A player that plays most formats, and in which I can keep a library.

prettyvisitor · Nov 28, 2009, 12:57 PM

Just got a mac and I've got loads of music, of which much is wma format - which of course doesn't play in itunes. I downloaded realplayer and vlc but I can't keep a library in them and I'm not too keen on converting all of it. Looking for player that will play most formats, (or at least wma and mp3) but will also keep a library...

Cheers!

juanster · Nov 28, 2009, 12:58 PM

with a library or playlist? hmmm that's a hard one

GGJstudios · Nov 28, 2009, 01:04 PM

Depending on the size of your library, you'll probably be better off to bite the bullet and convert to a more universal format and use iTunes.

Fishrrman · Nov 29, 2009, 09:42 AM

I would suggest using a conversion utility like "EasyWMA" to convert them all to mp3 format.

I've used it a few times and it does the job.

EasyWMA _may_ do "batch conversions" as well to convert entire groups of files, but never tried to do that here.

There are a few other conversion utilities out there, as well.

The Mac and wma files just don't play well together. Best route is to convert and use with something like iTunes...

- John

Consultant · Nov 29, 2009, 11:29 AM

You can convert WMA or re-rip your CDs to a modern format: mp4 (aac).

justaregularjoe · Nov 29, 2009, 05:02 PM

can't you just drop wmas into itunes and get them converted automatically?

GGJstudios · Nov 29, 2009, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justaregularjoe

can't you just drop wmas into itunes and get them converted automatically?

Only on the Windows version of iTunes. Not on the Mac version.

ChrisBrightwell · Dec 1, 2009, 11:02 AM

don't transcode. re-rip.

GermanSuplex · Dec 1, 2009, 11:29 AM

Does Media Monkey support wma? I'd imagine it does. That's a good little library manager. Supports and syncs to lots of players too.

dXTC · Dec 1, 2009, 12:05 PM

You may also want to try doubleTwist.

prettyvisitor · Dec 6, 2009, 12:58 PM

Thanks for all the responses.
I'm actually still stuck, mediamonkey seems good but there's no version for mac, while doubletwist won't work for me, I have no idea why. I install it, but it won't start for me.
As for converting, easyWMA will probably be my last resort as I'd rather go free. Most are paying though. One that looked promising was switch, it's free, but again, didn't work for me. If anyone knows of any other free converters or any more ideas on a player it would be much appreciated!
Cheers

wywern209 · Dec 6, 2009, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prettyvisitor

Thanks for all the responses.
I'm actually still stuck, mediamonkey seems good but there's no version for mac, while doubletwist won't work for me, I have no idea why. I install it, but it won't start for me.
As for converting, easyWMA will probably be my last resort as I'd rather go free. Most are paying though. One that looked promising was switch, it's free, but again, didn't work for me. If anyone knows of any other free converters or any more ideas on a player it would be much appreciated!
Cheers

why don't u just just try re-ripping? that may sound tedious but this way, u will save ur self time spent hunting for that perfect software.

bloodycape · Dec 6, 2009, 07:21 PM

So far the best media player software I have used on OSX is Songbird. Its loading is a bit slow but it can play almost any audio file out there and the interface is fairly customizable/skinnable.

prettyvisitor · Dec 12, 2009, 01:31 PM

Ah yes! Thanks very much. Songbird is exactly what I wanted - it's excellent!
Cheers for the post and thanks to everyone else who responded as well

LoganT · Dec 13, 2009, 06:24 AM

Unless you have pirated all that WMA music (I find that hard to believe because well no one uses WMA) you should probably re-rip the CD's to MP3 or AAC. You lose quality when you convert from one lossy format to another lossy format.

Nov 28, 2009, 12:57 PM	#1
prettyvisitor macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	A player that plays most formats, and in which I can keep a library. Just got a mac and I've got loads of music, of which much is wma format - which of course doesn't play in itunes. I downloaded realplayer and vlc but I can't keep a library in them and I'm not too keen on converting all of it. Looking for player that will play most formats, (or at least wma and mp3) but will also keep a library... Cheers!

Nov 28, 2009, 12:58 PM	#2
juanster macrumors 68020 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: toronto	with a library or playlist? hmmm that's a hard one __________________ Macbook.C2D.Video iPod.iPhone.Canon Rebel XT Flickr MRoogle

Nov 28, 2009, 01:04 PM	#3
GGJstudios macrumors 601 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texas!	Depending on the size of your library, you'll probably be better off to bite the bullet and convert to a more universal format and use iTunes. __________________ ǝlƃooʁШ ʎɹʇ ¿suoıʇsǝnb ǝɥʇ ʞsɐ noʎ ǝɹoɟǝq sɹǝʍsuɐ puıɟ oʇ ʇuɐʍ

Nov 29, 2009, 11:29 AM	#5
Consultant macrumors 601 Join Date: Jun 2007	You can convert WMA or re-rip your CDs to a modern format: mp4 (aac). __________________ Apple User Art \| Celebs with Macs \| Mac: Power Users \| Tech Humor

Nov 29, 2009, 05:02 PM	#6
justaregularjoe macrumors regular Join Date: Nov 2008	can't you just drop wmas into itunes and get them converted automatically? __________________ 4 8 15 16 23 42

Nov 29, 2009, 09:42 AM	#4
Fishrrman macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2009	I would suggest using a conversion utility like "EasyWMA" to convert them all to mp3 format. I've used it a few times and it does the job. EasyWMA _may_ do "batch conversions" as well to convert entire groups of files, but never tried to do that here. There are a few other conversion utilities out there, as well. The Mac and wma files just don't play well together. Best route is to convert and use with something like iTunes... - John

Dec 1, 2009, 11:02 AM	#8
ChrisBrightwell macrumors 68020 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Huntsville, AL	don't transcode. re-rip. __________________ "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." 15" MacBook Pro (2.4GHz, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD) Canon 50D (10-22, 24-70, 50/1.4, 70-200/2.8)

Dec 1, 2009, 11:29 AM	#9
GermanSuplex macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2009	Does Media Monkey support wma? I'd imagine it does. That's a good little library manager. Supports and syncs to lots of players too.

Dec 1, 2009, 12:05 PM	#10
dXTC macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Louisville, KY	You may also want to try doubleTwist. __________________ dXTC Aluminum iMac (20" 2.0GHz) · iPod nano 4Gb Gen 2 and 16Gb Gen 5 (both Blue) ...geeve to me LAAAHRGE keess!

Dec 6, 2009, 12:58 PM	#11
prettyvisitor Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	Thanks for all the responses. I'm actually still stuck, mediamonkey seems good but there's no version for mac, while doubletwist won't work for me, I have no idea why. I install it, but it won't start for me. As for converting, easyWMA will probably be my last resort as I'd rather go free. Most are paying though. One that looked promising was switch, it's free, but again, didn't work for me. If anyone knows of any other free converters or any more ideas on a player it would be much appreciated! Cheers

Dec 6, 2009, 07:21 PM	#13
bloodycape macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2005	So far the best media player software I have used on OSX is Songbird. Its loading is a bit slow but it can play almost any audio file out there and the interface is fairly customizable/skinnable. __________________ iBook G4 12in 1.2ghz, 768mb of ram - still alive & running ---> MBP 15in 2.0, 1.5gig of ram; Sony Vaio TT190-wish I could dual boot OSX on it easily.

Dec 12, 2009, 01:31 PM	#14
prettyvisitor Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2009	Ah yes! Thanks very much. Songbird is exactly what I wanted - it's excellent! Cheers for the post and thanks to everyone else who responded as well

Dec 13, 2009, 06:24 AM	#15
LoganT macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2007	Unless you have pirated all that WMA music (I find that hard to believe because well no one uses WMA) you should probably re-rip the CD's to MP3 or AAC. You lose quality when you convert from one lossy format to another lossy format.

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