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General discussion

converting the itune to MP3

Dec 7, 2012 6:49PM PST

I downloaded my first album from itunes (I do not have an Apple computer or iphone etc) and that is fine, except that I do not listen to music on my computer. The point was to transfer it to my MP3 player. How do I convert it to MP3?
Thank you

Discussion is locked

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Re: convert
Dec 7, 2012 6:59PM PST

Assuming it's in .aac format (easy to check by looking at the file extension) https://www.google.com/search?q=convert+aac+to+mp3 should help you find a converter program.
But if your player supports aac it's not even necessary. Did you look at the specs?

Kees

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re - converter programmes
Dec 7, 2012 9:24PM PST

Thank you. Player does not support aac. I saw possibilities in google but can I be sure they are safe?
For example:
http://convertaactomp3.net/

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Why not get iTunes to do it for you?
Dec 7, 2012 10:07PM PST

Open iTunes and go to Preferences.
On the General Tab, click on Import Settings.
From the dropdown menu, choose Import Using MP3 Encoder
Click OK & OK

Still in iTunes, select the track(s) that you want to convert to MP3
Now right click the selected tracks and choose "Create MP3 Version"

On completion of the conversion you will have the originals, still intact, and an MP3 copy. Drag the MP3 copies onto the desktop and put them on your MP3 player as normal.

P

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(NT) That's much better!
Dec 7, 2012 10:13PM PST
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No, not really
Dec 7, 2012 11:02PM PST

not really ...

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mp3
Dec 7, 2012 11:00PM PST

I think import seeting are for before downloading.
I think the option to 'right click the selected tracks and choose "Create MP3 Version" ' is not available on latest iTunes 11...

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Apology
Dec 8, 2012 2:30AM PST

Hello P
I owe you an apology! YOU ARE 100% CORRECT and I did it your way. (I think my mistake was "click OK & OK again) anyway I did it, and THANK YOU.

Now that I have your configence, please may I ask whether there is a way to download DIRECTLY into MP3 - to avoid converting afterwards (and perhaps the quality will be better?) Shall I put this request as a new question?
Regards

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Tracks downloaded from the iTunes Music store
Dec 8, 2012 6:26AM PST

are in AAC which is a higher quality than MP3
Better to download from the store in AAC, convert, and after you have put the tracks on your MP3 player, delete the MP3 from iTunes.
Always better to keep the higher quality one for conversion later.

Not sure if that import setting will do anything with the downloads from the store but, just to be safe, switch back to AAC in the preferences, once you have converted the tracks, before downloading again

P

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Re: converter
Dec 7, 2012 10:12PM PST

Most are safe (no malware, won't harm your computer, no scam) and quite a lot will be free. I don't have any personal experience with any of them, since I never bought something in the iTunes shop, so don't have any .aac file around.

If it doubt, you can try to find them on a trusted download site (like our download.com, tucows, brothersoft etc) and see if there are reviews there.

This is a search on our site: http://download.cnet.com/1770-2025_4-0.html?query=convert%20aac%20mp3&rpp=10&searchtype=downloads&filter=licenseName%3D%22Free%22|platform%3DWindows&filterName=licenseName%3DFree|platform%3DWindows
It gives much more programs than applicable, but the top one, for example, looks good to me.

Kees

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Answer:
Dec 7, 2012 11:05PM PST