How To Get Music Onto Your iPod From A CD

Step 1: You Will Need

Step 2: Getting Started

If you haven't already set up your ipod and installed iTunes onto your computer, refer to Videojug 'How to get started with your ipod' for detailed instruction.

Step 3: Transfer the music

To get the music from your CD onto your iPod you must first copy it into iTunes, this is very easy to do.

Firstly, take the music CD that you want on your iPod and insert it into your computer. Now a dialogue box will appear giving you the choice to import your CD. Click 'yes'.

This will take a few minutes, you will be able to see the progress in the bar at the top of the display.

Step 4: Connect iPod

Plug the smaller end of the cable, which is the USB connector, into the USB port of your computer. This can be identified by the USB logo. Plug the other end of the cable, which is called the dock connector, into the base of your iPod.

A 'Do not disconnect' message will show up on the iPod screen. And your iPod icon will appear in the library list in iTunes.

Step 5: Automatic Updating

By default iTunes will automatically start transferring the tracks from the computer to your iPod. This is called 'synchronisation'.

It is important that you do not disconnect the iPod while the transfer is happening.

When the iPod has finished the transfer, the iTunes window will state 'iPod update is complete'. Click the eject button next to the iPod icon. Wait until the 'do
not disconnect' sign has disappeared, then disconnect.

Your iPod now contains an exact copy of the songs held in your computer's iTunes. Whenever you add or remove songs from iTunes, your iPod will be automatically updated the next time you connect it to your computer.

Step 6: Manual Updating

If you do not want iTunes to automatically update your iPod you have to change the settings. This is useful if you do not want your iPod to have tracks transferred or deleted to match those on the computers music library

To manually update, open iTunes and connect your iPod to the computer. The main display will change to your iPod summary. Click on the music tab at the top of the display panel. Uncheck the sync music box. Now to update your iPod simply drag and drop your wanted tracks onto your ipod icon.

Watch our other iPod Videojugs for more ways to use your iPod