Converting audio files

[LloydA111]

I have a whole bunch of files in the M4A format and due to the fact that almost nothing seems to be capable of playing them (apart from VLC, but there's no surprise there, it's a pretty good program) I wish to be able to convert them to another format that I use in the music organiser/player I use. What programs do you use to convert audio files? Obviously I could search the net for this, but there's far too many suspicious looking converters X| And yes, I know that VLC claims to be able to "convert" files, but VLC's idea of "converting" files seems to be simply playing them :laugh:

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[Maximilien]

m4a should be quite standard these days. I can play m4a files with the horrible "Windows Media Player" (*) on Windows 7. (*) I already have itunes installed, I don't know if it makes a difference (i.e. maybe it installed a coded of some sorts).

Nihil obstat

[LloydA111]

I've never had any luck with the format. It does not play in Songbird[^] which is why I'm looking for a working audio file converter

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[AspDotNetDev]

You can convert M4A to MP3 using iTunes.

Thou mewling ill-breeding pignut!

[LloydA111]

I'm not subjecting my computers to that! made that mistake once before :laugh:

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[Big Daddy Farang]

Lloyd Atkinson wrote:

VLC claims to be able to "convert" files

I was going to suggest this, but I guess you've tried it already.

Lloyd Atkinson wrote:

"converting" files seems to be simply playing them

Well they convert them to sound waves, did you want something more? :-D

BDF I often make very large prints from unexposed film, and every one of them turns out to be a picture of myself as I once dreamed I would be. -- BillWoodruff

[mjsmithson]

If you like command lines you could try FFmpeg like this: http://askubuntu.com/questions/35457/converting-aac-to-mp3-via-command-line[^] Or using LAME + Foobar2000: http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/archive/convert_aac_m4a_to_mp3.cfm[^]

[Albert Holguin]

I hate iTunes as well... X|

[Albert Holguin]

WinAmp has a format converter that supports that type, but I think if you want to convert to mp3 you have to use the Pro version (they do it because they know that's the most popular format). Although the Pro version is only about $20 and you'd help support their development.

[Brisingr Aerowing]

fre:ac[^] is what I use. It works with most audio formats.

Bob Dole

The internet is a great way to get on the net.

:doh: 2.0.82.7292 SP6a

[bobblestiltskin]

I use debian and "aptitude install faad" works for me...

NAME
faad — Process an Advanced Audio Codec stream

SYNOPSIS
faad [options] [-w | -o <output_filename> | -a <output_filename>]
input_filename

DESCRIPTION
This utility provides a command line interface to libfaad2. This pro‐
gram reads in MPEG‐4 AAC files, processes, and outputs them in either
Microsoft WAV, MPEG‐4 AAC ADTS, or standard PCM formats.