M4A to MP3 converter

EWAYota · 10-06-2006, 09:57 AM

When putting songs onto my Motorola Slvr, it only accepts certain files to be transferred onto the phone. One of the files NOT accepted, is the M4A type files, which oddly enough is what my iTunes converts cd's I put on my computer as.

I don't know anything about computer programs, its like learning a new language trying to figure them out. Whats the best/easiest free downloadable software that I can take all my M4A's and convert them over to MP3 format, or is this something that iTunes can do and I just don't know about?

I'm just getting tired of trying to put certain songs onto this phone of mine and only having 5 out of the 30 songs I randomly choose because 25 are M4A's.

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***Corey*** · 10-06-2006, 10:25 AM

You can tell iTunes to convert them to MP3s in the tools area when you rip a CD.
Then your phone will play them.

EWAYota · 10-06-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey

You can tell iTunes to convert them to MP3s in the tools area when you rip a CD.
Then your phone will play them.

Is that just when your downloading the cd's into your iTunes, or will it convert files already saved as M4A's on my computer?

I have 1000's of files saved as M4A's that I need converted over to MP3's, so if iTunes can do that after the fact, that would be awesome, if not, still need to find a program that will.

garrett1478 · 10-06-2006, 05:05 PM

you could always burn them and re-rip them as mp3s....

**Tofer** · 10-06-2006, 05:32 PM

thats the only why i know how to do it...

EWAYota · 10-06-2006, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garrett1478

you could always burn them and re-rip them as mp3s....

that would kill my burner! I literally have 1000's of files saved as M4A's (x amount of M4A's in 42gb worth of music) that I would have to go through and burn on to how many disc's for that to happen. I've done a google search for M4A to MP3 converters that you basically drag your M4A file into and it converts it to MP3, but this is where I don't know whats the best program to do it in, or any tried and true programs to do that with. If no one knows, then maybe I'll have to go the long route, but since you can convert almost anything these days, I figured there would be a good converter program for this situation.

gapguy · 10-06-2006, 09:57 PM

DJ-
I'm confused...my roomie's L7 SLVR has no problem whatsoever playing AAC's or M4A's. Perhaps you need a firmware update? Check out a Cingular store.

linuxrunner · 10-06-2006, 10:05 PM

Try tunebite, http://www.tunebite.com/website/v2/e...iate=200003141
The problem is that downloaded music/video's from itunes are DRM copy protected so most encodeing programs wont tuch the stuff. I spent probably 8 hours looking for a free way of converting a few m4v videos i have and this was the only program that could do it. It's is pretty easy to use and can convert batches so just point it to the folder of 1000 songs and it will do it's thing automaticly untill they are all done.

Only thing is that it is not free i think 19.99 for a license... First try the free trial to see if it is going to work, but you will only be able to convert 30 secs with the trial. If you have any problems or can't figure something out PM me and i can try to help.

drguitarum2005 · 10-06-2006, 11:06 PM

like linuxrunner said, a lot of itunes songs (that you bought) will have DRM. I think i used to have a program that converted them to mp3 anyway, problem is, it wasnt free and not many are. there are a lot of trials that are very limited. another way, but pretty ghetto, is to get an app that records any sound going thru your soundcard to an mp3. play the m4a and press record and you have an mp3 of that song. while still digital, you have to time it right and all...kind of a pain...

EWAYota · 10-07-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gapguy

DJ-
I'm confused...my roomie's L7 SLVR has no problem whatsoever playing AAC's or M4A's. Perhaps you need a firmware update? Check out a Cingular store.

I'll go in and ask about that. For as long as I've had the phone, it wouldn't play M4A's/.

Quote:

Originally Posted by linuxrunner

Try tunebite, http://www.tunebite.com/website/v2/e...iate=200003141
The problem is that downloaded music/video's from itunes are DRM copy protected so most encodeing programs wont tuch the stuff. I spent probably 8 hours looking for a free way of converting a few m4v videos i have and this was the only program that could do it. It's is pretty easy to use and can convert batches so just point it to the folder of 1000 songs and it will do it's thing automaticly untill they are all done.

Only thing is that it is not free i think 19.99 for a license... First try the free trial to see if it is going to work, but you will only be able to convert 30 secs with the trial. If you have any problems or can't figure something out PM me and i can try to help.

I haven't gotten any songs off of the iTunes music store, I've got a few other places where I can pay less for a whole album online in MP3 format then getting half a album from iTunes.

All of my M4A files are cd's that I ripped onto my computer.

What a nightmare. Need to get my iPod working again so I don't have to just use my phone!

Thanks for the input guys.

***Corey*** · 10-07-2006, 10:52 AM

Yeah, in the future set your iTunes to rip pure 320 bit MP3s.
You will be happier :bounce2:

320 bit takes more room, but if you are ripping them from a store bought audio CD, the quality is better.

That is all I rip at.
iTunes store rips theirs at 128 bit, but they sound good, or I would not buy them.

Gt4r97 · 11-03-2006, 12:23 PM

M4A is an apple version to encode your CDs into losless digital music - meaning sounds like the original recording. In exchange file size of M4A quadroples the size of your ordinary(lossy) MP3 files. Using iTune 7 you can set this up to convert one file into another - MP3->M4A->AAC->AIFF->WAV->. Go to iTune's Edit->Preferences->Advance->Importing. There you can set what encoder you want your itune to use...you can set sound quality as well, etc!

10-06-2006, 10:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 26,071	You can tell iTunes to convert them to MP3s in the tools area when you rip a CD. Then your phone will play them. __________________ Corey 2007 FJ Cruiser Built for 4wheelin', expedition, camping, and overlanding use PNW FJ Cruisers ☺ Detailing 101 ☺ Join Topsites ☺ Muffler Comparisons ☺ Maggiolinas In The Wild FJ Cruiser Buildup ☺ New Roof Top Tent ☺ Video Of My Penthouse Part II ☺ Rehinge Your ARB/Engel Fridge Blog About Roof Top Tents ☺ FJC Magazines Online Review Of My Tent ☺ 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Pro

10-06-2006, 05:32 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tofer Super Moderator Staff Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Tacoma WA. Posts: 6,901	thats the only why i know how to do it... __________________ 94 4runenr: all the good stuff....... 89 4runner: 3.0, Auto, 5.29 lockright f/r. 31x10.5 wildcountry ATs. 81 2wd pickup: 22R \| 5-sp \| long bed \|Civic SI seats \| LockRight \| Hella 500s pacific-crawlers.com For all your Trail-gear and HID lighting Solutions Needs check out yotaworks.com Online store coming soon :)

10-06-2006, 09:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
gapguy Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nevada City, CA Posts: 3,540	DJ- I'm confused...my roomie's L7 SLVR has no problem whatsoever playing AAC's or M4A's. Perhaps you need a firmware update? Check out a Cingular store. __________________ 2008 Mini Cooper

10-06-2006, 11:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
drguitarum2005 Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Houston (home), Atlanta (school), Cincinnati (work) Posts: 2,235	like linuxrunner said, a lot of itunes songs (that you bought) will have DRM. I think i used to have a program that converted them to mp3 anyway, problem is, it wasnt free and not many are. there are a lot of trials that are very limited. another way, but pretty ghetto, is to get an app that records any sound going thru your soundcard to an mp3. play the m4a and press record and you have an mp3 of that song. while still digital, you have to time it right and all...kind of a pain... __________________ -David 2000 Taco TRD Access Cab v6 \| 5spd \| 33" BFG A/Ts \| 33" PC Mud Terrains \| OME 882's \| Bilstein HD struts front \| Rancho shocks rear \| Chevy 63" leaf spring swap \| Custom sliders \| Custom front bumper \|3" BL \| U-Bolt flip \| Flowmaster exhaust \| Kenwood Speakers \| Grey Wire Mod \| Aux. Reverse Lights \| Deckplate Mod \| Lots of lights Pictures

10-07-2006, 10:52 AM	#11 (permalink)
*Corey* Co-Founder/Administrator Staff Join Date: May 2002 Location: Auburn, Washington Posts: 26,071	Yeah, in the future set your iTunes to rip pure 320 bit MP3s. You will be happier :bounce2: 320 bit takes more room, but if you are ripping them from a store bought audio CD, the quality is better. That is all I rip at. iTunes store rips theirs at 128 bit, but they sound good, or I would not buy them. __________________ Corey 2007 FJ Cruiser Built for 4wheelin', expedition, camping, and overlanding use PNW FJ Cruisers ☺ Detailing 101 ☺ Join Topsites ☺ Muffler Comparisons ☺ Maggiolinas In The Wild FJ Cruiser Buildup ☺ New Roof Top Tent ☺ Video Of My Penthouse Part II ☺ Rehinge Your ARB/Engel Fridge Blog About Roof Top Tents ☺ FJC Magazines Online Review Of My Tent ☺ 2009 Specialized Rockhopper Pro

10-06-2006, 05:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
garrett1478 Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 0	you could always burn them and re-rip them as mp3s....

11-03-2006, 12:23 PM	#12 (permalink)
Gt4r97 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kent,WA Posts: 69	M4A is an apple version to encode your CDs into losless digital music - meaning sounds like the original recording. In exchange file size of M4A quadroples the size of your ordinary(lossy) MP3 files. Using iTune 7 you can set this up to convert one file into another - MP3->M4A->AAC->AIFF->WAV->. Go to iTune's Edit->Preferences->Advance->Importing. There you can set what encoder you want your itune to use...you can set sound quality as well, etc! __________________

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