Help-.WMA audio files to MP3?

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[Deo]

I have an old Olympus VN-6200PC voice recorder with special family interviews on it. Using a usb adapter, I was able to copy audio files to my Win 10 Pro. However, they show up as .WMA files! I need to send them as .MP3 for access by ‘Non-Windows’ family members.

How do I convert from .WMA to .MP3? I don’t wish to ‘install’ on my older PC a huge program simply for this one-time task. I read on portableapps website that the portable VLC version there is 32bit only and doesn’t include any ‘converter’ function (play only)? I’d also like ability to do offline, but can’t be picky. (Was a good AW article recently on preserving photos, hopefully precious audio will be next).

To note: I am local account, don’t have/want MS account, nor use Onedrive or Gmail (nothing Google!) The receiving elderly family has only an Android ph; am going to either send them a thumb drive with the MP3 files to figure it out, or IF files once converted are small enough (which I don’t believe all will be) try to email them.

May I please ask for all of your  ideas, suggestions, and as always, astute help? Conversion is key. Not sure why cross-platform sharing is this difficult. Or why M/S doesn’t make it easy in this day & age, but thats just a mini rant:). Thk u in advance!

PS the .wma files on PC play and sound ok with Windows Media Player.Hope converting doesn’t lose quality. Fwiw, I have Apple’s version of itunes on PC, but not to sync-strickly use to backup my iph & ipad. These files won’t be put on my iph or ipad.

• This topic was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Deo.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Deo.
• This topic was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Deo.

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So why not use VLC ?  I just tried it with a WMA file and it works fine.

VLC is not a huge program and I just download and install the latest 64 bit version.  I suppose you could hunt around for an older 32 bit version at VideoHelp.com (link below).

There are others like  “Shuttle Player”.  But that’s a whole program.

And…….you could also use the command line program ffmpeg which isn’t installed.  That would require you to download the ffmpeg and place it in a folder.  Then using a command line you would do the conversion.

What’s your choice?

https://www.videohelp.com/software/VLC-media-player

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Deo

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Under deadline & not astute with command line re:ffmpeg, but research suggests it’s great! Thanx so much Mike! I wasn’t sure 32 bit VLC would not have “convert” options as stated in my OP? Appreciate link:) BTW, what VLC version are you running?

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Download and run VLC Media Player.

In the toolbar, click on Media, then select Convert/Save.

Follow the screen prompts.

 

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Deo

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Deo wrote:

How do I convert from .WMA to .MP3?

Free portable fre-ac, free Portable TAudioConverter (converts 8 tracks simultaneously)

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Deo

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Audacity will perform the conversion.

cheers, Paul

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Deo

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Paul T wrote:

Audacity will perform the conversion.

+1!

I’ve been using Audacity for many years and it can convert audio files between many different formats.

From the Audacity FAQs.

What audio file formats are compatible with Audacity?

Audacity supports import, export and conversion of files in every popular audio format, including mp3, m4a, AIFF, FLAC, WAV and more. In fact, you can just use Audacity to convert files into different formats if you like.

You can even combine clips from multiple formats into the same audio project.

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Deo

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THE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO AUDACITY SPYWARE SCANDAL

Have you been stumbling upon the words “Audacity Spyware” more than often on all your social media timelines? You are not alone! Here are the ABCs of the Audacity software and its recent scandal. On the flip side, if you’re someone who has no clue what this whole technical drama is, welcome to the tech world! Team Podlab has decided to break down this whole scenario for the benefit of both, tech-savvy as well tech-dummy…

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Cybertooth

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According to that article it is not spyware and there is no scandal, contrary to the implication in the article title.

cheers, Paul

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zat_so

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For this time urgent, least intrusive, audio .WMA to MP3 converter, I went with fre:ac portable: https://portableapps.com/apps/music_video/freac_portable

Worked like a hot darn (wma to mp3) on my PC. (I have all my portables in separate folder ‘C:/Users/username/Portable Apps’ that I created for Libreoffice and all my portable apps.)

fre:ac is a simplistic conversion program: I couldn’t find out how to adjust bitrate etc. as those settings were not adjustable (greyed out options), but did the job in secs-am hearing no untoward compression? Clear as a bell. Note: I am using for old audio recorder files only.

Am testing by sending a test/small converted file to an Android ph friend to see what sound quality is from their  end. I will post back their feedback upon response.

I also tested by sending file via email to self (PC to ipad/iph), and downloaded the “attachment” to my iph. and played: sound excellent, no diff from original! Hurdle will be size of other files- my email proton restricts size. I will see how test file goes to Android for quality. I can at least now copy all & send via thumb drive across country!

ps my Win 10 pro default seems to be “itunes”. Thus I cleared Media Player (keeps history), as does the Apple ver of iTunes (cleared playback history there too, as per OP, I don’t sync).

Stay tuned, and thank you all so VERY much!

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PS for those wishing to make x64 VLC truly portable, I came across this (was over my rushed head on how to implement-check comments section):

https://www.vlchelp.com/get-portable-version-vlc-media-player-windows/

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Deo wrote:

PS for those wishing to make x64 VLC truly portable, I came across this (was over my rushed head on how to implement-check comments section):

https://www.vlchelp.com/get-portable-version-vlc-media-player-windows/

https://www.askwoody.com/forums/topic/vlc-updates/#post-2599506

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Nobody’s mentioned Foobar2000 yet. it’s not only a good player but can easily save tunes as mp3 using Lame

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NaNoNyMouse

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there are version 2.x of Foobar2000 available here; older versions of Foobar2000 are found here (for those using older versions of Windows)

recent versions of Foobar2000 require at least Windows 7.

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Might want to try MediaHuman Audio Converter

It has a drag and drop space for many types of files, then will convert to MP3 , AAC or several others.

Fast, easy/ simple and small software app.

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My personal favourite is XMedia Recode, no command line needed:

https://www.xmedia-recode.de/en/

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I used to use the little program about a decade ago and loved its power and simplicity. I had forgotten all about it. In this time of tiny storage devices I purchased a TB flash drive designed for and IPhone. Works great. I downloaded all my cd’s to it and gave my cd’s away. whoops. Most files were in the wma format. this does not work and sandisk median player installed on the flash drive. So i searched and tried a variety of software. Nothing i liked. I came across this site in my search. the light came on. downloaded the software and what a simple task to convert. Oh so easy. Love it. Thanks for reminding me.

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I wonder which of the many programs offered above worked for you? Not stated in this reply:)

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