Convert m4a (aac) to mp3

I used iTunes to copy songs off the VBS CD, which encoded them in AAC format (M4A container). My video editor doesn’t accept that format, so I needed to convert them to mp3. After trying lots of programs that Google offered me, many of which claimed to be “free” but were really just “free trials”, I finally found the solution in a forum post. It turns out that you can do the conversion right in iTunes, totally free and totally cool.

1. Go into iTunes Preferences, and change the importing mode back to the MP3 mode you like

2. Now select the tracks that you want to change back, and go to the Advanced menu. There is an item called “convert selection to MP3“.

This menu item lists whatever the current setting is in the importing prefs.

Now, this might not be good for the audio quality, but I don’t really care: I don’t listen to music that carefully. Thanks, Hannah W!

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  1. iloveweed’s avatar

    damn i never w0ould have thought to try that, much kudos to you

    Reply

  2. rosie’s avatar

    it was 2am the night before my video assignment was due, and i couldnt figure out how to do it until this!
    i am eternally in your debt.

    peace and love.

    Reply

  3. Kayla’s avatar

    Thank you soooo much for this! I’ve been doing videos for my friends and I couldnt figure this out for the life of me!!! I appreciate it soooo much!

    Reply

  4. Guest’s avatar

    GREAT!!!!

    Reply

  5. Alive 4evermore’s avatar

    Thanks for the useful info concerning converting m4a to mp3!! UR cool…

    Reply

  6. Nora Dallaire’s avatar

    Ahah! I knew there had to be a way. Thanks, man! *thumbs up*

    Reply

  7. Dave B’s avatar

    thank dude, that was really bugging me

    Reply

  8. Michael Cannon’s avatar

    Thank you for such a simple aac to mp3 process. Works like a charm.

    Reply

  9. Nick’s avatar

    Thanks work great )))

    Reply

  10. iTunes M4P to MP3’s avatar

    It really works, thanks for the tip:)

    Reply

  11. matthieu’s avatar

    Great to write about that…I was desperate! I am trying sooooooon! ;-)

    Reply

  12. ntog’s avatar

    hallo..
    i dont know why, but i cant find the Importing Mode you said its supposed to be in Itunes preferences..
    help?

    Reply

  13. alanc’s avatar

    Many thanks for the info. It worked great, and I don’t find the quality bad at all.

    Reply

  14. Hickeydog’s avatar

    Nice, but this process doesn’t work on older downloaded iTunes songs. Stupid Apple and their paranoia.

    Reply

  15. Rebecca’s avatar

    thank you so much i’ve searched for 4 hours for something to convert my m4a’s to mp3s.

    Reply

  16. livtiludi’s avatar

    genius! way to go.

    Reply

  17. anon.’s avatar

    thank you sooooooo much..i have been looking for a converter for ages and now i found one.. SITTING ON MY DESKTOP!!

    Reply

  18. willie’s avatar

    This actually make s a copy. It does not just convert. If you have thousands of songs you will need to go through individually create the copy and then delete the old and re import the new mp3. There has go to be a more simpler more automated way. Any suggestions? Anyone?

    Reply

  19. heather’s avatar

    In reading the original post, I tried to convert a song to mp3, but I’m still seeing it show up as m4a. Also, I couldn’t find how to change in import in itunes. Is that for songs that you purchase from itunes? Where do you find that option under preferences? Thanks for any help.

    Reply

    1. tom’s avatar

      no - you can’t do this with songs purchased from iTunes.

      otherwise, wicked good tip. Thanks!

      Reply

  20. Keenan’s avatar

    Im trying to convert a song into MP3 but i cant find itunes preferences what should i do

    Reply

  21. ME!!’s avatar

    THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!!!!!!

    Reply

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