Mozartrules - I agree that converting in ITunes might be the simplest but how do we import the files? What about leaving files where they are and just give Itunes on the laptop wireless (or network cable) access to them by sharing backup drive. Itunes is perhaps slower than wireless anyway. According to my calculations wireless transfer of 650GB would take at least 32 hours but this amount of ALAC data is equal to about 2000 CDs. 32hrs=1920min so it comes to about minute per CD for Itunes to convert - sounds about right.
Max on the Mac would convert faster and transfer would take many times less since data is compressed about 4-5 times (remaining space on external hard drive can be used for temporary storage). Better yet make MAX or Itunes to compress it and deliver to different location that would be laptop's shared drive over wireless. I would use 256kbs with VBR.
Max on the Mac would convert faster and transfer would take many times less since data is compressed about 4-5 times (remaining space on external hard drive can be used for temporary storage). Better yet make MAX or Itunes to compress it and deliver to different location that would be laptop's shared drive over wireless. I would use 256kbs with VBR.