wma files to mp3

ramjet696 · 12-16-03, 12:28 PM

I've got lots of music copied on my pc and I want to convert the wma files from my windows media player to mp3 to play on my axim. Is there an easy way? I can't figure it out. Or do I have to reburn a cd and convert it to mp3 format?
Thanks

doogald · 12-16-03, 12:31 PM

Burning to a CDRW and reripping is the cheapest way. I think that there are some tools that you can pay for that allow you to convert.

paolobeltran · 12-16-03, 12:44 PM

The Windows Media Player in the Axim can also play wma files, if you can't convert them into mp3s. Personally, I convert my mp3s to wma at 48kbps, and it still sounds great through my Sony headphones.

ramjet696 · 12-16-03, 12:56 PM

All my wma are at 64 and 96kbps. I guess the larger the music file is, the more space it would take up on my cf card. How do I reduce the size and still have the music play clear?
The reason I wanted to convert to mp3 is because I just downloaded the trial With mp3 and wanted to try, but if windows media plays just as well maybe I'll just copy my files to cf disk.
Any comments?
Thanks for any help

paolobeltran · 12-16-03, 01:08 PM

The conversion engine is in Windows Media Player itself. Open up Windows Media Player, go to File, Copy to Portable Device, then click on the "i" button on the right side where the device shows. That screen gives you the option of selecting the quality level of the conversion. Like I said, 48kbps is great for me, since each song is approximately 1.5 MB. You can also direct convert from audio CD (about 22 MB per CD for 48kbps wma).

Bowman · 12-16-03, 01:23 PM

like paolobeltran said, WMP on your axim will play WMA files. WMA is smaller than mp3 with just about the exact same quality. I end up converting all my mp3s to WMA anyways, just leave them in that format and save yourself the space

doogald · 12-16-03, 01:26 PM

If you use Windows Media Player on the desktop to actually copy the files over (using "Copy to CD or Device" while you are connected via ActiveSync), then go to Tools-> Options, Devices tab, and do "Properties" for the location on your Axim where you want to copy the files, you can set the quality of the WMA files that are copied, and, so long as it is not a DRM protected WMA file (i.e., one that you purchased from Napster or MusicMatch), Windows Media player will set the bitrate down to the level that you like.

[edit: oops - I see that somebody beat me to this. Sorry about that...]

12-16-03, 01:55 PM

Give this a look as well:

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm