Why is CD import so slow

Hi dronaig,

Thanks for contacting Apple Support Communities!

We understand that it takes some time for iTunes to recognize the CD when importing music, correct?

What do you have set for your Import Settings? Does it make a difference if you chose an alternate import setting? This resource will show you how to change your import settings in iTunes as well as what those settings do: Choose import settings in iTunes on PC - Apple Support

"Choose import options

Your choices affect the audio quality and size of the song file (the higher the quality, the larger the file size).

1. In the iTunes app  on your PC, choose Edit > Preferences, click General, then click Import Settings.
2. Choose an encoding format from the Import Using pop-up menu.

• AAC Encoder: Use for most music. You can listen to songs encoded using this format in iTunes, on iPhone and iPad, and on iPod models that come with a dock connector.
• AIFF Encoder: Use if you want to burn high-quality CDs with the songs you’re importing without losing audio quality. (Songs imported using this format take up much more disk space.)
• Apple Lossless Encoder: Use if you want to listen to imported songs on audiophile-quality sound systems without losing audio quality. (Songs imported using this format take up much more disk space.)
• MP3 Encoder: Use if you plan to listen to music in apps other than iTunes, or on MP3 players other than iPhone, iPad, or iPod.
• WAV Encoder: Use if you’ll be playing your songs on a computer that doesn’t have MP3 software. (Songs imported using this format take up much more disk space.)

3. Choose a bit rate from the Setting pop-up menu (not available with Apple Lossless Encoder). In most cases, the default selection works well. If you chose MP3 Encoder, you can choose one of the following:

• Good Quality: Choose to fit more songs on a portable MP3 player with limited storage capacity.
• High Quality: Choose if you play music in a noisy environment. This setting creates files that are about 1 MB in size per minute of music.
• Higher Quality: Choose if you plan to create your own audio CDs or listen to your music with high-quality stereo speakers.
• Custom: Choose for greater control over the file size and sound quality.

4. If needed, select the “Use error correction when reading Audio CDs” option."

Do you experience the same behavior if you create a new user account on your PC and install iTunes?

We look forward to your reply.

Cheers!

Hi dronaig,

That's a great workaround. If you run into any other issues, you're invited to create a new thread so the community can assist once again. 

Take care.