burning mp3 cd from aac files?

[miniMAMF]

My library is a mix of mp3 and unprotected aac files. I want to burn an mp3 CD to listen to in the car, but it seems iTunes will only allow mp3 files. I was hoping it could transcode the aac files on the fly during the burn, but I guess that's wishful thinking.

I need iTunes to do this because I would use a smart playlist to generate some good material for a CD, so I need some way to get AAC songs on there.

Unfortunately my car stereo does not support AAC.

Does anyone know of a workaround for me, or am I out of luck here?

Thanks

 

[booyah]

The best thing I can think of is to create the smart playlist, then select all in the playlist and convert to MP3 within iTunes. Use this playlist to then burn to CD, and delete the MP3 conversions after you're done.
I'm not sure I explained that well...

 

[miniMAMF]

Thanks, booyah.

If I do that, iTunes won't delete the original AAC files, will it? I manage my own folders. Will it dump the new mp3's into the "iTunes Music" folder, with folders for each artist and album?

And what will happen to the library link for that song? Will the main one in the library now reference the new mp3? That would suck.

 

[bwh79]

The original AAC files will not be deleted. New copies will be created in the "iTunes Music folder", as defined in Edit->Preferences->Advanced->General. A second copy of the song will appear in your library. All playlists will still point to the original AAC file, only now you have a second copy with which you can do whatever you like.

 

[miniMAMF]

Cool. I'll have to try that then. Just hope I can go to "most recently added" to find the new mp3 so I can delete them after the burn is done.

Thanks guys!

 

[bwh79]

Yes, the new copy of the file will have today's date as the import date, and will thus be at the top of your "Recently Added" list. It will have no rating, play count, or play history, no matter what the original file had.

 

[miniMAMF]

I figured out a different method. I made the smart playlists I wanted, then I dragged the AAC files of that playlist to a folder in Windows, and it made copies of the files. I ran those files though Switch, a freeware converter, so I could customize the mp3 settings. Then dragged the mp3 from the playlist and used Nero to burn the mp3 CD. Seems like I lost some tags along the way, but as long as it plays in the car on shuffle I'll be happy.