Mac Daniel's Advice

Getting More Out of iTunes

Evan Kleiman - 2002.05.07

Many people use iTunes as their usual MP3 player. However, not many of them know of all of the great features it boasts to truly unlock its full potential. Today I'll help you get the most out of your music experience.

Download iTunes 2

Many people who use iTunes as their MP3 player of choice had it preinstalled on their system when they installed OS X. What many users don't know is that the version of iTunes that was included with their system software was possibly the older version, iTunes 1. I know that the OS X CDs that I have only include iTunes 1, which is a much different experience than iTunes 2.

To check your version number, go to the Apple Menu and select "about iTunes" in OS 9 or go to the iTunes menu and select "About iTunes" in OS X. If you don't have version 2, get it from Apple's site.

This new version offers such features as a cross-fader, equalizer, and iPod support, among other things.

Use the Equalizer

Speaking of the many new features of iTunes 2, the Graphic Equalizer or Graphic EQ is one of them, and most people don't even know that it exists. With it, you are able to raise or lower the sound frequencies in the hearable spectrum (from 32 Hz to 16 KHz).

But now that you know what it does, how can you get to it?

To open the Equalizer, all you need to do is click the little button on the bottom left hand corner, nearest to the right. When you click the button, a new window will pop up, resembling traditional EQs, in which you can set the music to how you want it, including many different presets and a built-in pre-amp for lowering music recorded to loudly, or raising music recorded too softly.

Use the Visual

While this little feature won't really improve your music experience, it is sure to be bound to impress quite a number of your friends. Basically, it's just like the thing on your regular stereo that shows sound levels at different frequencies - but it twists things a little to give it cool effects. It's sort of like a music-responsive screen saver! To activate it, all you need to do is put on your favorite song and click the button between the "eject" button and the "equalizer" button; it'll look like a little atom. Now relax and wait for your friends to be impressed!

Skin It!

Many users of MP3 players such as Audion and SoundJam (discontinued) say that they would use iTunes as their MP3 player, but they miss the ability to "skin" or customize their players - but iTunes has this feature! All it takes is a little bit of ResEdit Hacking and a trip over to ResExcellence's iTunes skin archive.

Join us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

Not sure if you should upgrade your old Mac or replace it? Check the Mac Daniel index to see if we've already addressed your problem.

Recent Mac Daniel columns

OWC Legacy SSD Tested in Mystic Power Mac G4, Dan Knight, 2011.07.15. G4 Power Macs don't have built-in SATA support, and most SSDs are SATA devices. OWC's legacy SSDs work on the older Mac's IDE bus.
OWC Mercury Extreme Pro SSD Legacy Edition Tested in Blue & White Power Mac G3, Dan Knight, 2011.06.24. The Blue & White G3 has a slow ATA/33 data bus. Will OWC's Legacy SSD outperform a fast hard drive with that bottleneck?
OWC's Legacy SSD Tested in Mirrored Drive Door Power Mac G4, Dan Knight, 2011.05.18. G4 Power Macs don't have built-in SATA support, and most SSDs are SATA devices. OWC's legacy SSDs work on the older Mac's IDE bus.
More in the Mac Daniel index.

Links for the Day

Mac of the Day: Mac IIfx, introduced 1990.03.19. This 'wicked fast' 40 MHz Mac trumped the 33 MHz DOS world.
February 14 in LEM history: 98: A perfect compact Mac - 00: Extended computer warranties worth the cost? - Making your PC work with your Mac - 01: Customize Microsoft Word - 02: Quadra revives a passion for computing - 03: Real world performance - DIY Pismo screen replacement - Best Mac for writing - 03: Fastest browser on the Mac - 06: 15" MacBook Pro - Impressions of a newly acquired Lisa - Finding and using free WiFi - Apple should liberate OS 9 - 07: New Mac mini cheaper than upgrading a Power Mac - 08: Falling in love with OS X
Support Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM Support Usage Privacy Contact

Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2012 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc. unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iPad iPhone, iMac, iPod, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
Advice is presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
Email may be published at our discretion unless marked "not for publication"; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.

Custom Search

Follow Low End Mac on Twitter
Join Low End Mac on Facebook

Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler 11 is now in the Mac App Store!! -- Special Introductory Price of $59.95!! -- To Buy From The Mac App Store Click Here Now!! Or buy direct from Strider Software.

Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker and Mac Casino applications in minutes.