iPod Automatic conversion from lossless to mp3?

[ChrisA]

I have a large iTunes library most of the music is Apple Lossless format. Most of the time I don't mind that far fewer songs will fit on my iPod because I can re-sync the iPod with different play lists. But sometimes the iPod can't be sync'd for a long time and I'd like to put compressed music on it.

My shuffle solves this problem very well because iTunes will compress the music during the sync operation. But this feature is missing on other kinds of iPods.

What I'd like to do is maintain a copy of my lossless library in 128K bit per second format then if I want more music I just sync from the compressed library.

Questions:

1. What's the best way to initially create the second library? (I have about 14,000 tracks.)
2. What is the best way to maintain two libraries. Rip every new CD twice? The must be a better way.

 

[Consultant]

There are scripts but it's not very elegant.

You might want to write to Apple: apple.com/feedback

Apple already have the function for iPod shuffle. Just need it for the rest of the devices.

 

[Deadwing]

Hi Chris,

I've had this same problem, here is my solution.

When I started my itunes library back in 2003, I had a G4 Powerbook with an 80 GB hard drive. I ripped my music in AAC format, 192 kbps. I got the bulk of my music onto my laptop, making sure that my library wasn't bigger than my ipod (40 GB).

By the time I bought a new imac with a larger hard drive, I began ripping my discs all over again. Apple Lossless was my preferred choice. I created a new user account on my imac, and created a new itunes library which was stored on a 1 TB external drive.

I would import songs into my original library, and transcode the lossless files to 320 AAC for my "lossy" library which I sync with ipod and iphone. The home sharing option in the newest version of itunes really streamlines this process.