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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Bruce Aug 14th, 2007 at 10:02 am

Hey Elliot — Thanks so much for posting your solution. It worked like a charm. I notice that a 4.4Mb M4a becomes a 10.2Mb MP3, so it is obvious that the M4a compression is tighter. It seems that MOST computers will now play M4a files — if iTunes is installed (either Mac or PC version). Yet to be more universal, I’m wanting audio files to be available in both formats, and your solution worked for me.
thanks again, cheers, Bruce

reply to Bruce

David Aug 4th, 2007 at 6:55 pm

Helped me and my daughter, too! Thanks!

reply to David

Daena Jul 21st, 2007 at 6:30 am

Thank you so much, this helped a ton!

reply to Daena

Jen Jul 19th, 2007 at 10:54 pm

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH
That totally just made my day

reply to Jen

Nick Jul 18th, 2007 at 7:32 pm

i used this program to remove the protection from songs purchased from the itunes store.