# I'm converting WMAs to MP3s- do I really have to do it song by song?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 11, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709 "2005-10-11T04:03:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/1 "2005-10-11T04:03:52Z")
Do I really have to convert the songs one by one? Or, in my case, each of the 60 individual tracks of the book on tape I downloaded. They only take a minute or so each, but is that the only way it works? I’m using Advanced WMA Workshop. And are there any WMA to MP3 converters that are completely free and don’t expire after set number of days? ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/2 "2005-10-11T04:08:33Z")
No you don’t have to do it song by song. Several of the tools on the site below do batch conversion: [http://www.wma-mp3.com/](http://www.wma-mp3.com/) ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/3 "2005-10-11T04:16:18Z")
I just figured out how to, but it only lets me do 5 in my coverter program unless I have the registered version. Is there a version that is free and will allow more? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/4 "2005-10-11T05:17:44Z")
Get [CDex](http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/). It’s awesome. Not only does it allow you to convert in batches, it also encodes using the LAME codec, which is generally cinsidered one of the best mp3 codecs around. ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/5 "2005-10-11T05:23:44Z")
But does it require payment if you wanna do more than 5 at a time? ---
**Author:** ![Joools](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6de8d8/32.png) [@Joools](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joools)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/6 "2005-10-11T05:32:40Z")
iTunes will do what you need. Plus, it’s free. Plus, it’s awesome. ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/7 "2005-10-11T05:48:24Z")
CDex is completely free. You may donate if you wish. I was going to post the same link but _mhendo_ beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/8 "2005-10-11T11:34:27Z")
> [@andrewdt85](#): > > But does it require payment if you wanna do more than 5 at a time? No, as **lorinada** said, it’s completely free. Another one that i’ve used with excellent results (also completely free) is [dBpowerAMP](http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm). ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/9 "2005-10-11T13:40:07Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > No, as **lorinada** said, it’s completely free. > > Another one that i’ve used with excellent results (also completely free) is [dBpowerAMP](http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm). Another vote for dBPowerAmp. You might have download a codec to do WMA’s, though. I don’t think it does WMAs right out of the box. here’s the codec : [dBpoweramp](http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-wma.htm) ---
**Author:** ![arrosen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@arrosen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/arrosen)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/10 "2005-10-11T19:23:15Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > Another vote for dBPowerAmp. You might have download a codec to do WMA’s, though. I don’t think it does WMAs right out of the box. > here’s the codec : [dBpoweramp](http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-wma.htm) I don’t think that dbPowerAmp is free any longer…at least to convert to MP3s. I believe they started charging for the LAME license. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/11 "2005-10-11T19:44:16Z")
> [@arrosen](#): > > I don’t think that dbPowerAmp is free any longer…at least to convert to MP3s. I believe they started charging for the LAME license. Ah, that sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/12 "2005-10-11T20:38:01Z")
And you do realize that converting from one compressed audio format to another will often greatly reduce the fidelity? Each format compresses via different algorithms, which generally throw out different frequency responses. Expect the higher frequencies to become more “mushy”. ---
**Author:** ![andrewdt85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71e660/32.png) [@andrewdt85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andrewdt85)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2005, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-converting-wmas-to-mp3s-do-i-really-have-to-do-it-song-by-song/325709/13 "2005-10-13T05:14:49Z")
WMAs have to be MP3 (or WAV or AAC) to use in iTunes and put on your iPod. Not my choice, Apple’s fault for not making it compatible w/ Windows Media Player.