Got an iMac and 400 cds to "import"

[propita]

We finally got the big iMac and the screen is great. So now I have to learn all sorts of shit about it. But the first thing I want to do is get all 400 cds in it so we can actually listen to them sometime. I got a couple of questions:

Any good websites for when the album cover won't show up?

What kind of security do I need, for virus, firewall, etc? I know there's few for Mac, but there's got to be something bad out there, right?

Btw, the screen is great. My little laptop seems so tiny by comparison. And the sound is great too.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

This is my favorite site for album art:

Album Art Exchange

 

[Small White Car]

First off, did it come with a magic mouse? You HAVE to get this free software:

http://magicprefs.com/

It will give you more preferences that the OS doesn't offer. For example, did you know your mouse can have a middle-click button?

Put that in your application folder. Run it once and then turn off the little icon it puts up by the clock. You can access in the Mac's System Preferences whenever you need to change it.

Any good websites for when the album cover won't show up?

I just use Google image search. It's rare it won't find something I can use.

What kind of security do I need, for virus, firewall, etc? I know there's few for Mac, but there's got to be something bad out there, right?

No viruses.

Mal-ware, sure, but that mostly falls under "don't download weird things from sites you don't trust. It's the same as getting e-mails from your "bank" that look funny. That kind of stuff can get anyone, but there's no software that can help you there...just use common sense.

But just to be extra safe, here are 3 things I suggest doing:

1) In Safari, go to the preferences and turn OFF the "Open Safe Files After Downloading" check box.

2) In the Mac's System Preferences go to SECURITY > FIREWALL (click the lock in the lower left to unlock it) and turn it on (by starting it).

3) Log into your router (I can't say how without knowing what you have) and make sure your network has a password on it.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ One thing about the OSX firewall: If you have a wireless router, like an Airport Extreme (or Express), you don't need the software firewall, so you should turn it off. The router will handle everything you need in that regard.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

For album artwork, I usually use allmusic.com. It's probably not the best, but I've always used it, so it's good for consistency.

 

[Small White Car]

^ One thing about the OSX firewall: If you have a wireless router, like an Airport Extreme (or Express), you don't need the software firewall, so you should turn it off. The router will handle everything you need in that regard.

Good point.

Here's some other free stuff new Mac owners should get:

http://perian.org
http://dynamic.telestream.net/downloads/download-flip4macwmv.htm
http://clicktoflash.com/
https://www.dropbox.com/ (sign up for free online account and install free Mac software)
http://handbrake.fr/downloads.php (You want the 64-bit Intel Version) << Rips DVDs for iPods, iPhones, Apple TVs, iTunes
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ (You need this program to go with Handbrake for it to work)
http://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/status/istatpro.html

And finally...some Safari Extensions:
https://extensions.apple.com/

PPS: Make sure you have an external drive and are using it for Time Machine. There's no excuse for not doing that.

 

[propita]

Thanks, everyone!

I'll be looking into all of this in the next week.

It's kinda daunting to look at row after row of cds. I know the method is quick, but even quick is going to take time. The best thing is that, once done, they can all be boxed up or removed from the jewel boxes or whatever and stored. After that, Hubby can sort through and make playlists and copy to his yet-to-be-delivered ipod--which I suspect I will be using more than he.

 

[Amaris]

Good luck, propita. It was mind numbing when I transferred all my albums to my iMac.

 

[Mr. B]

Are you planning to rip the CDs to a lossless format? It would be a shame to do all that work just to have inferior mp3 copies of your stuff.

 

[propita]

Are you planning to rip the CDs to a lossless format? It would be a shame to do all that work just to have inferior mp3 copies of your stuff.

Pardon my ignorance, but ... huh?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

And who uses MP3 anymore? AAC is far superior.

In any case, most of us don't have anywhere near enough room on our iPods (or whatever) to have lossless copies of everything.

 

[Amaris]

And who uses MP3 anymore? AAC is far superior.

In any case, most of us don't have anywhere near enough room on our iPods (or whatever) to have lossless copies of everything.

I still use MP3s because I don't have any portable devices that play AAC.

 

[spinnerlys]

Mac OS X Basics, Malware, Software and other useful links

 

[Mr. B]

Are you planning to rip the CDs to a lossless format? It would be a shame to do all that work just to have inferior mp3 copies of your stuff.

Pardon my ignorance, but ... huh?

A lossless file is a perfect copy of the CD whereas a lossy formats like AAC or MP3 throw away sound information to save space. If you're going to the trouble to import hundreds of CDs, it makes sense to create a perfect copy. If you encode to a lossless file and later burn that on a disc, every bit will be identical to the pressed CD. I happen to think FLAC is the best music format but iTunes doesn't play nice with it. Apple Lossless would work fine, thuogh.

It does require considerably more space but those limitations are fading away with each passing year. You can find 1 terabyte hard drives for under $70 today.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

AAC sounds just fine to me.

 

[Mr. B]

Most people listen to crappy files with crappy earbuds, that doesn't make it good.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I have a good pair of noise cancelling headphones, and AAC's *still* sound fine.

Besides, I buy all my music from the iTunes Store now, so I might as well get used to 'em anyway.

 

[Small White Car]

Most people listen to crappy files with crappy earbuds, that doesn't make it good.

I feel that 256 kbps AAC files are a good compromise between size and quality.

(I mean, people were happy with DVDs for a long time (many still are) and that's a MUCH bigger compromise than 256 AACs!)

Propita, if you go into the iTunes import settings, it's the one it simply calls 'iTunes Plus.' Or, heck, pick 'iTunes Plus' and then go into the custom settings and boost it to 320 kbps if you want to go crazy. I'm happy with 256, personally.

It's great to say "you should have the best quality!" but eventually you have to be realistic about things. Compromises should be made. That's the reason I have over 5 TB of data on my computer...I have trouble compromising and it makes my life difficult sometimes. I don't suggest others follow in my path, especially if they own iMacs. My iTunes music is the one area of my life where I feel that I have done a pretty good job so I feel comfortable suggesting what I do there to other people.

 

[TheBrew]

I would say make a copy of everything to an external HD so that when you get a new PC and want to transfer them over (or if your Mac crashes), you don't have to burn them again.

 

[Rii]

And who uses MP3 anymore?

Anyone who cares about portability?

AAC is far superior.

The marginal benefits of AAC over MP3 can be offset by using a higher bitrate on the latter. And if you're really interested in quality then you won't be using either.