M4P vs. MP3

Question

Level 1

0 points

M4P vs. MP3

When I purchase music from I-tunes, it downloads a file in M4P format. Is there a way:

A. To have them download in mp3 format or
B. Convert them to mp3 so my listen to them on my mp3 player.

Thanks,

dale peronteau

HP LAPTOP, Windows Vista

Posted on Jun 19, 2008 8:23 AM

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Answer 1

Bottlerboi

Level 4

1,065 points

Jun 19, 2008 10:47 AM in response to PERONTEAU

Hello, Dale, and Welcome to Apple Discussions,

a) There's no way, since iTunes only sells AAC-files, either protected (m4p) at 128 kBit, or unprotected (m4a) at 256 kBit, these are marked with a +
b) You can directly convert iTunes Plus songs, by right-clicking and selecting "Converting to MP3" (if MP3 is the format you chose in the import preferences).
Normal iTunes songs are protected, and can only be burnt to an Audio CD, that you can then use like a normal one...
Hope this helps.

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Answer 2

PERONTEAU Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 19, 2008 11:52 AM in response to Bottlerboi

thanks.

it does help. It's entirely stupid. It wastes a cd to burn it to an audio and then reimport back into Windows media player as an mp3. So, Apple is protecting anything. It just makes it more difficult and timeconsuming

Thanks for your reply. I thought that was the answer I was going to get.

ARGH!!!

Dale

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Answer 3

varjak paw

Level 10

182,828 points

Jun 19, 2008 12:11 PM in response to PERONTEAU

Yep. But the copy protection is demanded by the record companies and if Apple wants to be able to offer the tracks, they have to comply. We're lucky Apple's been able to keep the feature that allows us to at least burn the tracks to audio CD.

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Answer 4

ed2345

Level 9

63,748 points

Jun 19, 2008 12:16 PM in response to PERONTEAU

+"Is there a way... To have them download in mp3 format"+
There are plenty of online music stores that sell in 100% MP3 format. The largest is the MP3 Download Store at amazon.com.

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Answer 5

PERONTEAU Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 19, 2008 1:30 PM in response to ed2345

Thanks Ed,

I am going to be switching to Amazon. but, they just don't have the same amount of music that Apple has.

Still, it is better than this crap.

thanks everybody for your input.

i don't understand why apple has to comply the record label thing and amazon and others don't.

anyway. i am done ******** now. 🙂

I will use the burn to CD workaround.

Dale Peronteau

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Answer 6

varjak paw

Level 10

182,828 points

Jun 19, 2008 1:43 PM in response to PERONTEAU

Because, according to reports, the record labels are trying to put pressure on Apple to change the terms of the iTunes Store, among other things to allow the labels to charge you more for popular tracks. So they're giving licenses to other download stores that they won't give to Apple.

Message was edited by: Dave Sawyer

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Answer 7

ed2345

Level 9

63,748 points

Jun 19, 2008 4:04 PM in response to PERONTEAU

Dale, "switching" is not necessary. You can buy a song here and a song there. Often you will find that iTunes has a song at 128 with DRM, and Amazon has the same song at 256 with no DRM. Next time you may find iTunes has what you want and Amazon doesn't. Feel free to shop around and buy what makes sense. -Ed.

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Answer 8

StarDeb55

Level 6

19,695 points

Jun 19, 2008 4:38 PM in response to PERONTEAU

Dale, this is exactly what I do when it comes to "shopping around". I prefer to purchase the iTunes Plus tracks for the better audio quality. If what I'm interested in purchasing isn't available as an iT Plus track, then it's off to Amazon. More often than not, Amazon has had what I want to purchase.

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