Convert MP4 to MP3

I have an iMac, and I just converted my iTunes mp4s to mp3s pretty much following the directions from the original response to this question. From iTunes preferences > General my "Import Settings" was AAC Encoder, and I changed that to MP3 Encoder from the drop down menu. Then back in iTunes I went to the File menu and chose Create New Version from the drop down, and when the choices appeared I chose Create MP3 Version. Prior to that I had "selected" all 359 music files and the conversion took place for all of them in a matter of minutes. After the coversion I had 2 versions of each song in iTunes. Not knowing any short cut, I then held down the Command key and selected every other file (the MP3 versions), and when I had completed this selection process, I then dragged all of the files to the USB stick, and all of the files copied to it. I have since tried to play the files in my car, and it worked beautifully.

This is a little odd for me. I can find all the steps here, but I'm not allowed to select the "convert to mp3 option". I can select "Create iPod or iPhone version" or "Create iPad or Apple TV Version". Any suggestions here?

Thanks!

I went thru the steps again and in my case I am only allowed to select the "Convert to MP3" option (the other 2 are grayed out). I went thru the steps again as I wrote them in my earlier post and it worked again. My version of itunes is 11.0.2 (26). The music files that I am trying to convert are shown to be "ACC audio file" when I did a "Get Info" for the file I had selected to convert. For the "Import Settings" step when I selected "MP3 Encoder," for the next box down I selected the highest quality level. I don't know if any of these things make a difference, but I thought I would give you this extra information anyway to see if it might help.

I went through all the steps again, still no luck 😟

CharlesNMN wrote:

This is a little odd for me. I can find all the steps here, but I'm not allowed to select the "convert to mp3 option". I can select "Create iPod or iPhone version" or "Create iPad or Apple TV Version".

Those options are only available when you have a movie or TV show or music video selected.

Hi,

I had problems with a similar thing with a mp3 player....Follow previous advice...Then the bit thats not very clear...sorry posters is....when you open itunes...then select the album or track...don't click to play just select...then right click...it should then give you the option to convert to mp3....if you select the album title...right click it will batch convert the whole album...it duplicates the track/s and keeps the original too....Happy Days!-)

Hi,

I had problems with a similar thing with a mp3 player....Follow previous advice...Then the bit thats not very clear...sorry posters is....when you open itunes...then select the album or track...don't click to play just select...then right click...it should then give you the option to convert to mp3....if you select the album title...right click it will batch convert the whole album...it duplicates the track/s and keeps the original too....Happy Days!-

Are....you....having....problems....or....not?

Follow previous advice...Then the bit thats not very clear...sorry posters is....when you open itunes...then select the album or track...don't click to play just select...then right click...it should then give you the option to convert to mp3....

So....is....it....clear....now?

I HAD THIS PROBLEM with the option not showing in the context menu.

I FIXED THIS PROBLEM:

Follow previous steps about changing the import settings.

Go to the file and SHIFT + RIGHT CLICK

The "Create MP3 Version" option should now be visible (:

letmeinomgggg wrote:

I HAD THIS PROBLEM with the option not showing in the context menu.

I FIXED THIS PROBLEM:

Follow previous steps about changing the import settings.

Go to the file and SHIFT + RIGHT CLICK

Shift right click is the same as Shift left click.

System prefs > Mouse. Set the -right button = secondary button then you won't need to Shift click.

I second that Mike, you're a genius!

Thank you Berrywoo it was a little bit of a hasle in the beging but i got it to work you derections were most greatly apreciated

Previously, I used to be able to convert my files as stated in previous posts...until today. For some reason "Convert to Mp3" is no longer a highlighted option. Nothing worked until I tried your suggestion. Voila...the option to convert was visible after selecting my file, then right clicking and i'm a happy camper after spending hours trying to locate the problem. Thanks mjk1958!!

Is there a way to not have duplicate music files in iTunes? When I use the method below, I have AAC files and MP3 files in iTunes. I tried copying the album into another folder and then Create New Version, but again I had duplicate songs with different encoding. It's going to be a cumbersome job to delelte all of the MP3 songs in iTunes after I copied them to my stick.

ppete100 wrote:

I have an iMac, and I just converted my iTunes mp4s to mp3s pretty much following the directions from the original response to this question. From iTunes preferences > General my "Import Settings" was AAC Encoder, and I changed that to MP3 Encoder from the drop down menu. Then back in iTunes I went to the File menu and chose Create New Version from the drop down, and when the choices appeared I chose Create MP3 Version. Prior to that I had "selected" all 359 music files and the conversion took place for all of them in a matter of minutes. After the coversion I had 2 versions of each song in iTunes. Not knowing any short cut, I then held down the Command key and selected every other file (the MP3 versions), and when I had completed this selection process, I then dragged all of the files to the USB stick, and all of the files copied to it. I have since tried to play the files in my car, and it worked beautifully.

woodshed1 wrote:

Is there a way to not have duplicate music files in iTunes? When I use the method below, I have AAC files and MP3 files in iTunes. I tried copying the album into another folder and then Create New Version, but again I had duplicate songs with different encoding. It's going to be a cumbersome job to delelte all of the MP3 songs in iTunes after I copied them to my stick.

Not cumbersome at all.

First put the MP3 files into a playlist (to keep track of them).

Add them to your USB stick.

Select the files in the playlist then Option Delete.

This deletes from the iTunes library and from your HD.