Windows media file to MP3?

Fibonacci

What's the quickest way to do this? Will windows media player let me do this? or do i have to download something else?

jor el

Not that easy I think. If the WMA is protected by DRM then you're pretty much out of luck as there is no way to crack it (and it's illegal).

If it's unprotected then an audio editing package like Goldwave or Coolauido may be able to open the WMA and re-compress as mp3. This will seriously reduce the quality of the audio though and isn't really a good idea.

I believe that converting from one compressed audio form to another is in general a bad idea.

Fibonacci

What I'm actually trying to do, is download Matt Cooper's Last Word from the Today FM website and put it on to my iPod to listen to whenever. Homemade Podcasting!

So quality isn't a huge deal to me, and as far as I know (fingers crossed) the d/l from the Today FM website isn't DRM protected.

Will try out those apps you recommended.

jor el

Goldwave is able to open unprotected WMAs for me, I'm not sure if you have full functionality in the demo download version though. I'm sure there are probably freeware audio editors that can open WMAs though. Google should probably help.

fletch

Not sure if you are aware but you can directly rip to mp3 using WMP

Fibonacci

Can I use the 'rip' function to convert a WMA file to a MP3 or AAC file?

I've had a look and I don't think I can, but I might be missing something.

Goodshape

Have you tried serching for wma mp3 converter?

Lot's of results there. Might find what you're looking for.

Zombienosh

dbpoweramp tbh.

uberpixie

Fibonacci wrote:

What I'm actually trying to do, is download Matt Cooper's Last Word from the Today FM website and put it on to my iPod to listen to whenever. Homemade Podcasting!

So quality isn't a huge deal to me, and as far as I know (fingers crossed) the d/l from the Today FM website isn't DRM protected.

Will try out those apps you recommended.

Itunes will convert wmp files to mp3 if you set it up in preferences->importing

Explosive_Cornflake

One thing you can do, but it takes awhile is burn the .wma to an image, mount said image, and rip that to mp3. Hassle free as long as its DRM free.

abccormac

Open iTunes, right click on the file, select "convert to aac"

jor el

Goodshape wrote:

Have you tried serching for wma mp3 converter?

Lot's of results there. Might find what you're looking for.

I've found that most WMA/MP3 convertors only convert from MP3 to WMA. I think the reason being that most WMAs will be DRM protected and so conversion is impossible and pointless to implement. Plus I don't think Microsoft like people having the option to convert out of WMA format.

duridian

http://www.wma-mp3.com/

youcancallmeal

I regularly record the live sessions on 2fm from the webcast. After all sorts of crappy stream rippers i found the best thing to do was just use a program called total recorder to record directly from my sound card into mp3 format (basically records whatevers coming out of your speakers without loss of sound quality)

kaimera

AlcoholicA wrote:

dbpoweramp tbh.

amen.

Webmonkey

PM me and i'll get you a fully proper working MP3-WMA vica versa convertor