[X4U] Can mp3 file be converted to 'Protected/Bookmarked' AAC file?

[Stephen Childs]

On Oct 4, 2004, at 12:42 PM, Stephen Lanza wrote:

> I am trying to convert mp3 files to 'protected/bookmarked' aac files. 
> This
> feature is very useful when listening to music or other audio because 
> iTunes
> or my iPod will remember where you were when you last listened to a
> song/audio file.
>
> I have tried SoundConverter but it doesn't work on aac files just yet 
> (even
> though the latest version has aac as an output type it doesn't work 
> and even
> if it did, it might not do a 'protected/bookmarked' aac file. iTunes 
> will
> convert to aac but not as a protected aac file.
>
> Any ideas on how to do this? Audio Hijack Pro will save files in this 
> format
> but only from an audio source not an mp3 file.
>
> Thanks for any info.
>

I've been using this feature of my iPod since I got it, and it's great. 
  It works well, and I've been able to convert mp3 files to protected 
AACs fairly easily.

iTunes itself can convert from one format to another.  I'm pretty sure 
it depends on your import settings... just set them to AAC, select the 
files you want to convert and under the Advanced menu there should be a 
convert to AAC option (or open up a contextual menu and it should be 
there).  That may take awhile, depending on the speed of your computer, 
and the amount of files you want to convert.

Then, you need the 'Make Bookmarkable' script, available from Doug's 
AppleScripts for iTunes...

http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=makebookmarkable

It changes the file type from M4A to M4B, which convinces iTunes and 
the iPod that it is a bookmark-able file.

It works really well, and lets me have my audiobooks on my iPod.  I 
also set up a smart playlist that includes all the tracks of the book 
that haven't been played in the last month, that way it automatically 
remembers which track you are on.
The only problem I've had with it, is the make bookmarkable script 
didn't seem to work when FileVault is turned on.  I'm not sure why.

Enjoy.

Stephen Childs