AAC, M4P, iTunes, what not

[icallmedan]

I have a problem. I usually prefer Napster for downloading music, but I saw on the Blink-182 that there was an iTunes exclusive track, and I wanted to download it, so I got iTunes and downloaded the song. Now my problem is that I can't play the new Blink 182 song on Windows Media Player, because it is AAC or M4P format or somethign like that, and I can't find anything that can convert it to MP3 so I can play it in Windows Media Player. Does anyone know what I can do to be able to play it in Windows Media Player. Thanks.

[Force Flow]

Do you have a SB sound card? If you do, you can record what is coming through the speakers (ie the song you want)

[icallmedan]

No I am using integrated sound. Is there anyway to convert from Apple format to MP3?

[bigandy]

You can try converting the AAC file to MP3 in iTunes. If that doesn't work, I know for a fact that if you burn the file(s) to CD, you can then rip them as MP3's.

[icallmedan]

That is what I will have to do probably to beat the system....lol...

[SonicVanguard]

AAC is a secure format - to my knowledge there is no way to go from AAC to another format. iTunes will convert from mp3 to AAC, but not AAC to mp3. You're only option would be to burn the song via iTunes to CD and then rip that CD with something like CDex.

Dave.

[icallmedan]

Alright that is what it seems I have to do, but my problem is now...i cant burn to a cd-rw can i?

[bigandy]

I don't know. I've never used RW discs. Have you tried?

Dave, I don't think you need to use CDex to rip it. You can just change the iTunes setting so that it encodes in MP3 rather than AAC. I would make sure to change the bitrate to at least 160kbps, but 192 is my favorite (of course you could go higher). I use this quality for all my CD's that I rip to my PC so that I can listen to anything at anytime .

[jamesrpm]

Tech tv / screen savers said that to convert to MP3 you had to burn to a cd then rip off of it

Do a search on thier site for more details.

[SonicVanguard]

Originally posted by bigandy Dave, I don't think you need to use CDex to rip it. You can just change the iTunes setting so that it encodes in MP3 rather than AAC.

When you make a purchase from the iTunes on-line store as icallmedan has, you're stuck with AAC. But if you use iTunes to create a audio CD, then you can rip that CD using CDex (or any other appropriate application).

Now as for using CD-RW discs - I know most CD players won't read them, but I don't think it will be a problem here - as long as iTunes will burn to it.

Dave.

[bigandy]

Dave, I meant using iTunes for ripping the tracks once burned to the CD. You can use iTunes to rip the tracks, but just make sure to change the filetype to MP3.

[SonicVanguard]

And I only mentioned CDex because I believe it is the best ripper available.

Dave.

[Mac Medic]

Just for clarification, itunes will do a conversion from AAC to MP3, but only on music that you ripped yourself, it will not convert protected AAC files purchased at the music store. For the other AAC files that you ripped from CD you have to set the importing option in itunes to import as MP3 at whatever bitrate, then right click an AAC file and choose "convert to MP3", but again it will not work with itunes music store music.

[icallmedan]

yeah I am just going to burn it then rip it.....it won't burn to cd-rws so I will have to waste a disc for 1 song.....I prefer napster....since it just gives it to you in an MP3 format....

[bigandy]

So only iTunes can burn AAC files? You can't use Nero or some other burning app?

[Mac Medic]

You can buy an AAC plugin for Nero but I'm not sure if it handles copy protected AAC from the music store. Same goes for protected MP3 from napster, they only allow a certain number of burns and i think it has to be from within the napster software or WMP only.

[bigandy]

Okay oem_guy. Thanks for the information. It's good to have Mac guys around .

[icallmedan]

The rule on Napster is that a song can be burned unlimited number of times, but only 3 times in the same play list....if that makes sense....

[SonicVanguard]

Originally posted by oem_guy_2002 Just for clarification, itunes will do a conversion from AAC to MP3, but only on music that you ripped yourself, it will not convert protected AAC files purchased at the music store. For the other AAC files that you ripped from CD you have to set the importing option in itunes to import as MP3 at whatever bitrate, then right click an AAC file and choose "convert to MP3", but again it will not work with itunes music store music.

I've looked all over the Windows version and I don't see anywhere to convert from AAC to MP3. Convert Selection to AAC is plain as day under the Advanced pull down menu, and the Right Click menu, but I'm not seeing anything on AAC --> MP3.

Dave.

[bigandy]

Dave, if you go to Edit>Preferences>Importing you can change the format in which iTunes encodes. If you do this, then when you go to the advanced pull down menu, you will see "Convert Selection To MP3".

[SonicVanguard]

Ahhh...I see said the blind man to the deaf woman

Not that I really care, I prefer the AAC format - it's all around a better format. But thank you for showing me the way, as it were.

Dave.

[bigandy]

I haven't used AAC yet. Maybe I'll try it out sometime.

[icallmedan]

lol....