iPod How do you convert AAC to MP3?

It's possible to convert unprotected files but you'd likely be losing even more sound information.

If you're asking how to convert protected AAC files, please don't.

Go into iTunes preferences and under Advanced tab select Importing tab and change import using AAC encoder to MP3 encoder. Then under then main menus, Advanced, select Convert Selection to MP3. It will leave the original and make an MP3 version.

You cannot do this with protected AAC from the store.

I have had to do this because my wife has a SWIMP3 goggles player that only uses MP3 and we have all our CDs in AAC, so I convert what she needs to MP3 before dragging them into her player.

convert unprotected AAC to MP3 cuts off 4 seconds

I am perplexed. I recently started using iTunes - I know I am a slacker. Overall I am very pleased. My wife uses the iPod, I listen to the music via iTunes on my PC. Recently I got a different player - iRiver that requires MP3. Well since I had several of my CDs in iTunes as unprotected AAC files I found that I could just convert them to MP3. With a few quick strokes of the keyboard - Viola! I had MP3, I uploaded them to my iRiver and then realized that every single song has approx. 4 seconds cut off at the end of the song. Whats up with that? Did I do something wrong? Please help or provide advise how to fix this.

Thanks in advance.

How to convert AAC to MP3

Right clicking on one or a multiple of songs in the iTunes music library or even in a playlist will bring up the option to convert a song or songs to MP3

Sorry about the thread resurrection, but I just wanted to thank roland.g for that tip.

Awesome and worked perfectly to get 175 songs burned for my Dad's car.

Thanks!

Sox Wrap

http://www.waveformsoftware.com/waveform/sox_wrap

roland.g said:

Go into iTunes preferences and under Advanced tab select Importing tab and change import using AAC encoder to MP3 encoder. Then under then main menus, Advanced, select Convert Selection to MP3. It will leave the original and make an MP3 version.

You cannot do this with protected AAC from the store.

I have had to do this because my wife has a SWIMP3 goggles player that only uses MP3 and we have all our CDs in AAC, so I convert what she needs to MP3 before dragging them into her player.

Click to expand...

Thank you! This was so helpful.

Davof82 said:

iTunes will not let you convert AAC to MP3.

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yes, because it is protect the copyrights of the songs musics and videos stored on iPod.

unfortunately some people just didn't get (yet) that all songs bought since may 2009 (i believe) don't have DRM any more. they are 256kbit/s AAC files with m4a extension (no m4p any more) that can be played on virtually any device (SonyEricsson, HTC phones, etc.) and be shared with anyone. even the music videos are freed from DRM.

regards, Baguette

yep, all music on the itunes store is DRM free. don't convert one lossy format to another! it will sound even worse than it did before!

what about Adobe Audition or Sound Forge?

i know Adobe Audition has different versions.

how do you convert pre 2009 music

so how do you EASILY convert pre 2009 purchased music to mp3.I would like to convert some tracks I bought in 2008, itunes 9.2.1 wont do it, although music bought this year converts easily

cgjonesy said:

so how do you EASILY convert pre 2009 purchased music to mp3.I would like to convert some tracks I bought in 2008, itunes 9.2.1 wont do it, although music bought this year converts easily

Click to expand...

Circumventing DRM and other activities that may qualify as piracy are frowned upon in these forums.

A Google search would probably give you a step-by-step, though...

UpDownAeroplane said:

yep, all music on the itunes store is DRM free. don't convert one lossy format to another! it will sound even worse than it did before!

Click to expand...

That wouldn't have helped roland.g with his SwiMP3, though. There are music players that are restricted to MP3 format, and in those cases, compatibility trumps sound quality. For example, I use a process exactly like roland.g's tip to help fill my daughter's Sansa Shaker, which plays only MP3 files (it won't even play WMA).

Did iTunes really can't convert AAC to MP3? I remember that I did it before...

Brucewl said:

Did iTunes really can't convert AAC to MP3? I remember that I did it before...

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It can now, but back when the music in the iTunes store had DRM, this wasn't allowed-- and in fact is still not allowed on music bought with DRM.

dXTC said:

It can now, but back when the music in the iTunes store had DRM, this wasn't allowed-- and in fact is still not allowed on music bought with DRM.

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Ok, I got it, Just like me had a video with drm and haven't got password, but I really want to watch it!

roland.g said:

Go into iTunes preferences and under Advanced tab select Importing tab and change import using AAC encoder to MP3 encoder. Then under then main menus, Advanced, select Convert Selection to MP3. It will leave the original and make an MP3 version.

You cannot do this with protected AAC from the store.

I have had to do this because my wife has a SWIMP3 goggles player that only uses MP3 and we have all our CDs in AAC, so I convert what she needs to MP3 before dragging them into her player.

Click to expand...

Good tip 'Roland'. This works. All the old CD's I imported to my mac, I now needed to also be able to play on a simpler small device which unfortunately only reads mp3. Going back to iTunes Preferences was the key step I'd missed.Thanks.

Actually, iTunes can do what you want

cgjonesy said:

so how do you EASILY convert pre 2009 purchased music to mp3.I would like to convert some tracks I bought in 2008, itunes 9.2.1 wont do it, although music bought this year converts easily

Click to expand...

Simply burn the tracks to CD format, then re-rip as MP3's. This works with protected AAC tracks.

dXTC said:

Circumventing DRM and other activities that may qualify as piracy are frowned upon in these forums.

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LOL, what? He wants to use his own legally purchased music on his own legally purchased device. It is not illegal to cure your files of their DRM infection, for compatibility purposes. It's called "Fair use". (It is only illegal to distribute copies to others).

It's pretty crass to suggest that someone is a "pirate" for wanting to listen to their own legally purchased music.

Sparky9292 said:

Simply burn the tracks to CD format, then re-rip as MP3's. This works with protected AAC tracks.

Click to expand...

And instead of wasting 100 blank CD's, just use a single CD-RW. You can erase it and burn new stuff onto it over and over again.

dime21 said:

LOL, what? He wants to use his own legally purchased music on his own legally purchased device. It is not illegal to cure your files of their DRM infection, for compatibility purposes. It's called "Fair use". (It is only illegal to distribute copies to others).

It's pretty crass to suggest that someone is a "pirate" for wanting to listen to their own legally purchased music.

Click to expand...

You might want to read the DMCA. Whether you think it should be illegal or not, it absolutely is illegal to circumvent DRM, even for your own personal use. Sorry. Fair use is a separate issue from circumventing DRM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAIR_USE_Act

"This bill seeks to return many fair use rights to citizens, specifically those relating to copy protection and the circumvention thereof."

dime21 said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAIR_USE_Act

"This bill seeks to return many fair use rights to citizens, specifically those relating to copy protection and the circumvention thereof."

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I can't find any evidence that this bill passed. I can only find that it was proposed three years ago. Any further info?