Macworld Digital Music & Video Superguide

Learn everything you need to know about digital music and video from the experts at Macworld!

Hey, What's This?
This ebook looks a bit different from the Take Control series, but it has all the features you expect from our ebooks. It was written by our friends at Macworld (some of whom also write for Take Control).

With a colorful layout and cheerful writing, this Superguide helps you collect all your audio and video in iTunes, and play it in iTunes or on a variety of devices. You'll find help with digitizing and organizing content in iTunes, whether from old tapes and LPs, music or audiobook CDs, or a pile of DVDs. The book also looks at how to find free (and not-free) media online through various Web sites and the iTunes Store. Once your content is in iTunes, Macworld's experts provide advice on keeping iTunes organized, finding your stuff, fixing problems, and generally getting the most out of iTunes. Although you can enjoy your content in iTunes, the book also helps you sync it to an Apple TV, iPod, or iPhone, and discusses what to do if your content doesn't sync properly or plays incorrectly. It closes with a look at the choices available—and recommended picks—for iPod/iPhone cases, headphones, speakers, and car attachments.

More Info
Contents & Intro
FAQ

Foreword

Yes, I was actually there when Steve Jobs unveiled the first iPod. And when the event was over, the assembled members of the press were divided into two camps: one group didn't know quite what to make of Apple entering the esoteric world of digital music players, a field with questionable prospects and no dominant products. The other group of us had already grasped what digital music was all about. In fact, we had already begun converting our CD collections into MP3 files.

For the geeky among us, the iPod offered a way to free our digital music from the tyranny of the computer speaker. For the rest of the world, the iPod created a reason to go digital: the appeal of a thousand songs in your pocket was just too good to pass up.

In the intervening years, Apple has brought digital audio and video into the mainstream, not just through the massive success of the iPod, but via the iTunes Store, the iPhone, and the Apple TV. You can now buy music online and take it anywhere. You can buy and rent videos over the Internet and watch them on your couch, computer, or a tiny device that fits in your pocket.

The iPod, iPhone, Apple TV, and your Mac are all cutting-edge technological devices, and that means that they can be complicated. While Apple's products are more intuitive than most, many features can't be mastered simply by reading the flimsy getting-started guides that Apple includes with its products.

That's why Macworld writes about iTunes, the iPod, the iPhone, and Apple TV on a regular basis—to provide tips, tricks, and advice that let you get the most out of your device, your software, and your collection of digital media. And that's why we've created this book—to collect everything we've learned about digital music and video in the past few years, make sure it's up-to-date, and give it to you in one easy package.

Whether you're converting your old records and tapes into MP3s, moving DVDs onto a video iPod, converting those DVDs so they play back in full surround sound on your Apple TV, or just creating awesome iTunes playlists, the team of Macworld editors who assembled this book have expert advice to make your media experience that much more fulfilling.

The world of digital entertainment has come a long way since the day Steve Jobs pulled that first iPod out of the pocket of his blue jeans. But what was true on that day is still true today: it's all about using the power of digital technology to give us more control over our lives. I would never, ever go back to my pre-iPod life. Would you?

—Jason Snell, Editorial Director, Macworld
San Francisco, August 2008

Adding Music to iTunes

Mastering the iTunes Store: Learn the basics of using the iTunes Store including the skinny on what DRM really is and how it could affect your purchasing decisions.
Ripping CDs the Smart Way: Before you can enjoy your digital music library, you have to get the songs into iTunes. Whether you're still buying CDs or just want to digitize your old collection, follow these simple instructions for ripping the highest quality files and choosing the best file format for your setup.
Digitizing Old Cassettes and LPs: Don't just leave your mix tapes and record collections warping in the attic; dust them off and give them a second life on your iPod.
Discovering New Music: Stuck in a rut? Freshen up your library with new music. We cover some of the best options for finding new tunes including social networking sites, podcasts, and free MP3s.
Importing Audiobooks: If you'd rather listen to the latest best seller, this section has everything you need to know to download, format, and enjoy audiobooks on your iPod or iPhone.

Getting Video

Get Video from iTunes: Apple makes it easy to buy or rent videos with the iTunes Store. We'll help you get your bearings, master the pricing structure, and play videos on your iPod, iPhone, and computer.
Apple TV Content: Buy, rent, or convert videos and use the Apple TV to watch them as the studios intended, from your couch. All you need is this quick tutorial and some popcorn.
Converting Video: Turn DVDs and movies already on your hard drive into iPhone-ready files with the step-by-step instructions in this section.
Beyond iTunes: The Web is brimming with alternative, legal, and even free sources for downloading and streaming your favorite TV shows and movies.

Staying Organized in iTunes

Setting Up and Navigating the iTunes Library: The first step in organizing your media library is having a strategy for where and how to store your audio and video files. Following these tips will make getting around a snap and help you tame an overflowing hard drive.
Adding Tags: Under iTunes' surface lies a powerful tool for organizing your digital media. It's called a tag. We explain how to add tags and increase your library sorting power.
Finding Album Art: The cherry on the top of any good music collection is attractive art. However, files you rip or download from other sources often don't include this feature. Learn how to find, add, and flip through the album covers in your library.
Singing Along with Lyrics: Liner notes are dead. Long live liner notes! We'll show you how to find and fill out your song information with lyrics.
Taming a Large Library with Smart Playlists: The larger your collection, the harder it can be to keep organized. Luckily, smart playlists can bring order to the chaos. Build your own or use one of our handy templates.
Working with Podcasts: Do more than just subscribe to a podcast—tweak its preferences, see hidden info, and share it with others.

Managing Devices

Syncing iPods and iPhones: Move music, videos, and podcasts from your computer to your iPod or iPhone and then back again with these syncing basics.
Syncing the Apple TV: Bring your Apple TV and computer in sync. Choose exactly which content you want and see what formats are Apple TV-friendly.
Handling Multiple Devices: What if you have one library but multiple devices to load it on? With these instructions, moving protected media between your iPod, iPhone, computer, and Apple TV is a breeze.
Extending Your Battery's Life: Wring more power out of iPods and iPhones by following these simple rules. For devices already losing their charge, we'll tell you how to get a new battery on the cheap.

Troubleshooting Media Problems

Taming iTunes: Before you get flustered by missing files, denied access, absent audio, or other glitches, check out this section on common iTunes issues.
Soothing a Troubled iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV: Are your devices acting up? Before taking your iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV to the Genius Bar, try fixing what ails it with our easy-to-follow advice.

Finding the Best Accessories

Cases: iPhones and iPods are beautiful devices, but they're still prone to drops and scratches. Protect your iPhone or iPod with one of our favorite cases.
Headphones: Apple's earbuds are serviceable, but if you really want to take your audio to the next level, try upgrading to a set of these high-quality headphones.
Car Accessories: Take your tunes on the road with these FM transmitters, power adapters, and cassette adapters.
Speakers: Whether you're on the go, in your living room, or at your desk, one of these sweet speaker systems is the perfect choice for pumping up the volume.

Visit our catalog to see all the other books we publish!

Teach classes? Check out our discounted class copy pricing!

Book Info

About the Authors

Book Reviews

Author Interviews

Foreword

Table of Contents

Adding Music to iTunes

Getting Video

Staying Organized in iTunes

Managing Devices

Troubleshooting Media Problems

Finding the Best Accessories

Does this book cover iTunes 8?

Can I read this ebook on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch?

Ask a Question

Send Us Your Comments!