# Free .m4a to .mp3 converters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-m4a-to-mp3-converters/339025 "2006-01-08T17:38:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-m4a-to-mp3-converters/339025/1 "2006-01-08T17:38:28Z")
the title says it all, I am looking for a converter from that damn Mac format, anyone know of one that works? I have been unable to find a decent one. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-m4a-to-mp3-converters/339025/2 "2006-01-08T17:41:31Z")
[Try this](http://www.gold-software.com/download9053.html) You can convert up to 5 for free. ---
**Author:** ![indierock82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f14d63/32.png) [@indierock82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indierock82)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-m4a-to-mp3-converters/339025/3 "2006-01-08T18:00:53Z")
I’m sure the other one is great as well, but I’ve always used the one available at [Poikosoft](http://www.poikosoft.com) I don’t think there are any size restrictions with this one. Though there is a one month trial period, after which, if satisfied, you can be cheap and just re-download it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-m4a-to-mp3-converters/339025/4 "2006-01-08T18:13:46Z")
You can simply burn .m4a files to audio CD using iTunes. Then, guess what? You’ve got an audio CD with your tracks in standard audio CD format! (any questions?) Oh, and: CD-RW. Recycle, recycle, recycle. ---
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-m4a-to-mp3-converters/339025/5 "2006-01-08T18:27:33Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > You can simply burn .m4a files to audio CD using iTunes. Then, guess what? You’ve got an audio CD with your tracks in standard audio CD format! (any questions?) > > Oh, and: CD-RW. Recycle, recycle, recycle. Every time you convert formats you lose a little quality, so you should attempt to convert files as little as possible. Fortunatly there is a much easier free way, iTunes will convert from m4a to mp3 directly (as long as they are not protected files). (Under prefences select advanced-importing, then select MP3 from the pull down box and your desired bit rate from the next pull down box. Right click the track in iTunes and select ‘Convert to mp3’) ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-m4a-to-mp3-converters/339025/6 "2006-01-09T04:42:59Z")
thanks guys, I was having a hell of a time finding this and my Google Fu is usually pretty strong. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-m4a-to-mp3-converters/339025/7 "2006-01-09T05:07:09Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > thanks guys, I was having a hell of a time finding this and my Google Fu is usually pretty strong. Even strong Google-Fu Weak in All Sometimes