Choosing import options

You can choose the encoding format (MP3, AIFF, or WAV) and other import options that iTunes uses to import songs. Your choices affect the audio quality and size of the song file.

MP3 format is a high-quality, Internet-standard encoding method that's best for most uses. AIFF and WAV formats are not compressed and require large amounts of disk space (about 650 MB per CD or 9 MB per minute of music). If you plan to make the highest quality CDs at the expense of using a lot of disk space, choose AIFF. The WAV encoder is primarily for use with Windows computers or computers that do not have MP3 software.

Choose Preferences from the Edit menu, then click the Importing tab and choose an encoder (MP3, AIFF, or WAV). If you choose MP3, you can also set configuration options for the encoding. If you plan to create your own audio CDs, or listen to your music with high-quality stereo speakers, choose the High Quality setting. If you listen with headphones or play music in a noisy environment, choose the Better setting. For portable MP3 players with limited storage capacity, use the Good setting to fit more songs on the device. The Good setting creates songs that are about 1 MB in size per minute of music.

To customize your import options, choose Custom from the Configuration pop-up menu in the Importing pane. For more information, click "Tell me more."

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