mmiller2002

Need to convert wma files downloaded from walmart.com to use on inexpensive mp3 players for kids.

I get some sort of bitrate error whem trying to download the wma files. I guess it could be associated with the license restrictions, but I'll try converting first. It did work when I went wma-cd-mp3-player, but that's a bit cumbersome.

Thanks for any advice,
Mike

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rob1303

Although you should always try to convert songs from the original cd for best quality - I think dbPowerAmp should do what you want.

Don't Panic!

The link to that program. ;)

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Bobby
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sracer

I'd be surprised if it works. Doesn't wma files of downloaded music have DRM locks on it?

mmiller2002

Originally Posted by sracer

I'd be surprised if it works. Doesn't wma files of downloaded music have DRM locks on it?

That sounds like an error message I got when trying different programs.

Thanks for the comments.

Mike

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rob1303

Originally Posted by Don't Panic!

The link to that program. ;)

Thanks Bobby - I was mobile at the time :approve:

ebelen1

Originally Posted by mmiller2002

Need to convert wma files downloaded from walmart.com to use on inexpensive mp3 players for kids. I get some sort of bitrate error whem trying to download the wma files. I guess it could be associated with the license restrictions, but I'll try converting first. It did work when I went wma-cd-mp3-player, but that's a bit cumbersome. Thanks for any advice, Mike

I just burn downloads to a CD and rip back to mp3 format. This is b/c my girlfriend has an Ipod and I have a DJ and all the files I buy are wma format.

bigds63

I think you will have to burn to cd then ripp them from there no matter what software you use because of the DRM license...Here is another free choice for encoding them though after you do that http://www.pocketgear.com/software_detail.asp?id=12984

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mmiller2002

Well, thanks for the responses.
Its hard to believe that there's not a WMA-MP3 converter out there.
If its as simple (but cumbersome) as burning to CD, then ripping to MP3 to accomplish the same thing, why would the industry care about converting legal downloads from WMA to MP3?

Mike

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Don't Panic!

Because MP3 does not have DRM Support. The Industry is trying to treat music like software. You're leasing the music.

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motionmind

Originally Posted by mmiller2002

Well, thanks for the responses. Its hard to believe that there's not a WMA-MP3 converter out there. If its as simple (but cumbersome) as burning to CD, then ripping to MP3 to accomplish the same thing, why would the industry care about converting legal downloads from WMA to MP3? Mike

There are some good and fairly inexpensive converter programs out there, they just can't handle the DRM encrypted files usually.

The industry cares because they don't want you to be able to buy the song from them and then resell it a thousand times or give it away to all your friends. As for cds, they're starting to encrypt them too so they're much harder to rip...many of them are unreadable on a computer as a result. It's basically the dinosaur music industry's misguided reaction to all the people illegally sharing their music. I have a feeling it's going to get worse before it gets better.

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mmiller2002

I understand the music industry's concern for pirating. But I would have thought that someone would have written a program to that could make the conversion from WMA to MP3 anyway.

What about the error message that I get when I try to transfer WalMart WMA files to my kid's cheap digital music player that reads something like "wrong bitrate file"? Some WMAs transfer fine (like ripped ones from a CD), but the ones that I downloaded from WalMart don't. Is that a DRM issue? Is there a way i can change the bitrate of the file?

I've put the WalMart WMAs on another chepa digital player no problem just by dragging and dropping. But the other kind of player we have uses a "manager" program that gives the bitrate error message.

Thanks,
Mike

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Hunter69

Not free but it is the best ripper/converter/burner software I have ever used "easy CD-DA". I have not had one problem with any music that is copyprotected using this program.

mmiller2002

Originally Posted by Hunter69

Not free but it is the best ripper/converter/burner software I have ever used "easy CD-DA". I have not had one problem with any music that is copyprotected using this program.

I did a search and found that software, but it doesn't say it converts WMA to MP3. It read like it converts CDs to any format you want. I want to convert WMA to MP3. Does it do that?

Thanks,
Mike

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Howard2k

I think he uses it to burn to CD then rip to MP3. I could be wrong though.

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