converting WMA to MP3 for iPod - help!

annakat99

Hi,

I have 1800(ish) WMA tracks that I need to convert to MP3 so that they will be compatible with my new iPod. If you have any ewxperience with this, please read on...

I loaded itunes for the first time and set it to convert them all last night only to find that it would take the best part of a day to do!! I left it running overnight and this morning i found that it had only got half way through before saying that there was not enough room on my C drive!!

Now - i think that it's converting to AAC format or something (whatever itunes default is) and is making copies of the files (thus duplicating half of my music collection). I want the music to remain in a format that I can play on media player (so I can play music in work), so I can't delete the WMAs and just keep the AACs, if you see what I mean... so I have come to the conclusion that I should convert all the WMAs to MP3s, so it is compatible with both programs (and then I can delete the WMAs)

Now - my question is, shall i use itunes to convert the WMAs to MP3, or would it be better to use another piece of software? I want something that converts fast , that I can convert in bulk (multiple folders at a time) and keeps all the song tags (name, album details etc) whilst it's at it. Oh, and is free! There are so many out there I'm at a loss as to which one to download! (or know which ones are dodgy)...

(I know that it would be better to re-rip all my CDs instead of trying to convert... but I don't have time at the moment - I want my ipod set up so I can takt it on holiday next week, I'll do a proper job when I get back!)

Any advice greatly received.
Many thanks,
Anna

Rich08

Hi
I use the free version of the linked software for converting to mp3.
Its very basic but does what it says on the packet.... http://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html

Hope this helps

isofa

There are plenty of tools that do this, but equally it's fine to let iTunes convert itself and leave running overnight, ensuring you have enough space. Often crops up on this forum, run a search...

Always best to use a format like MP3 rather than something propriety like WMA or AAC if you want to play it on as many devices as possible.

Obviously you'll lose quality converting, much better to re rip to top quality MP3 directly, but that'll take a long time!

fiddiwebb

Why is it converting to ACC format?

If you open itunes>Edit>Preferences>Advanced>Importing, you can set up to convert mp3.

Marty_J

isofa wrote: »

Always best to use a format like MP3 rather than something propriety like WMA or AAC if you want to play it on as many devices as possible.

AAC actually isn't a proprietary format.

As far as I know, iTunes will only convert WMA files to AAC. If you want to convert them to mp3, you'll have to use something else to do it.

bat999

Hi
I don't disagree with any of the suggestions above.
But if you want to try different software then WinFF will convert from WMA to mp3.
(One of the pre-sets is 'mp3 (audio only)'.
It will also batch convert files and folders. And it retains the file names, but not tags.
It's a free download from here:-http://winff.org/html_new/
:cool:

fiddiwebb

As far as I know, iTunes will only convert WMA files to AAC. If you want to convert them to mp3, you'll have to use something else to do it

No you don't, itunes will convert WMA to mp3, see here:

http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20050811_convert_wma_to_mp3.html

davester

We are also assuming these WMA are DRM free. If any are you have a problem with those files

AAC is actually better than MP3 its the next step like DVD was to the CD, It makes a better quality track for smaller file size than MP3. Its got nothing to do with Apple other than they use its coding for iPods. Its doesn't stand for Apple Audio coding. It means Advanced Audio coding, reason Apple chose it gives the best sound for less space which fits with iPod being the most advanced portable players (well used to be)