WMA convert to MP3 (recommendations please)

My wife copied some CDs to her computer (as WMA) and left the CDs else where. Do you know of any legit programs to convert WMA to MP3? We just want to load the music to her iPod. MP3 only for iPod...

Thanks.

HERE is one resource to look into.

hahaha FUNNY. I did google the first time, but always sort of concerned downloading from random "free" websites. I was just wondering if there was something you have used that you can recommend, something you can vouch for.

Livinthalife - I suggest that you use Audacity, which is a very good free (OpenSource, so quite legit) - Audio Editor.

I assume that you're using Windows, so you'd download the Windows *.exe version.

Just to be safe-sure, run your AV program over the *.exe file before executing it.

While Audacity is a very competent Audio Editor, you can of course just use it as a quick and easy format converter.

With Audacity installed, open it on the Desktop. Drop the first *.wma file into the window. (Easier than Browsing to the folder, which you can also do.)

Once it has opened in that window, just go to File > Export, and click that.

You'll get an Export dialog. You can select MP3 on the button above the long "Options" bar at the bottom of the dialog.

Once you've done that, click the Options bar. You'll get a dialog, "Specify MP3 Options."

At the top of that dialog, you can set Variable, Average or Constant bitrates. Constant is the default.

Below that, is the Quality bar - listing from 320kbps down. For a hand-held player, 192kbps is a good quality and file-size option. But if the player has limited storage capacity, 128kbps is about as low as you'd want to compromise. Below that, stereo isn't very good.

Below that, is "Channel Mode" - ensure that the radio-button on the right, "Stereo" is selected.

Now click "OK" - and the Save will go to the Destination folder you've selected in the left panel of the main dialog.

As long as you don't close it, Audacity will save your settings for repeated files - so doing a series the same as the first file, is then just a drop-in-window, and click-through exercise.

Audacity can Convert and Save more than a dozen formats. It can also, if necessary at some time - create *.wma files from other formats.

- If any of that is unclear - post back and we can step-step through it.

Regards, Dave.

Audacity is fantastic!

Dave I have audacity and used it for other editing and making ringtones. I didn't realize it could convert too!

Thanks for write up! Appreciate it VERY much!!

Livinthalife - Most welcome, indeed... If I knew as much about Photography as I do the Audio and Video I'm into - I'd know about 1.5% as much as most posting here...

Regards, Dave.

Finally got around to trying it and no go due to "patent restrictions".

You need the LAME MP3 encoder available -->here<--.

Nope I got that as well I can make MP3s form other files. Im thinking I will have to burn the CDs as actual audio CDs, then rip as MP3 on MY computer.

Thanks though!

iTunes automatically converts them...

I've been using NCH WavePad for quite a while (google it lol), not only for audio format conversions but for creating my own ringtones, clarifying/reducing "noise" in audio recordings, mixing a few tunes, etc. I find the UI to be pretty straightforward and user-friendly. I tried Audacity previously but I find Wavepad's UI to be much cleaner and friendlier (but that's just me)