Can I Convert WMA to MP3?

[fryke]

Just a reminder: Even *if* you manage to transcode from WMA to MP3 somehow, you'll lose quality. If it's an important song, I'd consider buying the CD or the track from iTunes.

[Amie]

Originally Posted by nixgeek

Make sure it's described in one sentence.....nothing more.

Sorry, Amie.....I had to rib ya a little there...

OK, as much as I hate to admit it, I just burst out laughing when I read your jab. YOU are SUCH a brat.

[Amie]

Originally Posted by sinclair_tm

do you have the lastest version of itunes? and yes both versions (mac & win) will convert unprotected wma files. now, you've doubled checked your library to make sure there is no new tracks? if it were protected, itunes should tell you so.

That's really odd. I just checked the Software Update and it's telling me that I'm up to date. So, I guess that means that I have the latest version of iTunes. Yet, when I drag the WMA file into iTunes, it does absolutely nothing. No alert, no conversion, no message, zip.

[Amie]

Originally Posted by fryke

Just a reminder: Even *if* you manage to transcode from WMA to MP3 somehow, you'll lose quality. If it's an important song, I'd consider buying the CD or the track from iTunes.

If the song was available on CD or for sale, I'd definitely buy it.

What do you mean "if"? Sounds like a rather easy process what with all the conversion software apps like EasyWMA.

[dalo]

Originally Posted by sinclair_tm

do you have the lastest version of itunes? and yes both versions (mac & win) will convert unprotected wma files. now, you've doubled checked your library to make sure there is no new tracks? if it were protected, itunes should tell you so.

According to the Wikipedia iTunes page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itunes)

The Windows version of iTunes can automatically convert unprotected WMA (including version 9) files to other audio formats, but it does not support direct playback or encoding of WMA format.

It kind of give me the imprssion that it was a Mac OS iTunes feat. Only.

I was frustrated about this a while bacl, its over noe, I know. But WHY was it like thath? Mac people had WMA files too! What was their argument! Pisses me off

[Amie]

1. I still have no idea WHY nothing happens when I drag the WMA file to iTunes.

2. If I insall an app like EasyWMA, will that solve all my WMA-to-MP3 problems?

[Mikuro]

When Apple first released iTunes for Windows, WMA conversion definitely was a Windows-only feature. Apple's iTunes web page doesn't state that it's a Windows-only feature at this point, but I've never heard that it changed, and their support article still says:

Note: When you add unprotected WMA files to your iTunes library (Windows only), iTunes converts them to new files that iTunes can play, based on your import settings.

So, you'll need another app to do the conversion. EasyWMA or ffmpegX will do the job nicely. VLC could probably also do it. ffmpegX is a bit of a pain to install, though, and even VLC is a hassle to use. So I recommend EasyWMA.

As with any type of audio, when you convert a WMA to mp3, you WILL lose quality. You could convert it to an AIFF or some other lossless format to maintain the full quality of the WMA. EasyWMA allows WAV output, which I think is lossless. (Of course, this will result in a file many times larger than an mp3 would be.)

[dalo]

I love the iTunes application, but I have to say that this was the most stuping thing I've ever heard about it, even if it is the only thing. As if wma files was tied to the Windows platform just because Windows media player is more common on it. Embarrassing.