WOO!

How did you go about doing that? Software or just re-rip everything?

For the DRM-protected files, software. TuneClone. It creates a fake CD burner on your system, you tell iTunes to burn a disc, the software then converts it to MP3. Essentially the same as burning and re-ripping, but we had a good amount of iTunes-purchased music piled up and this was a much faster solution.

For non-DRM protected AAC files (anything recently purchased, or the large collection of music that we had ripped from CD before realizing that you can set iTunes to rip to MP3 instead of AAC), iTunes has a "create MP3 version" option built in.

Awesome. I'll have to check out TuneClone.

I need to pick up a new desktop to function as a file server (or maybe pick up one of those home server boxes). The majority of my music is on an external drive but I want to re-rip the music I still have the CDs of into a higher quality.

You know you are a luddite when you have no clue what the above means.

I'm with you there. I don't really understand the differences. Maybe I have a tin ear. I suppose I'll be pissed off if it all goes missing, and all the techies will laugh and point.

When I read it the voice in my head was the grown ups on Peanuts - mah mah mah mah mah

DRM = Digital Rights Management. Until about 4 months ago any music you bought from iTunes came with DRM protection meaning you could play the files on only up to 5 different computers and you could burn the music only up to 5 times. They have since stopped doing that and any music you buy can be copied and burnt as many times as you'd like (or at least most, there might still be some music that's protected, but the great majority for sure is not).

The other part of the equation is file format. When you buy music from iTunes, it's in Apple's proprietary "AAC" format. This means it can only be played with Apple products (iTunes, and iPod, Quicktime). Converting the files to MP3 instead means I can play them with whatever software/hardware I want, which for me means I can finally use WinAmp as my music server and easily play music remotely. It also means I can put any of my music on my phone so I don't always have to carry a phone AND an iPod.

My life is so much easier in this respect. Come over to my world.

Were you able to use the free version to complete the job? is it limited by time or by production quantity? (their site doesn't seem to tell)

The free version cuts songs of off at 3 minutes, so it's not a viable option. Due to the amount of purchased music we have accumulated, the cost was worth it to me. If you've only got a handful of purchased albums, physically burning and re-importing the music might be a better option.