If I use the TF5800 to record radio programmes what is the best way to transfer the recordings to iTunes so that I can listen to them on my iPod?

I should have my Panasonic DVD recorder back from repair next week, it had been over 8 weeks, I will transfer the recordings from the Topfield to a DVD and then try to import them into iTunes. Not sure until I try it what format they will be in. But is there a better way?

David

Best way is probably to get MPEG Streamclip on your PC or Mac, transfer files from the Toppy via the USB port; open in MPEG Streamclip and choose Export Audio from the File menu; pick a format - eg MP4 AAC - that's compatible with the iPod.

Thanks for the prompt reply.

I suspected that the best way may be to download directly from the Topfield to my Mac. But I am reluctant (or is it too lazy) to move my 24" iMac from its current position to be accessible to the Topfield. Is the TF5800 USB 1, 1,1 or 2? If it is 1.1 then I could resort to my ageing PowerBook.

David

It's 2.0, but backward compatible. Get the powerbook out!

Thanks. I was surprised how easy it was. The hardest part was moving the iMac next to the Topfield. I will try the PowerBook next time.

I used MPEG Streamclip to transfer a TV programmes and a radio programme to the iMac and then export the audio as .aiff file. This imported straight into iTunes.

The video was saved as a .rec file and this played perfectly in VLC.

I also took the opportunity to upgrade the Topfield firmware for the first time from the original 2005 version using ToFi, again very easy.

Finally I added my first TAP, My Stuff 5.51, not sure if I like the changes except for the auto padding.

Thanks for the help from here and for the downloads available at http://www.mtop.co.uk/ and http://www.toppy.org.uk/

David http://images.digitalspy.co.uk/forum/smilies/smile.gif

Note that if the Powerbook is USB 1.1, you won't be able to do firmware updates using that - ToFi only works properly with USB 2 Macs.

Are you using Leopard on the iMac? I've not had any success with ToFi since moving to Leopard, but I'm not sure if it's that, or the beta firmwares I'm testing that disagree with ToFi.

Yes, I was using Leopard 10.5.1 with ToFi.

I only want to use the powerbook to enable me to transfer radio recordings into iTunes and then to the iPod, so the USB 1.1 limitation is OK.

David

If you really just want timer padding, Timer Extend will do the job without replacing any of the native Toppy screens.

Try the control timers. Until series link appears with freeview playback they're the only way to avoid the hassle (and possible missed recordings) of capturing everything you want to record.

Bear in mind that the audio will be mp2 rather than mp3.

Most XP media players have no problem with mp2s and I'm sure Macs are no different.

However, some portable mp3 players don't like mp2 - some can be coaxed into playing them just by renaming the extension to .mp3 - but some such as my SE k750i can't cope with that so the mp2s have to be reencoded to mp3.

Don't know what's available on Macs - I use dbPowerAmp on XP and I can't tell the difference in quality at 192 kbps, and file sizes are identical. Possibly the formats are so close there isn't much actual encoding going on anyway.