When songs have been purchased from iTunes can they be downloaded onto the iPod in a WMA format? If yes, how is this done? I want to do this as I would be able to get more tunes on the iPod.

Also, CD's ripped using Windows media player in a WMA format - can they be downloaded directly onto the iPod in that format? Can that be done using Windows Media player or do they have to be downloaded using iTunes?

The iPod does not support WMA in any shape or form, so you will need to delete the WMA files and re rip your CDs you've already done to WMA in Windows Media Player to either bog standard MP3s or MP4s (AAC).

Just out of curiosity - can WMA's be downloaded onto a creative zen mp3 player?

Not true. iTunes will convert them from WMA automatically, as long as they are unprotected files.


Yes.

As far as I know that only applies to iTunes for Windows - Mac users have to convert from WMA before importing to iTunes. Unless anyone knows different...

Thats correct, as a mac user I try to stay away from wma.

The question has to be why do you want to use WMA - possibly the worst encoding format going!

Fair point, but why waste your time transcoding compressed audio files and making things sound worse. Your time is better spent starting afresh and re ripping from the CDs as AAC/MP3.

WMA will not result in smaller file-sizes, a smaller file will come from using a lower bit-rate. WMA at the same bit-rate as iTunes is arguably worse, but even if it's the same, the point is that you're still only gonna get a smaller file when you use a lower bit-rate.

I've actually always found WMA better, I suppose it depends on bitrate and use.

whats a bitrate? scuse naivety

I agree, but I was just answering the question.

The bitrate is the amount of data which is used to effectively record the sound. Half the bitrate will allow you to store pretty much twice the music but with an obvious corresponding loss of sound quality. The iTunes store uses 128kbps with the aac codec, most people feel that (with headphones at least) the sound quality is close to that of cd, at least close enough to not worry them. Personally, I use 160 when I'm encoding my own stuff just to give myself that little bit extra without making the files overtly bigger. It's kind of like the old LP and SP with VHS cassettes, long play would let you record more but at lower quality.