Post by roryfenrir on Feb 18, 2008 1:17:06 GMT
This tutorial will show you how to convert m4a songs into usable wav files for audacity. (This guide will only be usefull if you use iTunes or have an iPod ect.)
with iTunes there are two majorly used files, mp3 (MPEG) and m4a (AAC)
The mp3 can be opened with Audacity and then used but if you try opening an m4a it plays the song really fast, because it is a compressed version of the song.
Finding song index/type of file:
-If you use iTunes, you you can right click the bar above the song list that has name and artist and then click on "kind". It will now tell the file types, MPEG and AAC. MPEG are the currently editable files, and if you want to use that file, right click it and select get info. At the bottom of the pop-up it will have a file path for that song. (MPEG will end with .mp3)
Converting m4a to wav:
-download "the old smaker tools" at the bottom of this page:
www.radgametools.com/smkdown.htm
-once installed, open it and click the "sound processer" tab. It should look like this:
-You will need to open the folder your song is in (you can find the file path in the "Finding song index/type of file" section) To find your file, you may need to select "All Files" in the bottom left.
-Once you have selected your song, click "Convert" and it will take about 10 seconds to make it into a wav file. You can now use your song in Audicity with out it being compressed.
Getting files off of your iPod:
-This is a somewhat related tutorial, which most of you probably know.
-Once your ipod is connected, go to "My Computer - Ipod - Ipod Control - Music" You will see a bunch of F## foleders.
-Select these and drag them into your iTunes music folder.
-After they have been copied, open the folders and drag all the songs into iTunes. (All the files will be named with random letters, but in iTunes the real names will show up)
-Some of the artists will be listed on the files in the F## folders, this means they are MPEG files.
Side Notes:
---I made this topic because all these I had trouble figuring out but found them to be very usefull.
---There are probably other programs to convert m4a to wav but smaker is a no bullnuts program that is very easy to use. (It is also VERY usefull for editing all video clips.)
---All this information is what is on my computer, I have windows XP, so if your settings are different thats why.
with iTunes there are two majorly used files, mp3 (MPEG) and m4a (AAC)
The mp3 can be opened with Audacity and then used but if you try opening an m4a it plays the song really fast, because it is a compressed version of the song.
Finding song index/type of file:
-If you use iTunes, you you can right click the bar above the song list that has name and artist and then click on "kind". It will now tell the file types, MPEG and AAC. MPEG are the currently editable files, and if you want to use that file, right click it and select get info. At the bottom of the pop-up it will have a file path for that song. (MPEG will end with .mp3)
Converting m4a to wav:
-download "the old smaker tools" at the bottom of this page:
www.radgametools.com/smkdown.htm
-once installed, open it and click the "sound processer" tab. It should look like this:
-You will need to open the folder your song is in (you can find the file path in the "Finding song index/type of file" section) To find your file, you may need to select "All Files" in the bottom left.
-Once you have selected your song, click "Convert" and it will take about 10 seconds to make it into a wav file. You can now use your song in Audicity with out it being compressed.
Getting files off of your iPod:
-This is a somewhat related tutorial, which most of you probably know.
-Once your ipod is connected, go to "My Computer - Ipod - Ipod Control - Music" You will see a bunch of F## foleders.
-Select these and drag them into your iTunes music folder.
-After they have been copied, open the folders and drag all the songs into iTunes. (All the files will be named with random letters, but in iTunes the real names will show up)
-Some of the artists will be listed on the files in the F## folders, this means they are MPEG files.
Side Notes:
---I made this topic because all these I had trouble figuring out but found them to be very usefull.
---There are probably other programs to convert m4a to wav but smaker is a no bullnuts program that is very easy to use. (It is also VERY usefull for editing all video clips.)
---All this information is what is on my computer, I have windows XP, so if your settings are different thats why.