how do i get an ipod to copy 100 cds with minimal repetitive tedious labor?

July 8, 2007 8:11 PM

Ugh. I Can't believe i'm asking a (probably) stooopid ipod question-filter...

I have an ipod. I want to load it with CDs and DVDs of audio- but am dreading the thought of importing each one seperately.

is there a way to just use my computer's two cd rom drives to insert cd, computer reads it, converts it to ipod, and then spits it out, and ready for the next cd to be inserted to repeat the process?

I have searched and searched- but all the questions are much more complicated then mine- I can't find an answer...!

I want a simple Insert a CD>Computer automatically copies and imports to ipod>ejects cd and awaits next cd> rinse, wash repeat.

I'm talking about 100+ or so cds. (or less it i cant fit that many on my 80 GB video ipod).

posted by Izzmeister to technology (10 comments total)

ITunes will do this if you set it up in the prefs. Under Advanced/Importing.
posted by doctor_negative at 8:21 PM on July 8, 2007

This is easy to do. If you have the latest version (7.3), do this.
Go to Edit > Preferences > Advanced. Then click the importing tab and for the first option On CD Insert, choose import CD and eject. voila!
posted by special-k at 8:29 PM on July 8, 2007 [1 favorite]

It helps if you also tell iTunes not to play the CDs as it imports them.

Audio books go much faster at 128k mono.
posted by b1tr0t at 9:41 PM on July 8, 2007

Actually there is an encoding profile set up specifically for audio content. It's not MP3 though, but AAC. I think it's like 22kHz, mono, very low bitrate, with bandpass filtering centered on human speech to reduce artifacts. I use it extensively for audiobooks and it sounds just fine to me.

Of course, you'll have a hard time playing the resulting files on an el-cheapo MP3 player, but the iPod handles them just fine.

Just remember to set the encoder back to your regular music settings after you're done with the audiobook, because music sounds like crap when encoded that way... :)
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:55 PM on July 8, 2007

I'm talking about 100+ or so cds. (or less it i cant fit that many on my 80 GB video ipod).

Don't worry about it all not fitting. I probably have close to 450 albums on the 'ol 30G iPod, and it's only just getting full.
posted by The Esteemed Doctor Bunsen Honeydew at 12:46 AM on July 9, 2007

One point: You're looking for automatic importing to the iPod, which isn't going to happen with any of the examples given. Closest you're going to get is automatic importing (upon CD insert) into the iTunes library. You'll then be able to drag the whole collection of everything you imported into iTunes to your iPod and have everything copied at once.

Or you could add the newly imported audio files to a Playlist and set iTunes to automatically sync that Playlist every time you plug in the iPod. That'll take care of the iPod importing automatically.
posted by emelenjr at 4:45 AM on July 9, 2007

thanks. y'all.

i'll try all this. i was soo busy looking for a third party application that i didnt realize it was built into itunes!
posted by Izzmeister at 6:00 AM on July 9, 2007

For the truly lazy, there are services which will do this for you. Search for cd to mp3 service.
posted by seanyboy at 7:07 AM on July 9, 2007

By default, iTunes will automatically sync your entire library to your iPod, without a need to create a special playlist or drag any items about.
posted by andrewraff at 7:40 AM on July 9, 2007

Does iTunes make mp3s that are indistinguishable from mp3s made by other programs?
posted by Caviar at 7:11 AM on July 10, 2007