Converting iTunes Files to mp3
By Michael Pollock in Software
I bought some music from iTunes the other day. It was my first time … buying music from iTunes, that is. See, I don’t use an iPod. Mine is a Creative Zen Micro. Anyway, after downloading the music, I tried to copy it over to my Zen Micro. No dice. Seems the iTunes file format isn’t compatible with much of anything except an iPod.
What to do now? I’ve got these weird m4a files or something that I can only listen to through iTunes or QuickTime. After I got over my initial little tantrum, I managed to figure out how to convert these odd, little iTunes, m4a-or-something-type files over to mp3.
All I did was burn the files to a CD (you can do that through iTunes). Then I ripped the files back onto my PC via Windows Media Player, and viola, I ended up with fresh mp3 files all ready to load onto my Creative Zen Micro. The only problem is the new files don’t retain the ID3 tags, so no titles for the music in my Zen.
Update: 05/23/06: I figured out how to do it in a way that retains ID3 tags …
Step 1 is to rip the files to a CD.
Step 2 is to select all those file, then convert to mp3 from the iTunes “Advanced” menu.
When that’s all done, go into your iTunes library where you will now have two copies of the song/product. Select the mp3 versions, right-click and copy them, then paste onto your hard drive, then to your non-iPod mp3.
On Feb 23, 2006, Rob Bazinet said:
I have used Jhymm to do this. You can find it here - http://hymn-project.org/download.php. I have used it on Mac and Windows, works great and my titles are there.
On Feb 23, 2006, Carson Coots said:
You can also set up iTunes to rip mp3s rather than AAC by going to edit > preferences > advanced > importing > ” and select Mp3 from the import using” drop down. I don’t know if it works for songs purchased, but you wouldnt have to use the dirty WMP to rip CDs.