How to import spoken word into itunes

>if I want to convert some aiff files to mp3 to be downloaded from net…
> what specs should I aim at to keep size down but quality ok…

These are the settings I use for good quality speech in itunes:

Stereo Bit rate: 80kbps

Sample rate: 22.050kHz

Channels: Mono

NOTE: This results in a 40kbps file (the mono file ends up at half the stereo bit rate)
A 20 minute talk will be about 6Mb and sound good.

If I am ripping from CD for speech for my iPod, say a story, and size is not so important, I set iTunes to:

96kbps,
44.1kHz,
mono.

Which gives an output of 48kbps.The place you put these preferences in is iTunes:preferences and click on the advanced icon then importing tab then Setting:Custom you can set the various options according to what you want.

Click here to read how to make the file size (and quality) lower using LAME.