iPod File names

[vidal]

I have extracted audio files from an ipod onto my computer and notice that they have an unusual four character (CAPITALS) filename.

I did the same from my partners ipod which had the same content on and the filenames followed a normal windows naming convention. 

In some cases the same audio track has the same file size and running length but with the different naming conventions as I have outlined above and other cases has the same file size running time but a completly different output!!!

Trying to understand this and have no idea where I might start to read up on it. Any suggestions?

[CBMatt]

Any suggestions?

Yes, tell us the file extension so we can know exactly what you're talking about.

[Broni]

Do they look like this:

[CBMatt]

Ah, I just realized that you said filename, not file extension.  If your files look like those in Broni's image above, then we need to know how you are extracting the MP3's.  In my personal experience, that's how MP3's are stored on the iPod, so if you manually extract them by dragging and dropping, they will look like that.  Is that what you are doing, or are you using a program such as iTunes?

[kpac]

In my personal experience, that's how MP3's are stored on the iPod, so if you manually extract them by dragging and dropping, they will look like that.

Then my iTunes must be doing something wrong.
My iTunes converts any music files to .AAC. I have never seen any MP3 file on it.

[CBMatt]

My iTunes converts any music files to .AAC. I have never seen any MP3 file on it.

Hmm, I'm pretty sure songs from the iTunes store come in AAC format and it rips CD's in that format, but I've never had it convert any of my MP3's.

[kpac]

That's weird....
I have never got anything from the iTunes store, but I am sure it converts songs.....

[socrates]

The reason your iTunes converts to aac is because you've left it setup that way.  If you're on your mac, go to Itunes, preferences, and click on advanced.  If you go to the "importing" section, you can change your preference to mp3.  Once you've done that, you can even convert all of your aac files to mp3.  If you want to know how to do that, let me know.