2nd part of my post.
2) If you have the original cd and want bit rate >= 256k.
ok this is the faffy one.
I didn't do all my collection at apple lossless (highest quality) I did some! mostly soundtrack, classical, jazz, accoustic. For albums I really like I tend to import at 320k, for ones I don't 256k. since storage on the phones ipod is increasing I guess now you can import at 320k with out fear.
as a guide to track size from the link below.
At 128kbps a 3 minute song will use approx 3MB.
At 320 kbps a 3 minute song will use approx 7MB.
At Apple Lossless a 3 minute song is approx 15MB
But I have found lossless to be higher than this on variable bit rate
4 mins is about 36mb. some of my classical files are huge >120mb per track.
Anyway the link below highlights how to change the settings but I have a few additional notes on how to preserve your playcount. NOTE I didn't use lame, these instruction are for just itunes and you doing the work not 3rd party plug-ins or software. read this before continuing it works for pc and mac as I have done this on both systems.
http://macintoshhowto.com/itunes/imp...to-itunes.html
What are the best settings to import songs into itunes?
ok ready? BACK-UP first.
OK so the file structure is kinda the same between mac and pc.
usualy people set there music library as (my) music/ itunes/artist/album/[your songs].aac
note that in the itunes folder your your xml file for itunes. the way it works is that it stores bookmarks for tracks in the sub directories.
So as a test grab a cd of your fav album (Just one as a test!) DON"T load it just yet if you do that it creates a duplicate copy of the track at a higher rate.
right click the track in itunes and click show in finder (OSX)/explorer (MS)
open a new window and create a backup folder on desktop. CUT the files to that folder for that album. (i.e your not deleting your 128k files as this is a test run).
see the guide link above to select the bit rate you want. insert the cd and import.
NOW it's been a while since I done this so please feel free to correct me here but when you use search in itunes for album you will see two 2 entries for each track.
right click on the field bar and select "bit rate" and do the same again and do "date added".
sort by "date added" this makes it easier to select the entries you have just added. highlight them and delete them.
IMPORTANT BIT itunes at this point will ask you two questions (unless you have previously checked the first click box)
1st one is - "Are you sure you want to remove this track from your library". yes is the answer
2nd question is:- " Do you want to move the selected song to trash or keep it in the media folder": you are presented 3 options cancel/keep file/ move to trash.
at this point select "keep file".
recap of what you have done at this point.
1) moved the original 128k outside the itunes folder sturcture.
2) imported the album again using higher bit rate.
3) deleted the itunes entry for the higher bit rate files. BUT retained the files (see music/itunes/artist/album/)
So all that need to be done is to re-reference the 128K entry in itunes to the new higher bit rate track location for itunes.
So go to your itunes original 128K tag with the play count (note the bit rate at this point) and play/double click. You will get error message saying someting like I can't find your file! click locate now select the the track name in your finder or explorer. the song should play with the play count intacted and note the bit rate as been changed to the higher one also date added has been changed.
once done, sync your pod, and read point 2 below.
2 points of caution where I made mistakes.
1st) in the hurry you can select the wrong file for the track just move the file outside itunes folder and click to play again it will ask you again to select the track. then just move the higher rate one back in.
2nd) apple changed itunes a few versions back so that if a file was corrupted it would import the file back into itunes from your pod, phone. if it ask something about importing files upon syncing click ignore or it will pull all your old files back in. typically upon syncing it ask a question I can't remember off the top of my head what it is and it replaces the ipod iphone version with the newer one.
that's it you have just done one album! if all is well you can delete the older 128K files and do another.
I run an older version of itunes when doing this apple may have changes how smart itunes is and made things easier and I probably haven't got it 100% right. but I hope you get the general just of what just took place.