Converting WinAmp (M3U) Playlists Into iTunes (XML) Playlists

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Level 1

8 points

Converting WinAmp (M3U) Playlists Into iTunes (XML) Playlists

Hi. I was wondering if someone could help me out with suggestions on converting my old WinAmp (.m3u) playlists into usable iTunes (.xml) playlists?

I have Windows XP Pro (with the latest Windows updates), and a brand new iPod 160 Gig Classic.

I have used WinAmp as my media player for the longest time. The reason that I haven't created playlists in iTunes is because:

It took me years to customize these Winamp playlists exactly how I want them (you know how that is).

iTunes is a huge program that tends to takes up too many system resources on my PC. I have an older PC, and don't have the time or money to invest in a new system, copy files, set it up, etc.

iTunes somehow modifies an mp3 whenever it is played in iTunes ( I can see that it has been modified in the "Date Modified" column, where my mp3 files are located).

Historically - up until the last year or so, iTunes has not had too much of a problem faithfully importing my Winamp playlists into iTunes (to be transferred onto my iPod).

So, I just got off the phone with Apple Technical Support, Tier 2. I told him that I had the latest version of iTunes (version 10), installed yesterday.

I successfully imported my 90 Gigs of mp3's into the iTunes "Music Library" without a problem.

The problem arose today when I tried to import one of my WinAmp (.m3u) playlists into iTunes, so that I could copy the playlist over onto my iPod. I've done this dozens of times. I've already tried uninstalling and then reinstalling iTunes.

Like I said, I really want to keep these playlists it took a long time to customize the occurrence and frequency of favorite mp3's into those playlists.

The technician said that the latest release of iTunes won't work with Winamp (m3u) playlists. I asked him if he thought it would work again if I downloaded an older version of iTunes. He said that with the new iPod Classic that I have, it will not work with older versions of iTunes (I have no idea why), so that's out. He suggested Googling an "m3u to xml file converter."

I checked on Google and saw a lot of programs that will convert xml files to m3u file format (for reasons unknown to me), but I haven't had any luck online finding a file converter that will faithfully convert my WinAmp (.m3u) playlists TO iTunes (.xml) playlists to use instead, and make iTunes run smoother. Any suggestions?*

* Keep in mind that I'd really prefer to convert my m3u playlists, rather than create all new iTunes playlists from scratch.

Thanks.

Custom-made PC, Windows XP Pro, CPU: Intel Pentium 4, CPU Speed: 3GHz, RAM: 1 Gig, Hard Drive Ca

Posted on Aug 13, 2011 3:24 PM

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Answer 1

lmarinl

Level 1

0 points

Sep 15, 2011 1:19 AM in response to solgar

Helo, I have the same problem. In previous versions of Itunes you could import a m3u play list from winamp only adding the complete path to mp3 files. I neither have found a m3u to xml converter. My only option was reinstal an older version of Itunes.

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Answer 2

turingtest2

Level 10

272,725 points

Sep 15, 2011 2:39 AM in response to solgar

This looks like a bug with the current build of iTunes. The menus provide an export to m3u playlist feature, and it will process an imported m3u playlist creating a new playlist, it just fails to add in any tracks. Even a playlist exported from iTunes won't reimport properly. I shall file a bug report.

FWIW the only difference I can see between a playlist created by Winamp and one created by iTunes is that iTunes includes the drive letter. However iTunes 10.4.1.10 won't successfully import either format so I don't think that is the issue.

tt2

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Answer 3

Sep 15, 2011 6:22 AM in response to solgar

Try this http://www.winamp.com/plugin/ml-import-export/139248

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Answer 4

solgar Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 15, 2011 11:47 AM in response to solgar

Tried the plug-in with Apple Technical Support. This WinAmp plug-in unfortunately does absolutely nothing.

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Answer 5

Sep 16, 2011 2:40 AM in response to solgar

solgar wrote:

Tried the plug-in with Apple Technical Support. This WinAmp plug-in unfortunately does absolutely nothing.

I went back an read some of the comments and it sounds like it only works with older versions of WinAmp.

Try this http://www.topdownloads.net/software/m3u-to-xml-xspf-converter_2_39472.html

or this python script http://users.musicbrainz.org/~matt/xspf/m3u2xspf

or http://www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Audio/Audio-Convertors/M3UtoXSPF.shtml

Not sure this one will work since it is looking like the latest iTunes no longer supports m3u file sbut worth a try see http://www.burroak.on.ca/m3u2itunes.html

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Answer 6

Tuckewok

Level 1

4 points

Sep 17, 2011 7:42 PM in response to John Lockwood

I've tried that and it doesn't work either.

I'm also having issues with this build - I was successful when I last tried importing m3u playlists about 6 months ago. I have the same thing - m3u's from other programs, many playlists exactly the way I like them...

Ah, well, guess we wait for an iTunes build that fixes this.

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Answer 7

Sep 19, 2011 2:05 AM in response to Tuckewok

Did you try all four of the options I listed?

It does appear the current iTunes no longer supports importing m3u files hence the need to try converting to an XML format. I suspect the reason that at the moment there are few to no options to do this is because until people have relied on the built-in m3u import option. Now that is not available there is obviously a need for a converter and hopefully someone will come up with a solution (if none of those four work) just as previously people came up with solutions for the opposite direction.

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Answer 8

solgar Author

Level 1

8 points

Sep 19, 2011 2:52 AM in response to John Lockwood

I've been dealing with Apple's Tier 2 Technical Support on this issue for the last month, trying every possible fix -short of installing older versions of WinAmp and iTunes, which Apple doesn't want you to do because 1.) they won't support it, and 2.) they said that older versions of iTunes will not work with the new iPod 160 Gig Classic, which is what I have.

Technical Support stated that they have NOT stopped making iTunes to be compatible with WinAmp playlists. They continue to utilize the .m3u (WinAmp) playlists, however they admit that the current build of iTunes has a bug (with regard to working with these playlists), which Apple has been recently made aware of. They are currently trying to work out the bug in this issue, but it will take some time, they said. They hope to have it fixed with the next iTunes update..... As Moses grows a beard, lol.

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Answer 9

Sep 19, 2011 3:23 AM in response to solgar

According to the blogs, iTunes is due an update soon to synchronise with the launch of iOS5, iCloud and iPhone5. So not too long to wait hopefully - assuming the fix is included.

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Answer 10

turingtest2

Level 10

272,725 points

Sep 19, 2011 4:20 AM in response to John Lockwood

John Lockwood wrote:

... hopefully someone will come up with a solution (if none of those four work) just as previously people came up with solutions for the opposite direction.

And here it is...! ImportM3U is a vbScript to import an m3u playlist into iTunes. Download the script, drag & drop the playlist onto it, (probably have to acknowlege a security warning) and it will create the playlist and add the tracks to it.

Enjoy the music!

tt2

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