Convert m4a (aac) to mp3
I used iTunes to copy songs off the VBS CD, which encoded them in AAC format (M4A container). My video editor doesn’t accept that format, so I needed to convert them to mp3. After trying lots of programs that Google offered me, many of which claimed to be “free” but were really just “free trials”, I finally found the solution in a forum post. It turns out that you can do the conversion right in iTunes, totally free and totally cool.
1. Go into iTunes Preferences, and change the importing mode back to the MP3 mode you like
2. Now select the tracks that you want to change back, and go to the Advanced menu. There is an item called “convert selection to MP3“.
This menu item lists whatever the current setting is in the importing prefs.
Now, this might not be good for the audio quality, but I don’t really care: I don’t listen to music that carefully. Thanks, Hannah W!
Thank you so much!!! I downloaded a few “free” converters that did not work with the file type or only worked for three files and all i needed was right on my itunes. Thanks for sharing this info.
Thank you sooo much. I’ve looked all over the internet for this information. Worked like a charm. Now I just need to uninstall those 10 “free” programs that never really worked.
So is there a quick way (a way to covert other than clicking each individual song) to convert your entire library so it can be found by windows media player 10 and put into that library?
BTW Great write up. Thanks for the info. Figured (select all)it out.
thank you – it works:))
Awesome tip! Thanks so much. The “freebies” didn’t work for converting at all. Who knew that iTunes had that capability? I certainly did not. Now I do.
Thanks again!
Awesome! That was super easy. I’m glad I didn’t have to waste my time downloading programs to do what you so easily explained! =)
hey that was easy!
Doesn’t work (anymore?).
Anyway “Protected content cannot be converted to other formats” yadiyadiya
:(
thanks a lot! after all those failed programs, it was a program i already had that could do the trick
Is there any way to use iTunes to convert the already imported .m4a files to .mp3s?
Hey hey,
Thanks for the heads up. Saved me a lot of time looking for useless “free” programs
Cheers,
DJ
Since I don’t use Itunes I continued searching and found following application BonkEnc (which is free and opensource):
http://sourceforge.net/projects/bonkenc
Cheers
Erik
Dude, You’re a God! But seriously, thank you for the m4a conversion to mp3 information. You saved my life. …Ironically, I needed it for the exact same reason. Avid Liquid (my video editor) wont playback m4a, unless they’re added to the sequence as a “film”. I just want the audio. You’re the best! Thank you again!
Danny in San Diego.
Ditto, you saved me a lot of time. Good work!
thanks for this, but the crap is that if you bought music off iStore, you can’t rip them to mp3, they’re protected… where’s my liberty ? I want my money back !
That’s great if you have non purchased itunes music that is AAC, which hardly anyone has. I think most people are looking for a way to rip ITUNES purchased music…
I did this, but I had to right click to get the convert to MP3 option, it wasn’t in Advanced. 256kbps and 44.1 frequency is nice for music. Don’t use “joint stereo” unless you’ve tested it and like the result.
Well. I downloaded an album that turned out to be M4a, and could not find a way to convert them to MP3…I’ll try tis, and see if it works. I do have ITunes on the PC. Thanks, DW
very nice, I just tried it and it works fine, I had no idea…
The simplest answer is always the hardest to find on the internet.
Thank you so much for posting this.
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THANKS!
Almost spent 40 dollars on a fake solution
Cheers
thank you so much. i almost spend 60 dollars on a unreal solution too. until i found your website and found it free and simple. nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks sooooooo much!!
Thanks, man that was simple but hard to find ;)..
damn i never w0ould have thought to try that, much kudos to you