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m4a > mp3

Started by splattermac, March 02, 2004, 10:39:57 PM

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splattermac

I've got an album in this format, .m4a files,

I've got the latest version of winamp so it plays them ok, thing is, sound forge won't open them for editing and I can't use them with other .mp3 friendly programs,

how do I convert them from m4a to a workable mp3, without installing iTunes,

has anyone got nice little converter they can recommend?

cheers

5 Knuckle Shuffle

I was going to give you loads of links to software, but you may as well read this post and see if it's worth you while downloading the programmes mate. Good luck.
http://www.osxhax.com/archives/000046.html

Rats

This is really good http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm
You'll need to download this codec too so you can read m4a files with it
http://www.dbpoweramp.net/codecs/dBpowerAMP-codec-mp4-aac-decode.exe

JesusAndYourBush

I use winamp to convert mp2/mp3 to wav, surely it can handle these files too?
(ctrl-P to get into preferences, plugins-output, select  "nullsoft disc writer plugin"[remember what it's set to so you can change it back afterwards], click configure and choose a destination folder, close preferences, and "play" the files.  They should be converted to wav.)

splattermac

thanks whores, I'll investigate these later.

splattermac

Quote from: "5 Knuckle Shuffle"I was going to give you loads of links to software, but you may as well read this post and see if it's worth you while downloading the programmes mate. Good luck.
http://www.osxhax.com/archives/000046.html

QuoteMore info on m4a & m4p files
Thanks to the MPEG4IP folks... Go fetch the MacOS X MPEG4 tools here. Using them you can delve into the secrets of the files iTunes makes.

Having done this, I've figured out that m4a and m4p files are really mp4 files. In fact, if you rename an m4a as an mp4, Windows QuickTime will play it perfectly, and as a bonus will extract a WAV file if you like.

Using mp4info, you can peer inside an MPEG4 file. On an m4a file, you see the excpected: a single AAC encoded audio track. On an m4p, however, you see an "unknown" encoding audio track.

These are command line tools, so you will need to play with the terminal to use 'em, but they seem darned useful.

In the meantime, if your goal is just to be able to share your m4a files (encoded from CDs or what not) with Windows machines, just rename them mp4 and play them from Windows Quicktime 6.1 (or, of course, extract the AIFF from them on the mac).

I've gone down the bold route, easy peasy, thanks very much, SORTED