best/free program to convert m4a to mp3

electrickpirate · November 15th, 2004

i wouldlike to convert about 438 m4a files to mp3. i used itunes for a while, but decided to go back to WMP10.0. any suggestions?

**Geffy** · November 15th, 2004

use winamp to rip them all to wav, then re-encode

not fun but doable, cant iTunes do it?

**NetRyder** · November 15th, 2004

WMP10 can play non-DRM protected AAC (m4a) files. You just need to install 3ivx.
http://www.3ivx.com

The AAC decoder in 3ivx is not free, so it will work for a trial period (30 days, I think.) After that, you can use CoreAAC. Just download these two installers from here: http://www.inmatrix.com/zplayer/formats/aac.shtml

Last thing is to go to the 3ivx config app (Start>Programs>3ivx), go to the Media Splitter option, and select "Allow Unsupported Decoders". I think that should be it.

This way you don't have to convert all those files, and you won't lose any quality due to transcoding.

Post edited: Easier way to install CoreAAC.

**Tuffgong4** · November 15th, 2004

db power amp is the best

it's free and have tons of codecs. I used to use this to rip to m4a so maybe check it out

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm

**LordOfLA** · November 15th, 2004

look for an app called "hymn" to remove the DRM from the m4a files, then as long as your player supports the playback you wont need to convert to the inferior mp3 format.

**NetRyder** · November 15th, 2004

Originally Posted by LordOfLA

look for an app called "hymn" to remove the DRM from the m4a files, then as long as your player supports the playback you wont need to convert to the inferior mp3 format.

The .m4a files should already be DRM-free. If they're protected (as in the ones from iTMS), they have a .m4p extension.

electrickpirate · November 15th, 2004

yea, just read that m4a is unprotected and m4p is protected. thanks for all the info. always impressed with the knowledge of the ppl on this board. im tryin dbpower amp now, work pretty good, its fast and the files still sound good, i can't tell the differance.

again, thanks all for the info and help

**dreamliner77** · November 16th, 2004

Foobar2000

www.foobar2000.org

the swiss army knife of audio

**NetRyder** · November 16th, 2004

Originally Posted by dreamliner77

Foobar2000

www.foobar2000.org

the swiss army knife of audio

Foobar can convert between formats?

**LordOfLA** · November 16th, 2004

not that I'm aware of but it plays every format I've stumbled across so far.

I dont see any need to downgradr fromm4a to mp3. Its just dumb

**NetRyder** · November 16th, 2004

Originally Posted by LordOfLA

I dont see any need to downgradr from m4a to mp3. Its just dumb

Yeah, I have a few m4a files from my "iTunes days." Kept them as they are and just play them in WMP10 using the method I mentioned above. I don't know if I'd be able to hear the quality loss if I transcoded them to mp3s, but I just didn't have the patience to convert them.

Some people can have reasons for transcoding to mp3 though - for example, if you have portable media device that doesn't support AAC files.

**dreamliner77** · November 16th, 2004

Foobar has no problem converting anyfile that it can playback. It's core is such that it can load any external compressor (lame.exe, mpcenc.exe, flac.exe, etc).

musicholic · February 20th, 2005

Ufony can convert m4a to mp3
http://www.softe.net

Convert AAC,APE,CDA,FLAC,OGG,M4A,MP3,MPC,WAV,WMA to MP3,APE,FLAC,OGG,WAV,WMA,CD

**Johnny** · February 20th, 2005

dbpoweramp ...

Luna · February 20th, 2005

iTunes can do m4a to mp3 / wav :-/

jhymn will also do it, but not exactly a legal way to go about things.

Quicky · March 26th, 2005

I have downloaded the Apple Lossless codec to convert from m4a to mp3. After deleting the mp4.dll I have installed the codec.

If I stand on a .m4a file, and click on convert to, I get into the menu of converting. However, when I click on convert, it says "Unable to open file D:\....."

How can I fix this problem?

November 15th, 2004	Top \| #1
electrickpirate pirate extraordinaire Joined: January 2004 Location: pittsburgh, pa Posts: 111 Reputation: 40 Power: 99	best/free program to convert m4a to mp3 i wouldlike to convert about 438 m4a files to mp3. i used itunes for a while, but decided to go back to WMP10.0. any suggestions?

November 15th, 2004	Top \| #2
Geffy OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: March 2002 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 7,805 Reputation: 1490 Power: 213	use winamp to rip them all to wav, then re-encode not fun but doable, cant iTunes do it?  • blog • tumblog • lastfm • flickr • #rubyonrails • @twitter "I could be replaced with a very small shell script"

November 15th, 2004	Top \| #3
NetRyder Tech Junkie Joined: April 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,256 Reputation: 4260 Power: 294	WMP10 can play non-DRM protected AAC (m4a) files. You just need to install 3ivx. http://www.3ivx.com The AAC decoder in 3ivx is not free, so it will work for a trial period (30 days, I think.) After that, you can use CoreAAC. Just download these two installers from here: http://www.inmatrix.com/zplayer/formats/aac.shtml Last thing is to go to the 3ivx config app (Start>Programs>3ivx), go to the Media Splitter option, and select "Allow Unsupported Decoders". I think that should be it. This way you don't have to convert all those files, and you won't lose any quality due to transcoding. Post edited: Easier way to install CoreAAC. http://kunal.kundaje.net

November 15th, 2004	Top \| #4
Tuffgong4 The Donger Need Food!!!! Joined: June 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 2,465 Reputation: 840 Power: 150	db power amp is the best it's free and have tons of codecs. I used to use this to rip to m4a so maybe check it out http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm Home Intel E6600 \ Abit AB9 Pro \ 4 gig Corsair DDR2-667 \ EVGA 9800GT \ HDD 1 320GB sata + 1 1.5TB sata \ 1 1TB backup drive / Samsung S183L SATA DVD-RW \ Windows 7 Pro x64 Laptop Asus UL30VT\ Intel CULV SU7300 \ 4GB Ram \ Intel Integrated + Nvidia 200m \ 500GB HDD \ 13.3 inch LED \ Windows 7 Premium x64

November 15th, 2004	Top \| #5
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,015 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 209	look for an app called "hymn" to remove the DRM from the m4a files, then as long as your player supports the playback you wont need to convert to the inferior mp3 format. If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

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November 15th, 2004	Top \| #6
NetRyder Tech Junkie Joined: April 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,256 Reputation: 4260 Power: 294	Originally Posted by LordOfLA look for an app called "hymn" to remove the DRM from the m4a files, then as long as your player supports the playback you wont need to convert to the inferior mp3 format. The .m4a files should already be DRM-free. If they're protected (as in the ones from iTMS), they have a .m4p extension. http://kunal.kundaje.net

November 15th, 2004	Top \| #7
electrickpirate pirate extraordinaire Joined: January 2004 Location: pittsburgh, pa Posts: 111 Reputation: 40 Power: 99	yea, just read that m4a is unprotected and m4p is protected. thanks for all the info. always impressed with the knowledge of the ppl on this board. im tryin dbpower amp now, work pretty good, its fast and the files still sound good, i can't tell the differance. again, thanks all for the info and help

November 16th, 2004	Top \| #8
dreamliner77 The Analog Kid Joined: March 2002 Location: Red Sox Nation Posts: 4,638 Reputation: 1111 Power: 178	Foobar2000 www.foobar2000.org the swiss army knife of audio "You can fight without ever winning, but never win without a fight." -Neil Peart of RUSH

November 16th, 2004	Top \| #9
NetRyder Tech Junkie Joined: April 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,256 Reputation: 4260 Power: 294	Originally Posted by dreamliner77 Foobar2000 www.foobar2000.org the swiss army knife of audio Foobar can convert between formats? http://kunal.kundaje.net

November 16th, 2004	Top \| #10
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,015 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 209	not that I'm aware of but it plays every format I've stumbled across so far. I dont see any need to downgradr fromm4a to mp3. Its just dumb If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

November 16th, 2004	Top \| #11
NetRyder Tech Junkie Joined: April 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 13,256 Reputation: 4260 Power: 294	Originally Posted by LordOfLA I dont see any need to downgradr from m4a to mp3. Its just dumb Yeah, I have a few m4a files from my "iTunes days." Kept them as they are and just play them in WMP10 using the method I mentioned above. I don't know if I'd be able to hear the quality loss if I transcoded them to mp3s, but I just didn't have the patience to convert them. Some people can have reasons for transcoding to mp3 though - for example, if you have portable media device that doesn't support AAC files. http://kunal.kundaje.net

November 16th, 2004	Top \| #12
dreamliner77 The Analog Kid Joined: March 2002 Location: Red Sox Nation Posts: 4,638 Reputation: 1111 Power: 178	Foobar has no problem converting anyfile that it can playback. It's core is such that it can load any external compressor (lame.exe, mpcenc.exe, flac.exe, etc). "You can fight without ever winning, but never win without a fight." -Neil Peart of RUSH

February 20th, 2005	Top \| #13
musicholic OSNN One Post Wonder Joined: February 2005 Posts: 1 Reputation: 0 Power: 0	Re: best/free program to convert m4a to mp3 Ufony can convert m4a to mp3 http://www.softe.net Convert AAC,APE,CDA,FLAC,OGG,M4A,MP3,MPC,WAV,WMA to MP3,APE,FLAC,OGG,WAV,WMA,CD

February 20th, 2005	Top \| #14
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,838 Reputation: 2369 Power: 170	Re: best/free program to convert m4a to mp3 dbpoweramp ... Paul Reed Smith.

February 20th, 2005	Top \| #15
Luna OSNN Senior Addict Joined: January 2004 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 303 Reputation: 359 Power: 105	Re: best/free program to convert m4a to mp3 iTunes can do m4a to mp3 / wav :-/ jhymn will also do it, but not exactly a legal way to go about things.

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March 26th, 2005	Top \| #16
Quicky OSNN Junior Addict Joined: March 2005 Posts: 2 Reputation: 0 Power: 0	Re: best/free program to convert m4a to mp3 I have downloaded the Apple Lossless codec to convert from m4a to mp3. After deleting the mp4.dll I have installed the codec. If I stand on a .m4a file, and click on convert to, I get into the menu of converting. However, when I click on convert, it says "Unable to open file D:\....." How can I fix this problem?