Using your computer to play music - what's it all about?
Django Tango has been using Apple computers and iPod in a performance role for the last 6 years and has worked with computers since 1981. Here are some tips based on his experience.

How do I convert my CD collection to digital format?
With iTunes, it is easy. Insert a music CD in to your computer, launch iTunes and click on the import button. Don't type in all the track names - iTunes can do it for you when you choose "Get CD Track Names" under the "Advanced" option on the menu bar.

What quality should I use to import my audio CDs to digital?
I use 160 kbps mono, the setting for which is found in the iTunes Preferences menu. The higher the kbps, the better the audio quality BUT the larger the file size. As most of my traditional tango CDs are mono, I import in mono which also halves the files size. On more recent recordings, I use stereo even though this increases the file size. A three minute tango imported at 160 kbps mono makes a file of 3.5 megabytes. On a 40 gig iPod, therefore, you can carry a library of over 11,000 thousand tangos!

How do I backup my digital music?
If you have the original CD, you can always re-import it, although this can take a long time of you have, like me, 100s of CDs on your computer. My entire music library makes 15 gigabytes, so I use a 20 gigabyte iPod to (a) carry all my songs around with me, (b) as a library backup that takes minutes to restore in the event of a problem and (c) as a DJ performance standby audio source in case I have a problem with my PowerBook during a gig (in 6 years I have only ever had two problems which required playing music from the iPod). Synchronising the iPod to your computer is easy. Plug it in and iTunes will compare both libraries and send any 'new' files on the computer to the iPod. iTunes will also copy music tracks to blank CDs to make backups or to arrange a playlist of favourite tracks on a custom CD.

How do I buy music from the iTunes Music Store?
I have bought over 100 tracks from iTunes by first setting up an account with iTunes using their secure server, and clicking on the "Buy Now" button when I want to buy a track. iTunes then asks you for your account password to confirm the purchase. If your internet connection fails during the transfer, no problems. When you are back online, choose "Check for Purchases" under the "Advanced" option on the menu bar and the download will resume. As your digital library grows, iTunes learns what music genres you like and can suggest tracks you may like on request. Nice one.

Steve Morrall (Django Tango)