MacBook Air ALAC to iPod 256k mp3s

[jackfish]

OK, I'm a 60 year old struggling with this technology. I have a MacBook Air with an iTunes library of ALACs. Today I bought an iPod Classic with the intent of copying the ALAC music off the MacBook Air to the iPod as 256k mp3s. Searching the web has proven futile. I thought this was supposed to be easy? I thank you for any suggestions, resources, or references.

[wgscott]

It actually IS easy, but hidden. There is a preference in iTunes (in the iPod interface summary pane) where you can check a box to do exactly that, and it will do it on the fly. I'll try to make a screenshot.

 

Here we go:

 

 

This example is set to 128, but you can set it to 256 kbps.

[jackfish]

Thank You, once I figured out how to get the iPod setup in iTunes your solution worked.

[wgscott]

Glad it worked. On my iPod classic, I think I can put up to 24 bit, 48kHz tracks on it without compressing (toggle off that checkbox and manage music manually). If it bugs you to compress the music like that on an iPod classic (which has a lot of room on the disk), you can manually resample to 24/48. I've never bothered, since I only use it in my car where compression is the very least of the compromises.)