How to Cut a Song Using iTunes (Now Apple Music): A Step-by-Step Guide
While the traditional iTunes software has evolved into the Apple Music app on macOS Catalina and later, the fundamental process of trimming or cutting a song remains similar. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of creating shorter versions of your favorite songs using both the classic iTunes interface (for older macOS and Windows versions) and the current Apple Music app. Whether you want to create a custom ringtone, shorten a track for a presentation, or simply remove an unwanted intro or outro, this article will provide you with the detailed steps you need to succeed.
**Understanding the Basics: Why Cut a Song?**
Before diving into the technical details, let’s briefly consider why you might want to cut a song:
* **Creating Ringtones:** This is perhaps the most common reason. Most smartphones allow you to use custom ringtones, and trimming a song to the perfect 30-40 second snippet is essential.
* **Podcast Intros and Outros:** Podcasters often use short, catchy snippets of songs for their intro and outro music.
* **Presentations and Video Projects:** Shortened versions of songs can be used as background music for presentations or video projects, without taking up too much time or distracting from the main content.
* **Personalized Playlists:** You might want to remove lengthy intros or outros from certain songs to create a more concise and engaging listening experience.
* **Sampling and Remixing:** Musicians and producers often cut and manipulate audio samples from existing songs to create new music.
**Part 1: Cutting Songs in Classic iTunes (for macOS Mojave and earlier, and Windows)**
If you’re running an older version of macOS (Mojave or earlier) or Windows and using the traditional iTunes application, these steps will guide you through the process.
**Step 1: Locate the Song in Your iTunes Library**
Open iTunes. In the iTunes window, navigate to your music library. You can do this by clicking on “Music” under the “Library” section in the sidebar (usually on the left side of the iTunes window). Browse or search for the song you want to cut.
**Step 2: Open the Song’s Information Window**
Right-click (or Ctrl-click on a Mac without a right mouse button) on the song you want to edit. From the context menu that appears, select “Get Info” (or “Show Info”). A new window will open displaying information about the song.
**Step 3: Access the “Options” Tab**
In the “Get Info” window, click on the “Options” tab. This tab contains settings related to the song’s playback, including start and stop times.
**Step 4: Set the Start and Stop Times**
On the “Options” tab, you’ll find two checkboxes labeled “Start” and “Stop.” Check both of these boxes. Now, enter the desired start and stop times for your snippet in the corresponding fields.
* **Finding the Right Times:** Listen to the song carefully and note the exact times where you want the snippet to begin and end. You can use the iTunes playback controls to pause, rewind, and fast forward to pinpoint the precise moments.
* **Time Format:** The time format should be in minutes:seconds (e.g., 1:30 for one minute and thirty seconds). You can also include fractions of a second (e.g., 1:30.5).
**Step 5: Confirm Your Changes**
After entering the start and stop times, click the “OK” button at the bottom of the “Get Info” window to save your changes.
**Step 6: Create an AAC Version of the Trimmed Song**
This step is crucial for creating a separate, trimmed version of the song. iTunes will not modify the original file. Instead, it will create a new, shorter version based on the start and stop times you specified.
1. **Select the Song:** Make sure the song you just edited is selected in your iTunes library.
2. **Go to the “File” Menu:** Click on the “File” menu in the iTunes menu bar.
3. **Choose “Convert”:** In the “File” menu, hover over the “Convert” option. This will open a submenu.
4. **Select “Create AAC Version”:** From the submenu, select “Create AAC Version.” iTunes will now create a new version of the song, trimmed to the start and stop times you set.
**Why AAC?** AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is a common audio format used by iTunes and Apple devices. Creating an AAC version ensures compatibility and maintains good audio quality.
**Step 7: Locate the Trimmed Song**
After iTunes finishes creating the AAC version, you’ll find it in your iTunes library alongside the original song. It will usually have the same name as the original song. To easily identify it, sort your library by “Date Added” (click on the “Date Added” column header). The newly created AAC version will be at the top.
**Step 8: Verify the Trimmed Song**
Play the newly created AAC version to ensure that it has been trimmed correctly to the start and stop times you specified. If it’s not quite right, you can repeat steps 2-7 to adjust the start and stop times and create another AAC version.
**Step 9: Remove the Start and Stop Times from the Original Song**
It’s important to remove the start and stop times from the *original* song. Otherwise, iTunes will only play the trimmed portion of the original song every time you select it. To do this, repeat steps 2-3 (right-click on the *original* song, select “Get Info,” and go to the “Options” tab). Then, *uncheck* the “Start” and “Stop” boxes and click “OK.”
**Step 10: Reveal the Trimmed Song in Finder/Explorer (Optional)**
If you want to use the trimmed song outside of iTunes (e.g., as a ringtone or in a video project), you’ll need to locate the actual audio file on your computer. Here’s how:
1. **Right-click on the Trimmed Song:** In your iTunes library, right-click on the AAC version of the song you created.
2. **Select “Show in Finder” (macOS) or “Show in Windows Explorer” (Windows):** From the context menu, choose the appropriate option to reveal the file in your operating system’s file manager.
This will open a Finder (macOS) or Windows Explorer (Windows) window, showing you the location of the AAC audio file. You can now copy or move this file to wherever you need it.
**Part 2: Cutting Songs in Apple Music (macOS Catalina and later)**
On macOS Catalina and later, iTunes has been replaced by the Apple Music app. While the interface is different, the underlying process for cutting songs is very similar.
**Step 1: Locate the Song in Your Apple Music Library**
Open the Apple Music app. Navigate to your music library by clicking on “Library” in the sidebar. Browse or search for the song you want to cut.
**Step 2: Open the Song’s Information Window**
Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on the song you want to edit. From the context menu, select “Get Info.” A new window will open displaying information about the song.
**Step 3: Access the “Options” Tab**
In the “Get Info” window, click on the “Options” tab. This tab contains settings related to the song’s playback, including start and stop times.
**Step 4: Set the Start and Stop Times**
On the “Options” tab, you’ll find two checkboxes labeled “Start” and “Stop.” Check both of these boxes. Now, enter the desired start and stop times for your snippet in the corresponding fields.
* **Finding the Right Times:** Listen to the song carefully and note the exact times where you want the snippet to begin and end. You can use the Apple Music playback controls to pause, rewind, and fast forward to pinpoint the precise moments.
* **Time Format:** The time format should be in minutes:seconds (e.g., 1:30 for one minute and thirty seconds). You can also include fractions of a second (e.g., 1:30.5).
**Step 5: Confirm Your Changes**
After entering the start and stop times, click the “OK” button at the bottom of the “Get Info” window to save your changes.
**Step 6: Create an AAC Version of the Trimmed Song**
This step is crucial for creating a separate, trimmed version of the song. Apple Music will not modify the original file. Instead, it will create a new, shorter version based on the start and stop times you specified.
1. **Select the Song:** Make sure the song you just edited is selected in your Apple Music library.
2. **Go to the “File” Menu:** Click on the “File” menu in the Apple Music menu bar.
3. **Choose “Convert”:** In the “File” menu, hover over the “Convert” option. This will open a submenu.
4. **Select “Create AAC Version”:** From the submenu, select “Create AAC Version.” Apple Music will now create a new version of the song, trimmed to the start and stop times you set.
**Why AAC?** AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is a common audio format used by Apple Music and Apple devices. Creating an AAC version ensures compatibility and maintains good audio quality.
**Step 7: Locate the Trimmed Song**
After Apple Music finishes creating the AAC version, you’ll find it in your Apple Music library alongside the original song. It will usually have the same name as the original song. To easily identify it, sort your library by “Date Added” (click on the “Date Added” column header). The newly created AAC version will be at the top.
**Step 8: Verify the Trimmed Song**
Play the newly created AAC version to ensure that it has been trimmed correctly to the start and stop times you specified. If it’s not quite right, you can repeat steps 2-7 to adjust the start and stop times and create another AAC version.
**Step 9: Remove the Start and Stop Times from the Original Song**
It’s important to remove the start and stop times from the *original* song. Otherwise, Apple Music will only play the trimmed portion of the original song every time you select it. To do this, repeat steps 2-3 (right-click on the *original* song, select “Get Info,” and go to the “Options” tab). Then, *uncheck* the “Start” and “Stop” boxes and click “OK.”
**Step 10: Reveal the Trimmed Song in Finder (Optional)**
If you want to use the trimmed song outside of Apple Music (e.g., as a ringtone or in a video project), you’ll need to locate the actual audio file on your computer. Here’s how:
1. **Right-click on the Trimmed Song:** In your Apple Music library, right-click on the AAC version of the song you created.
2. **Select “Show in Finder”:** From the context menu, choose “Show in Finder” to reveal the file in your operating system’s file manager.
This will open a Finder window, showing you the location of the AAC audio file. You can now copy or move this file to wherever you need it.
**Part 3: Troubleshooting and Tips**
* **The “Create AAC Version” Option is Greyed Out:** This usually means that the selected song is not in a format that can be easily converted to AAC. This can happen with DRM-protected files or files in unusual formats. Try converting the song to a different format (e.g., MP3) using a third-party audio converter, and then try creating an AAC version again.
* **The Trimmed Song Doesn’t Play Correctly:** Double-check that you have removed the start and stop times from the *original* song. If the original song still has start and stop times set, it will interfere with playback.
* **The Trimmed Song is Too Quiet:** The AAC conversion process can sometimes slightly reduce the volume of the trimmed song. You can use a third-party audio editor (such as Audacity, which is free and open-source) to increase the volume of the AAC file.
* **I Can’t Find the Trimmed Song in Finder:** Make sure you are right-clicking on the *AAC version* of the song, not the original. Also, double-check that the location shown in Finder is where you expect it to be. iTunes/Apple Music usually stores music files in your Music folder, within a subfolder named “iTunes Media” or “Music.”
* **Using iTunes Match or Apple Music Cloud Library:** If you use iTunes Match or Apple Music Cloud Library, your trimmed songs will be synced across your devices. However, keep in mind that changes made to start and stop times might take some time to propagate to all your devices.
* **Consider Using Dedicated Audio Editing Software:** While iTunes/Apple Music provides a basic way to cut songs, dedicated audio editing software (like Audacity, GarageBand, or Adobe Audition) offers much more advanced features for trimming, editing, and manipulating audio. If you need more precise control or want to perform more complex edits, consider using one of these tools.
* **Ringtone Considerations:** If you’re creating a ringtone for your iPhone, remember that ringtones need to be in the `.m4r` format. After creating the AAC version, you may need to rename the file extension from `.m4a` to `.m4r`. Also, iPhones typically limit ringtones to 30-40 seconds in length.
**Part 4: Alternative Methods**
While the methods described above use iTunes/Apple Music directly, other options exist for cutting songs:
* **Online Audio Cutters:** Numerous websites allow you to upload an audio file and trim it online. These services are often free and easy to use, but be mindful of privacy concerns when uploading your music to a third-party website.
* **Mobile Apps:** Several mobile apps are designed specifically for creating ringtones and editing audio. These apps often offer a user-friendly interface and features tailored for mobile devices.
* **Third-Party Audio Editors:** As mentioned earlier, dedicated audio editing software provides the most comprehensive set of tools for cutting and manipulating audio. These programs offer features such as waveform editing, noise reduction, and advanced effects.
**Conclusion**
Cutting a song using iTunes or Apple Music is a straightforward process that can be useful for a variety of purposes. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily create shorter versions of your favorite songs for ringtones, presentations, podcasts, or personalized playlists. Remember to always back up your original music files before making any changes. And if you need more advanced editing capabilities, consider exploring dedicated audio editing software. With a little practice, you’ll be able to create the perfect audio snippets for any occasion.