=0)), to just record the iTunes playlist in real time. This way, iTunes can normalize the sound levels, and you can even record the playlist with crossfades if you wish.

[johansen smith]

yeah but those real time streamers are so lossy.
9000, I'll ask the PC people I know which program they use

[Elijah]

yeah but those real time streamers are so lossy.
9000, I'll ask the PC people I know which program they useYou do lose sound quality, but I think that unless every single MP3 file is the same bitrate--most likely not the case, unless you're dealing solely with files that you ripped from your own CD library--you can't combine them into one file without transcoding (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcode), which is essentially what you're doing when you record an MP3 playlist in real time. The only non-lossy way to do this would be to start with uncompressed audio, and not rip anything to MP3 until the files are combined into one. I could be wrong.

Oh, and btw... an even simpler solution would be to burn your playlist onto a CD, then rip the CD as one huge continuous file.

[9000]

Oh, and btw... an even simpler solution would be to burn your playlist onto a CD, then rip the CD as one huge continuous file.

ah, this does sound easy. i'll have to find the option in itunes; haven't seen it before.

[Elijah]

After you insert the CD, select all the tracks, then go to Advanced --> Join CD Tracks. It will then rip the entire CD as one continuous file.

[9000]

After you insert the CD, select all the tracks, then go to Advanced --> Join CD Tracks. It will then rip the entire CD as one continuous file.

thank you, sir.

[johansen smith]

wow, I didn't know about that either.

[Fiona]

I use that option when ripping mixes to avoid the gaps between tracks. Sorry, 9000, figured you'd be familiar with that one, so said nowt.

[Lukas]

I use audacity, it's a pain but I get my transitions perfect that way.