Make Mine MPEG-4 v4.5.1

Updated Features In Version 4.5.1 [november 12 '04]

— works around so-called iTunes 4.7 "selection bug"

Before Using

You must have iTunes 4, QuickTime 6.2 Pro or better (version 6.4 or better recommended), and Mac OS X 10.2 or better.

Make Mine MPEG-4 is an AppleScript Studio application and can be placed anywhere you like on your computer. Your Applications folder is probably the best place.

Unlike earlier versions, this MMM4 cannot be run from iTunes' Scripts Menu. However, the accompanying compiled AppleScript, "Activate MMM4", can be placed in iTunes Scripts folder (home > Library > iTunes > Scripts) and it will run Make Mine MPEG-4 from iTunes Scripts Menu.

Before using, take note of these Preferences that must be set in iTunes and QuickTime:

• Under the "General" preferences in iTunes, "On CD Insert" should be set to "Show Songs".

• Under the "Advanced" preferences in iTunes, "Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library" may have to be checked, even if just temporarily while running Make Mine MPEG-4 (see Known Issues below).

• In QuickTime, you should set the export settings for MPEG-4 by manually loading an AIFF, WAV, or MP3 file (using the "Open Movie" command), selecting "Export" under the "File" menu, and then clicking the "Options" button in the dialog that appears; choose "Movie to MPEG-4". Then under the "Audio" tab set the Bit Rate you wish to use. If you're using QuickTime 6.2 or better you can also set the Output Sample Rate and Quality. You may also want to look at the "Streaming" and "Compatibility" tabs and adjust pertinent settings there. You needn't actually carry out the export for the settings to "stick"...


Audio tab in the Export Settings window of QuickTime Pro.

How To Use

• Insert a CD and let iTunes open it.

• Designate the CD tracks in iTunes you wish to import by checking a CD track's "enabled" checkbox.

• Now, run Make Mine MPEG-4 by double-clicking on its icon (or use the accompanying AppleScript, "Activate MMM4" from iTunes Scripts Menu). After checking for the correct versions of the OS, QuickTime, and iTunes, the Preferences screen will be displayed:


The Preferences window of Make Mine MPEG-4.

• Set your Preferences as follows:

Import/Convert

Import files from iTunes CD [default]
When this option is selected, enabled (checkmarked) CD tracks will be imported.

Convert selected AIFF tracks in iTunes
Select this option and instead of using CD tracks as the source, any AIFF files among the selected (hilited) iTunes tracks will be converted; the original AIFF files remain intact. (This option is only available after you register.)


Where To Put Files

Use temporary folders during rip/convert and allow iTunes to keep files organized [default]
Make Mine MPEG-4 creates a temporary "work" folder in your home directory for each session where it keeps transitional and intermediate files. After files are added to iTunes, this temporary folder (and its contents) is deleted. It is assumed that iTunes will keep your files organized.

Save files to this folder:
When this button is selected you can choose the folder to save the ripped files to.


Adding Tracks To iTunes

Keep new tracks in iTunes "Library" [default]
Add the ripped/converted files to iTunes but do not create a new playlist for them.

Add new tracks to this playlist:
When this is selected, you can enter the name of a playlist and the newly imported/converted tracks will be added to it; if the playlist doesn't yet exist it will be created. The handy "Get CD name" button will enter the name of the CD for you.

Do not add tracks to iTunes
Selecting this button will keep new tracks from being added to iTunes. If you are using a temporary folder (using the first Where To Put Files option setting, above) the temporary folder will not be deleted, and that's where you will find the ripped files when finished.


Afterwards...

Save as...
Checking one of these buttons will determine how your files are exported from QuickTime:

.m4a - iTunes preferred creator and file type, accepts ID3 Tag data and supports iTunes Effects (default).
.mp4 - QuickTime movie file, playable in iTunes, but does not support ID3 Tag data or iTunes Effects, recognized by some software audio players, including some Windows players. [interesting Mac OS X Hints tip]
.mov - QuickTime movie file, accepts file info as QT attributes, playable on some other audio players.

Eject CD
If this option is selected the CD will be ejected when MMM4 is finished importing files from it.

Empty Trash
Your Trash may contain files and folders used during the rip/conversion. Checking this option will empty the Trash for you after the CD is ripped.


Remember these settings

Check this box to keep the same settings for the next time you use Make Mine MPEG-4.

• When you have set the Preferences the way you like them, click the "Proceed..." button.

• If you wish to quit at any time during the exporting process, click on the "Stop" button of QuickTime's "Exporting movie" dialog.

• When the application is finished you will be notified. Intermediate files—if any—will have been moved to your Trash.

• You can continue ripping CDs, or Quit Make Mine MPEG-4, as it suits you.

Download Make Mine MPEG-4

Registering

This is a trial version of Make Mine MPEG-4 and you can use it to import 10 CDs. After you pay the $7.00 shareware fee you will receive a registration code to enable the application to rip as many CDs as you like and enable the "Convert" function. You'll also enable me to continue working on Make Mine MPEG-4 and make it work better for you!

This upgrade is free for registered users. Thank You!

You can make safe and secure payments using your credit card. Just click either the "Kagi" or the "PayPal" button below.

Currently, I can only accept credit card and echeck payments electronically via PayPal and Kagi. For other payment options, please email me at dougadams@mac.com

Known Issues

"Not found" Errors. Previous versions of the app would report "file not found" if the filename of the file you were importing included international characters. This issue has been resolved.

However, if the title of your CD or a CD track contains ":" or "/" (for example, the title "Essential '80s: 1985-1989" or the track name "Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Jar") you may get a "directory not found" error or "file such-and-such wasn't found" error. This is because these punctuation marks are seen by the script as directory delimiters. The fix: rename the CD or CD track in iTunes and replace the colon or backslash with a dash or underscore (or whatever you prefer); then eject the CD. This ensures the new name is stored in iTunes database. Then re-load the CD and run Make Mine MPEG-4 again. You can always change the CD title or track name back after the rip using the same procedure.

Note: By virtue of using QuickTime 6.4 or better, some of these problems appear resolved.

Crashes. I have received reports of iTunes crashing when attempting to play some .M4A tracks ripped with MMM4, although I have been unable to duplicate this phenomenon. It seems to be rare, and is not predictably consistent. This workaround seems to work: set MMM4 preferences to "Save files to this folder:" (Desktop is fine), "Do not add to iTunes", and ".m4a". You will have to manually add the ripped files, but at least they will not crash iTunes. [may 30 '03]

Temporary folder. In order to better facilitate error-free encoding, a temporary folder (called "name of CD ƒ") is created in your "home" folder, and moved to the Trash when the operation is finished. This folder may be left behind in the "home" folder if, for some reason, the script is unable to properly complete its operation.

Copy files to iTunes Music folder when adding to library: This "Advanced" iTunes preference should be checked if you have selected MMM4's Use temporary folders during rip/convert and allow iTunes to keep files organized option.


On the other hand, if you do not want to check this preference, then select MMM4's Do not add tracks to iTunes preference. This will keep the tracks in the temporary folder (or the folder you have selected) and you can add them to iTunes yourself—or not.

If you have any problems, ideas or suggestions, email me.

My name is Doug Adams,
dougadams@mac.com

Version History

v4.5.1 (nov12'04 — current)
- works around so-called iTunes 4.7 "selection bug"

v4.5 (oct21'03)
- updated for Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther)
- added option to convert selected iTunes AIFF files
- added option to eject CD when finished

v4.2 (may15'03)
- added option to export AAC files as iTunes-preferred ".m4a" type
- pads single digit track numbers in filenames with a "0" (this should have been done long ago!)

v4.1 (apr21'03)
- fixed a problem that occurred when importing files whose filenames contain international characters: — ä, é, ñ, ö, etcetera
- added UNIX shell commands to replace some Finder scripting
- streamlining of code

v4.0.1 (jan16'03)
- "Save as .mov" now handles long filenames
- .mov files now include track number annotation
- removed "encoder branding" in Comments field

v4.0 (jan7'03)
- new AppleScript Studio interface
- all settings now in a single window
- added option to remember all settings between uses
- added option to choose specific folder to rip files to
- added "don't add to iTunes" option
- added option to convert files to .mov
- no longer quits after a rip; waits to continue or quit
- added application icon
- added shareware-trial limit
- added "Done" sound
- added link to the info/registration site in Web Menu
- better at detecting non-audio CDs
- added "Activate MMM4" AppleScript to run from iTunes

v3.5.1 (oct24'02):
- fixes a problem where a "parameter error" might be generated if iTunes was not the frontmost application
- removed shareware nag
- better error checking during transfer of track info

v3.5 (oct21'02):
- only enabled ("checked") tracks are considered for ripping; "selection" of tracks no longer an option
- new option to keep ripped tracks in Library or copy to a new or existing playlist
- option to empty Trash when finished is presented before ripping, not afterwards
- CD needn't be selected in Source window
- no longer brings applications to the front unnecessarily
- no longer views the new Playlist when finished
- better awareness of temp_folder; will delete if folder with same name exists
- doesn't "check back" with iTunes for tracks during process

v3.1 (oct5'02):
- ripping is now handled by QuickTime which precludes the need for intermediate AIFF files (which also eliminated a potential Finder problem)
- temporary folder now incorporates name of the CD
- detects if files have been automatically copied to iTunes' designated Music folder
- updated the Read Me

v2.0.1 (sept12'02):
- consolidated some code
- rename intermediate .aiff file to just first two characters of filename
- close QT window after each export
- error checking around importing and exporting to respond to "Stop"
- get CD track data after re-import, instead of up front
- download includes "(Son of) Make Mine MPEG-4", companion script which eliminates iTunes as the ripper; QuickTime processes selected tracks and exports them as MP4 files

v2.0 (sept2'02):
- updated for use with OS X v10.2 (Jaguar)
- now imports all available CD track ID3 Tag info and transfers to final MP4 track entry in iTunes.
- worked around/added automatic truncating of temporary AIFF filenames greater than 31 characters, which would choke QuickTime.
- recanted caution about un-checked "Create file names with track number" Import preference.

v1.4 (jul29'02):
- eliminated problem some users were experiencing when Finder Preferences were set to not show disks on the desktop.

v1.3 (jul23'02):
- eliminated/worked-around a situation during which almost all "-120: folder some object not found" errors were occurring.

v1.2 (jul22'02):
- Fixed localization bug
- Worked around problem with long folder/album name (-120 error)
- Use fixed indexing

v1.1 (jul20'02):
- Better removal of stray AIFF tracks
- Moves intermediate AIFF files to Trash
- Option to Empty Trash when finished
- Quits QuickTime when finished
- Added genre and year support