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Is there an easy way of converting all my WMA's to MP3 for use with Ipod?
stevem999
20-11-2008
Hi everyone,

All my music (700+ CD's) is ripped to WMA and is used on Creative Zen Vision M which I use a lot and have nice speaker docks at home for etc.

However my new car is only ipod friendly, and you can only use the steering wheel controls on ipods too. I don't especially want an ipod but want my music in the car with me so happy to go down the route of an ipod classic and hide it away!

My biggest gripe is obviously getting my music onto the ipod. I REALLY don't want to re-rip it all to MP3. I think I'd be handed divorce papers if I did so I guess I'm looking at having to convert everything. I do realise that converting lossy wma to lossy mp3 can be detrimental to quality but it's for use in the car, and I'm no audiophile either.

So, anyone got any recommendations for an easy to use, ideally free or very cheap, bulk conversion software that I can basically ask to take my 'My Music' folder on my external hard drive and make an exact copy of it but with everything in MP3 instead of WMA? Moving the album art/tags etc with it would be good too!

Can't be the first to want to do this can I?

Cheers
Swansea Stu
20-11-2008
Here's one that is supposed to be free

http://www.nch.com.au/switch/

I personally use http://www.acoustica.com/audio-converter/index.htm but then you are meant to pay for that.

I recently converted about 20GB of mp3s from 320kbs to 128kbs and it took nearly 2 days.
callum9999
20-11-2008
I assume you are using iTunes. If you import the WMAs into iTunes doesn't it give you the option to convert them?
Matt-08
20-11-2008
Originally Posted by callum9999:
“I assume you are using iTunes. If you import the WMAs into iTunes doesn't it give you the option to convert them?”

It converts them to AAC, up to 320kbps.
callum9999
20-11-2008
Originally Posted by Matt-08:
“It converts them to AAC, up to 320kbps.”

Is there not an option to change the default to MP3 though? I thought there was but I haven't used it in ages.
Matt-08
20-11-2008
Originally Posted by callum9999:
“Is there not an option to change the default to MP3 though? I thought there was but I haven't used it in ages.”

There isn't now.
player1
20-11-2008
Originally Posted by Matt-08:
“There isn't now.”

There is on iTunes 8

edit - preferences ( and from the general tab ) - import settings - select "mp3 decoder" you can specify up to 192kbps
GamerGirl
23-11-2008
To avoid the hideous iTunes scenario, I use either dBpoweramp converter or Super converter....both are free downloads.
darknesshayz
23-11-2008
Originally Posted by Swansea Stu:
“Here's one that is supposed to be free

http://www.nch.com.au/switch/

I personally use http://www.acoustica.com/audio-converter/index.htm but then you are meant to pay for that.

I recently converted about 20GB of mp3s from 320kbs to 128kbs and it took nearly 2 days.”

Swich is only free for about a week or two, and then you get a message saying 'buy full software to use this' or something like that!
Harlotqueen
23-11-2008
Originally Posted by player1:
“There is on iTunes 8

edit - preferences ( and from the general tab ) - import settings - select "mp3 decoder" you can specify up to 192kbps”

Up to 320 actaully - mine are all 256kbps

Basicly import into iTunes after you change the setting to MP3 and it will automatically convert (will take a little while)
darkpaw
24-11-2008
Originally Posted by darknesshayz:
“Swich is only free for about a week or two, and then you get a message saying 'buy full software to use this' or something like that!”

i've had Switch installed on my computer for years now, the basic freeware version, and it's still working fine. No nagging messages.

i've probably got an older version though - maybe they've since changed and limited it like you describe?
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