How to Convert a Quicktime Movie Audio Track into an mp3

This tutorial is the direct result of listening to
the Mac Show Live Radio Program.
 
During the Mac Show Live's April 18th 2001 show, a listener called in to ask how to convert the show into an mp3, for listening on their mp3 player. I recall other shows where listeners asked the same question. I decided to do a few tests converting an MSL Quicktime archive (Quicktime .mov, compressed as QDesign Music 2, Mono, 2205khz,16 bit, audio only) into an mp3 file.
 
 First, the good news:
  iTunes, or SoundJam, can convert a QT movie audio track into an mp3!
   
 
 
Open iTunes, drag and drop the MSL QT archive onto the iTunes window.
Then select the MSL QT archive, go to the Advanced menu>Convert to MP3.
I converted the mp3 into a mono, 64Mbs file.
 
In SoundJam, go to Window>Converter to open the Converter Window, drag and drop your MSL QT archive onto the window and press Start Converting.
 
Now the reality news:
  1) The ripping and encoding process will take about 1.1 times as long as the time of the actual archive. For example, if the MSL archive is 1.5 hours, encoding it will take 1.75 or so hours. First iTunes rips the audio from the QT movie at 1.x speed, then encodes it at 9.5.x speed. SoundJam also rips at 1.x speed, but encodes faster at 12.x speed. But remember, iTunes is FREE. I'm on a G3/500 desktop with 512 Megs of Ram. A G4, or one the new iMacs, might be faster.

2) The file size will be about 3 times the size of the original. I did a test on 5 minutes of an MSL QT archive, which was 736.7 k. After converting to mp3 with iTunes it became 2.3 MB

I also tried the mp3 conversion with Peak DV, which is included with Final Cut Pro 2. The results were much faster. Peak DV imported, and encoded, the 5 minute archive into an mp3, in LESS THAN A MINUTE! However, the file size was still about 2.7 X the original- 736.7 k became 2 MB.

Any of the above solutions are not that bad for someone who wants to, or has to, listen to an MSL Quicktime archive (or any Quicktime audio) as an mp3. If the entire show is too large for their mp3 player (about 48-50 MB after conversion), they can break it down into manageable blocks of time.

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iTunes, G3, G4, Final Cut Pro 2, and Quicktime
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Peak DV © Bias-inc All rights reserved
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