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how to convert m4a to mp3?

I'm trying to convert a audio recording I made using Quicktime to an mp3 or WAV file for exporting to the web and uploading on ATT Office at Hand. What's the easiest way to get my m4a file to export as an mp3 or WAV file for uploading to a website? I have iTunes 10 installed.

iMac-OTHER, Mac OS X (10.7.3)

Posted on Apr 20, 2012 9:35 AM

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Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Oct 2, 2013 3:30 AM

Start by dragging the files concerned into the Songs list in iTunes if they aren't already there.


To convert files to M4a ('AAC'):


In iTunes Preferences>General click the 'Import Settings' button and choose 'AAC encoder' (it may be the default) and use the next drop-down menu to choose your settings - you can choose 'Custom' and set the bitrate as suits you.


Click OK, then OK again to close the Preferences.


Now go to the library, select your original files and from the from the 'File' menu choose 'Create new version' then 'Create AAC version' (iTunes 11 - in earlier versions choose 'Create AAC version' from the 'Advanced' menu).. This will make duplicate AAC versions and you can delete the original versions in iTunes. (Never tamper with the actual library in the Finder).


To convert files to MP3:


Firstly, go to iTunes Preferences>General and click the 'Import Settings' button. Set 'Import Using' to 'MP3 Encoder' and use the next drop-down menu to choose your settings - you can choose 'Custom' and set the bitrate as suits you.


Click OK, then OK again to close the Preferences.


Go to the Music list; select the files you want to convert and from the 'File' menu choose 'Create new version' then 'Create MP3 version' (iTunes 11 - in earlier versions choose 'Create MP3 version' from the 'Advanced' menu).


MP3 versions will be created and placed in the music list (the original versions will remain there). You can drag them out if you want to save them elsewhere (doing this will not remove them from the Library). You can select and delete any files as required in the Music list. (Never tamper with the actual library in the Finder).



It has been suggested that converting files to WAV or AIFF will improve the quality - it won't. AAC and MP3 compression works by leaving out bits of the sound it is assumed you cannot hear because they are masked by other sounds. Copying to an uncompressed format such as WAV cannot restore the missing sounds, so you are maintaining the same quality and just making the files a lot larger.

33 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Oct 2, 2013 3:30 AM in response to Yermi

Start by dragging the files concerned into the Songs list in iTunes if they aren't already there.


To convert files to M4a ('AAC'):


In iTunes Preferences>General click the 'Import Settings' button and choose 'AAC encoder' (it may be the default) and use the next drop-down menu to choose your settings - you can choose 'Custom' and set the bitrate as suits you.


Click OK, then OK again to close the Preferences.


Now go to the library, select your original files and from the from the 'File' menu choose 'Create new version' then 'Create AAC version' (iTunes 11 - in earlier versions choose 'Create AAC version' from the 'Advanced' menu).. This will make duplicate AAC versions and you can delete the original versions in iTunes. (Never tamper with the actual library in the Finder).


To convert files to MP3:


Firstly, go to iTunes Preferences>General and click the 'Import Settings' button. Set 'Import Using' to 'MP3 Encoder' and use the next drop-down menu to choose your settings - you can choose 'Custom' and set the bitrate as suits you.


Click OK, then OK again to close the Preferences.


Go to the Music list; select the files you want to convert and from the 'File' menu choose 'Create new version' then 'Create MP3 version' (iTunes 11 - in earlier versions choose 'Create MP3 version' from the 'Advanced' menu).


MP3 versions will be created and placed in the music list (the original versions will remain there). You can drag them out if you want to save them elsewhere (doing this will not remove them from the Library). You can select and delete any files as required in the Music list. (Never tamper with the actual library in the Finder).



It has been suggested that converting files to WAV or AIFF will improve the quality - it won't. AAC and MP3 compression works by leaving out bits of the sound it is assumed you cannot hear because they are masked by other sounds. Copying to an uncompressed format such as WAV cannot restore the missing sounds, so you are maintaining the same quality and just making the files a lot larger.

Nov 4, 2013 2:45 PM in response to SherryinDallas

I'm having real trouble in the same realm...I rewrote the file formats of all my m4a's to mp3's in the finder so I could have them in my playlist on my phone (m4a's won't play on my phone, the designated playlist is empty which is maddening to begin with...) so then they didn't play at all anymore even in iTunes...Then I switched the formats back to m4a's and some of them still won't play! This is very important for me, most of those files are irreplacable and I need them, on the computer and on my phone (in the music player!! not the voice memos app!!!


Any feedback? Anyone? What can I do? Did I just compromise all my voice memos?

Nov 4, 2013 3:03 PM in response to nukeycookey

nukeycookey wrote:


I rewrote the file formats of all my m4a's to mp3's in the finder

You mean you simply changed the .m4a in the filename to mp3? That won't do you any good - you just have an m4a file with the wrong extension. You have to actually convert the file using one of the methods listed above. the easiest is to use the conversion process in iTunes which I outlined on October 20.

Nov 4, 2013 3:18 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Yes but the problem now is not converting them. The problem is, that even after changing the extension back to m4a, they still do not work at all anywhere...


So if I convert them from the current state of m4a's (current meaning totally do not play in any player) into mp3's, they'll work again? Is that what you're saying?


Note:
The reason I just converted the extensions is because this works fine with pictures. from .png to .jpg for example...

how to convert m4a to mp3?

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