Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
the latest version of goldWave will do that conversion. If we can't look at ourselves, and ask, why? then where does the learning start? - Original Message - From: "Evan Reese" To: "PC Audio Discussion List" Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 4:16 PM Subject: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium and Window Eyes 8.4. That might make a difference in what someone might suggest. Thanks again. Evan
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Right well that puts things into perspective and no, you probably don't have a choice when you buy from Amazon, I don't buy from them so I can't comment. 320K MP3 is certainly not lossless. On 2 Feb 2014, at 12:16 pm, Evan Reese wrote: > Interesting. I buy some stuff from Amazon, and I'm not aware of any other > choice than 256-kbps MP3. So I have to use what I get when I buy from them. > Unless I am mistaken, 320-kbps mp3 is also lossless, not so? Most of my > conversions are from that. I was not aware of VBR, so I didn't think to try > it. However, the audio converter I've been using, Freemake, does not support > converting to that in any event. If Switch does, then I can try it out and > see what happens. > > As far as the more conversions, the more loss goes, I'm doing one conversion, > usually from 320-bit MP3, sometimes from WAV, and sometimes from 256-bit MP3 > when that's the best I can get. The files sound good to me, and no, I'm not > going to rerip all my CDs. I don't buy many these days anyhow. Most of what I > get is downloadable. The roughly 650 CDs I did rip, I used Winamp and ripped > them to the same bit rate M4A as the downloadable files I've been converting > lately, and they sound really good to me. Now if I were using some really > high end equipment and had no need to conserve storage space, then I wouldn't > convert anything, but I don't have any of that, and I do need to conserve > storage space. I'm not sure whether the Book Sense will play VBR files. I'll > have to look into that. If it does, then there's nothing that says I can't > start using that if it really does save more space than an equivalent > sounding M4A file. > > Thanks for the info on that. > > Evan > > ----- Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" > To: "PC Audio Discussion List" > Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 7:43 PM > Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter > > > They sound similar, my real point here is that the more conversion > decoding/encoding that takes place then the more loss of quality results. > > Each to their own but the way you've done thing here is not the way I'd done > them. > > Firstly I wouldn't have bothered with such high bit rates when intially > converting to MP3, I would have used VBR - after setting the encoding options > properly - that would have given you a much smaller file size thus you > wouldn't have needed to convert anything at all, encoding would have been far > more efficient and loss of quality limited etc. > > The other way you could go - if you can still get hold of the source material > you encoded - is to encode directly to FLac and then convert to AAC/M4A, just > making these comments for future reference and I appreciate that no one wants > to rip a whole CD collection again but often its very worth while, I had > everything once in MP3 but now its all FLAC thus I can convert to any audio > format under the planet as often as required without any loss in quality etc. > > On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:41 am, Evan Reese wrote: > >> >> Yup, this is true. I've converted thousands of 256- and 320-kbps mp3 files >> to variable bit 128-kbps m4a and they sound great. And they're considerably >> smaller, which was my original reason for converting them. >> Evan >> >> - Original Message - From: "Steve Nutt" >> To: "'PC Audio Discussion List'" >> Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 6:31 PM >> Subject: RE: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter >> >> >> Hi, >> >> I disagree. M4A sounds better than MP3 at the equivalent bit rate. So a >> 128KB M4A sounds more like a 192 MP3. MP3 is the worst kind of compression >> out there. >> >> All the best >> >> Steve >> >> -- >> Computer Room Services >> 77 Exeter Close >> Stevenage >> Hertfordshire >> SG1 4PW >> Tel: +44(0)1438-742286 >> Mob: +44(0)7956-334938 >> Fax: +44(0)1438-759589 >> Email: st...@comproom.co.uk >> Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk >> >> -Original Message- >> From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane >> Trethowan >> Sent: 01 February 2014 23:23 >> To: PC Audio Discussion List >> Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter >> >> Dumb question I'm sure but why do you want to convert from MP3 to M4A or >> AAC? Mp3 should play just as well and you're certainly not gaining anything >> in audio quality doing this as yo
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Interesting. I buy some stuff from Amazon, and I'm not aware of any other choice than 256-kbps MP3. So I have to use what I get when I buy from them. Unless I am mistaken, 320-kbps mp3 is also lossless, not so? Most of my conversions are from that. I was not aware of VBR, so I didn't think to try it. However, the audio converter I've been using, Freemake, does not support converting to that in any event. If Switch does, then I can try it out and see what happens. As far as the more conversions, the more loss goes, I'm doing one conversion, usually from 320-bit MP3, sometimes from WAV, and sometimes from 256-bit MP3 when that's the best I can get. The files sound good to me, and no, I'm not going to rerip all my CDs. I don't buy many these days anyhow. Most of what I get is downloadable. The roughly 650 CDs I did rip, I used Winamp and ripped them to the same bit rate M4A as the downloadable files I've been converting lately, and they sound really good to me. Now if I were using some really high end equipment and had no need to conserve storage space, then I wouldn't convert anything, but I don't have any of that, and I do need to conserve storage space. I'm not sure whether the Book Sense will play VBR files. I'll have to look into that. If it does, then there's nothing that says I can't start using that if it really does save more space than an equivalent sounding M4A file. Thanks for the info on that. Evan - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" To: "PC Audio Discussion List" Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 7:43 PM Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter They sound similar, my real point here is that the more conversion decoding/encoding that takes place then the more loss of quality results. Each to their own but the way you've done thing here is not the way I'd done them. Firstly I wouldn't have bothered with such high bit rates when intially converting to MP3, I would have used VBR - after setting the encoding options properly - that would have given you a much smaller file size thus you wouldn't have needed to convert anything at all, encoding would have been far more efficient and loss of quality limited etc. The other way you could go - if you can still get hold of the source material you encoded - is to encode directly to FLac and then convert to AAC/M4A, just making these comments for future reference and I appreciate that no one wants to rip a whole CD collection again but often its very worth while, I had everything once in MP3 but now its all FLAC thus I can convert to any audio format under the planet as often as required without any loss in quality etc. On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:41 am, Evan Reese wrote: Yup, this is true. I've converted thousands of 256- and 320-kbps mp3 files to variable bit 128-kbps m4a and they sound great. And they're considerably smaller, which was my original reason for converting them. Evan - Original Message ----- From: "Steve Nutt" To: "'PC Audio Discussion List'" Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 6:31 PM Subject: RE: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter Hi, I disagree. M4A sounds better than MP3 at the equivalent bit rate. So a 128KB M4A sounds more like a 192 MP3. MP3 is the worst kind of compression out there. All the best Steve -- Computer Room Services 77 Exeter Close Stevenage Hertfordshire SG1 4PW Tel: +44(0)1438-742286 Mob: +44(0)7956-334938 Fax: +44(0)1438-759589 Email: st...@comproom.co.uk Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk -Original Message- From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane Trethowan Sent: 01 February 2014 23:23 To: PC Audio Discussion List Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter Dumb question I'm sure but why do you want to convert from MP3 to M4A or AAC? Mp3 should play just as well and you're certainly not gaining anything in audio quality doing this as you're converting from 1 lossee format to another thus losing quality in the conversion anyway. If it helps I use the Switch Audio File Converter. On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:15 am, Evan Reese wrote: Hello, I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen albums or so are having this trouble. Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion after reinstalling it, it remembered
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
They sound similar, my real point here is that the more conversion decoding/encoding that takes place then the more loss of quality results. Each to their own but the way you've done thing here is not the way I'd done them. Firstly I wouldn't have bothered with such high bit rates when intially converting to MP3, I would have used VBR - after setting the encoding options properly - that would have given you a much smaller file size thus you wouldn't have needed to convert anything at all, encoding would have been far more efficient and loss of quality limited etc. The other way you could go - if you can still get hold of the source material you encoded - is to encode directly to FLac and then convert to AAC/M4A, just making these comments for future reference and I appreciate that no one wants to rip a whole CD collection again but often its very worth while, I had everything once in MP3 but now its all FLAC thus I can convert to any audio format under the planet as often as required without any loss in quality etc. On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:41 am, Evan Reese wrote: > > Yup, this is true. I've converted thousands of 256- and 320-kbps mp3 files to > variable bit 128-kbps m4a and they sound great. And they're considerably > smaller, which was my original reason for converting them. > Evan > > - Original Message - From: "Steve Nutt" > To: "'PC Audio Discussion List'" > Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 6:31 PM > Subject: RE: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter > > > Hi, > > I disagree. M4A sounds better than MP3 at the equivalent bit rate. So a > 128KB M4A sounds more like a 192 MP3. MP3 is the worst kind of compression > out there. > > All the best > > Steve > > -- > Computer Room Services > 77 Exeter Close > Stevenage > Hertfordshire > SG1 4PW > Tel: +44(0)1438-742286 > Mob: +44(0)7956-334938 > Fax: +44(0)1438-759589 > Email: st...@comproom.co.uk > Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk > > -Original Message- > From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane > Trethowan > Sent: 01 February 2014 23:23 > To: PC Audio Discussion List > Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter > > Dumb question I'm sure but why do you want to convert from MP3 to M4A or > AAC? Mp3 should play just as well and you're certainly not gaining anything > in audio quality doing this as you're converting from 1 lossee format to > another thus losing quality in the conversion anyway. > > If it helps I use the Switch Audio File Converter. > > > On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:15 am, Evan Reese wrote: > >> Hello, >> I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good > results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, > and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my > Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly > after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with > it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen > albums or so are having this trouble. >> >> Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because > apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion > after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also > remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where > it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I > converted after a reinstall aren't any better. >> >> So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on > Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible > they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. >> >> I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, > and a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently > I've got to get something else. >> >> Thanks much for any suggestions. >> >> Evan >> > > > ** > > Dane Trethowan > Skype: grtdane12 > Phone US (213) 438-9741 > Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 > Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 > Mobile: +61400494862 > Fax +61397437954 > > > > > > > ** Dane Trethowan Skype: grtdane12 Phone US (213) 438-9741 Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 Mobile: +61400494862 Fax +61397437954
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Okay, I've read your last two messages and - whilst 256K MP3 files sound reasonable - you are encoding them in the most inefficient way when it comes to file size, you will get even better quality and even more file size savings if you use VBR instead of 256K encoding, of course there's little point doing this if you're converting from one lossee format to another so its only useful if you're say ripping from CD or converting from a lessless format such as FLAC, Lossless WMA or Lossless AAC+ or Lossless M4A. The processing using VBR will take a little longer but well worth it. If anyone's wanting to encode music using 256K MP3 then they may as well bite the bullet and use FLAC or similar, a little larger but far better given that the format is absolutely lossless. On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:39 am, Evan Reese wrote: > > Well, the answer to your question is that I cannot detect any difference in > audio quality, and m4a files take up close to half the space of an equivalent > sounding mp3 file. This is important for storage conservation on the SD cards > when playing my music on the Book Sense when I'm not at my computer. Also, > the equalizer in the Book Sense actually has greater differentiation in its > settings for m4a files than it does for mp3 files. I'm not sure that was > intentional, but it's a fact nonetheless. So the music actually does sound > better in m4a on my Book Sense than an mp3 file of the same thing. I suppose > they'll "fix" that someday, but even if they do, I've saved a lot of storage > space, and money buying SD cards by converting my mp3 files to m4a. So I want > to keep doing it. > Evan > > - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" > To: "PC Audio Discussion List" > Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 6:22 PM > Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter > > > Dumb question I'm sure but why do you want to convert from MP3 to M4A or AAC? > Mp3 should play just as well and you're certainly not gaining anything in > audio quality doing this as you're converting from 1 lossee format to another > thus losing quality in the conversion anyway. > > If it helps I use the Switch Audio File Converter. > > > On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:15 am, Evan Reese wrote: > >> Hello, >> I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good >> results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, >> and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my >> Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly >> after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with >> it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen >> albums or so are having this trouble. >> >> Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because >> apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion >> after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also >> remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where >> it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I >> converted after a reinstall aren't any better. >> >> So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on >> Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible >> they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. >> >> I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, and >> a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently I've >> got to get something else. >> >> Thanks much for any suggestions. >> >> Evan >> > > > ** > > Dane Trethowan > Skype: grtdane12 > Phone US (213) 438-9741 > Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 > Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 > Mobile: +61400494862 > Fax +61397437954 > > > > ** Dane Trethowan Skype: grtdane12 Phone US (213) 438-9741 Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 Mobile: +61400494862 Fax +61397437954
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
In fairness to Freemake, I should point out that the problems I'm having are probably not their fault, except perhaps for the non-uninstallation part. I got this computer in July 2008, and it is certainly possible that errors are creeping into the registry, and wherever else it keeps files. But I am not even remotely qualified to determine whether that is true, much less fix them. It would explain why the program worked perfectly for over a year and ahalf and several thousand files before starting to malfunction. If the uninstallation had really worked, any errors of that sort might have been fixed upon reinstalling. But I guess that isn't gonna happen. I'm not quite in a position to get a new system, or I'd just do that. Most likely, installing Freemake on that would work just fine. And I still may when I get a new system; it never bothered me about purchasing anything. But until then, I think this summer perhaps, I will try another converter and see if that works. Thanks all for the feedback. Evan - Original Message - From: "Andrea Sherry" To: "PC Audio Discussion List" Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 6:20 PM Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter Perhaps I might suggest Switch from NCH software. Been using this for approx 3 years with excellent results including converting multiple files. You can download a non-restricted copy of this but it will just bitch at you till you purchase. Not sure of price. Probably less than $30 though. As I say this will convert to and from many formats. HTH Andrea On 2/02/2014 10:15 AM, Evan Reese wrote: Hello, I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen albums or so are having this trouble. Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I converted after a reinstall aren't any better. So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, and a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently I've got to get something else. Thanks much for any suggestions. Evan -- Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Brad
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Thanks Andrea. I've already heard from another person recommending this, so I think I'll give it a go. Evan - Original Message - From: "Andrea Sherry" To: "PC Audio Discussion List" Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 6:20 PM Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter Perhaps I might suggest Switch from NCH software. Been using this for approx 3 years with excellent results including converting multiple files. You can download a non-restricted copy of this but it will just bitch at you till you purchase. Not sure of price. Probably less than $30 though. As I say this will convert to and from many formats. HTH Andrea On 2/02/2014 10:15 AM, Evan Reese wrote: Hello, I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen albums or so are having this trouble. Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I converted after a reinstall aren't any better. So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, and a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently I've got to get something else. Thanks much for any suggestions. Evan -- Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Brad
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
I have to admit that file size isn't an issue for me these days so I don't even use any compressed files. If you're happy with what you're doing then keep going. On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:39 am, Evan Reese wrote: > > Well, the answer to your question is that I cannot detect any difference in > audio quality, and m4a files take up close to half the space of an equivalent > sounding mp3 file. This is important for storage conservation on the SD cards > when playing my music on the Book Sense when I'm not at my computer. Also, > the equalizer in the Book Sense actually has greater differentiation in its > settings for m4a files than it does for mp3 files. I'm not sure that was > intentional, but it's a fact nonetheless. So the music actually does sound > better in m4a on my Book Sense than an mp3 file of the same thing. I suppose > they'll "fix" that someday, but even if they do, I've saved a lot of storage > space, and money buying SD cards by converting my mp3 files to m4a. So I want > to keep doing it. > Evan > > - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" > To: "PC Audio Discussion List" > Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 6:22 PM > Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter > > > Dumb question I'm sure but why do you want to convert from MP3 to M4A or AAC? > Mp3 should play just as well and you're certainly not gaining anything in > audio quality doing this as you're converting from 1 lossee format to another > thus losing quality in the conversion anyway. > > If it helps I use the Switch Audio File Converter. > > > On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:15 am, Evan Reese wrote: > >> Hello, >> I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good >> results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, >> and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my >> Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly >> after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with >> it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen >> albums or so are having this trouble. >> >> Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because >> apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion >> after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also >> remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where >> it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I >> converted after a reinstall aren't any better. >> >> So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on >> Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible >> they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. >> >> I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, and >> a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently I've >> got to get something else. >> >> Thanks much for any suggestions. >> >> Evan >> > > > ** > > Dane Trethowan > Skype: grtdane12 > Phone US (213) 438-9741 > Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 > Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 > Mobile: +61400494862 > Fax +61397437954 > > > > ** Dane Trethowan Skype: grtdane12 Phone US (213) 438-9741 Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 Mobile: +61400494862 Fax +61397437954
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Yup, this is true. I've converted thousands of 256- and 320-kbps mp3 files to variable bit 128-kbps m4a and they sound great. And they're considerably smaller, which was my original reason for converting them. Evan - Original Message - From: "Steve Nutt" To: "'PC Audio Discussion List'" Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 6:31 PM Subject: RE: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter Hi, I disagree. M4A sounds better than MP3 at the equivalent bit rate. So a 128KB M4A sounds more like a 192 MP3. MP3 is the worst kind of compression out there. All the best Steve -- Computer Room Services 77 Exeter Close Stevenage Hertfordshire SG1 4PW Tel: +44(0)1438-742286 Mob: +44(0)7956-334938 Fax: +44(0)1438-759589 Email: st...@comproom.co.uk Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk -Original Message- From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane Trethowan Sent: 01 February 2014 23:23 To: PC Audio Discussion List Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter Dumb question I'm sure but why do you want to convert from MP3 to M4A or AAC? Mp3 should play just as well and you're certainly not gaining anything in audio quality doing this as you're converting from 1 lossee format to another thus losing quality in the conversion anyway. If it helps I use the Switch Audio File Converter. On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:15 am, Evan Reese wrote: Hello, I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen albums or so are having this trouble. Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I converted after a reinstall aren't any better. So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, and a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently I've got to get something else. Thanks much for any suggestions. Evan ** Dane Trethowan Skype: grtdane12 Phone US (213) 438-9741 Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 Mobile: +61400494862 Fax +61397437954
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Well, the answer to your question is that I cannot detect any difference in audio quality, and m4a files take up close to half the space of an equivalent sounding mp3 file. This is important for storage conservation on the SD cards when playing my music on the Book Sense when I'm not at my computer. Also, the equalizer in the Book Sense actually has greater differentiation in its settings for m4a files than it does for mp3 files. I'm not sure that was intentional, but it's a fact nonetheless. So the music actually does sound better in m4a on my Book Sense than an mp3 file of the same thing. I suppose they'll "fix" that someday, but even if they do, I've saved a lot of storage space, and money buying SD cards by converting my mp3 files to m4a. So I want to keep doing it. Evan - Original Message - From: "Dane Trethowan" To: "PC Audio Discussion List" Sent: Saturday, February 01, 2014 6:22 PM Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter Dumb question I'm sure but why do you want to convert from MP3 to M4A or AAC? Mp3 should play just as well and you're certainly not gaining anything in audio quality doing this as you're converting from 1 lossee format to another thus losing quality in the conversion anyway. If it helps I use the Switch Audio File Converter. On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:15 am, Evan Reese wrote: Hello, I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen albums or so are having this trouble. Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I converted after a reinstall aren't any better. So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, and a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently I've got to get something else. Thanks much for any suggestions. Evan ** Dane Trethowan Skype: grtdane12 Phone US (213) 438-9741 Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 Mobile: +61400494862 Fax +61397437954
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
There's no doubt that M4A/AAC does sound better than MP3 if converting from a lossless format first. If the subject line is a true reflection of the discussion then the conversion will actually end up in quality loss thus the resulting M4A/AAC files produced will sound a little worse than the original MP3 files did. On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:31 am, Steve Nutt wrote: > Hi, > > I disagree. M4A sounds better than MP3 at the equivalent bit rate. So a > 128KB M4A sounds more like a 192 MP3. MP3 is the worst kind of compression > out there. > > All the best > > Steve > > -- > Computer Room Services > 77 Exeter Close > Stevenage > Hertfordshire > SG1 4PW > Tel: +44(0)1438-742286 > Mob: +44(0)7956-334938 > Fax: +44(0)1438-759589 > Email: st...@comproom.co.uk > Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk > > -Original Message- > From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane > Trethowan > Sent: 01 February 2014 23:23 > To: PC Audio Discussion List > Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter > > Dumb question I'm sure but why do you want to convert from MP3 to M4A or > AAC? Mp3 should play just as well and you're certainly not gaining anything > in audio quality doing this as you're converting from 1 lossee format to > another thus losing quality in the conversion anyway. > > If it helps I use the Switch Audio File Converter. > > > On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:15 am, Evan Reese wrote: > >> Hello, >> I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good > results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, > and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my > Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly > after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with > it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen > albums or so are having this trouble. >> >> Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because > apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion > after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also > remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where > it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I > converted after a reinstall aren't any better. >> >> So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on > Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible > they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. >> >> I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, > and a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently > I've got to get something else. >> >> Thanks much for any suggestions. >> >> Evan >> > > > ** > > Dane Trethowan > Skype: grtdane12 > Phone US (213) 438-9741 > Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 > Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 > Mobile: +61400494862 > Fax +61397437954 > > > > > > ** Dane Trethowan Skype: grtdane12 Phone US (213) 438-9741 Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 Mobile: +61400494862 Fax +61397437954
RE: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Hi, I disagree. M4A sounds better than MP3 at the equivalent bit rate. So a 128KB M4A sounds more like a 192 MP3. MP3 is the worst kind of compression out there. All the best Steve -- Computer Room Services 77 Exeter Close Stevenage Hertfordshire SG1 4PW Tel: +44(0)1438-742286 Mob: +44(0)7956-334938 Fax: +44(0)1438-759589 Email: st...@comproom.co.uk Web: http://www.comproom.co.uk -Original Message- From: Pc-audio [mailto:pc-audio-boun...@pc-audio.org] On Behalf Of Dane Trethowan Sent: 01 February 2014 23:23 To: PC Audio Discussion List Subject: Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter Dumb question I'm sure but why do you want to convert from MP3 to M4A or AAC? Mp3 should play just as well and you're certainly not gaining anything in audio quality doing this as you're converting from 1 lossee format to another thus losing quality in the conversion anyway. If it helps I use the Switch Audio File Converter. On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:15 am, Evan Reese wrote: > Hello, > I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen albums or so are having this trouble. > > Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I converted after a reinstall aren't any better. > > So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. > > I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, and a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently I've got to get something else. > > Thanks much for any suggestions. > > Evan > ** Dane Trethowan Skype: grtdane12 Phone US (213) 438-9741 Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 Mobile: +61400494862 Fax +61397437954
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Dumb question I'm sure but why do you want to convert from MP3 to M4A or AAC? Mp3 should play just as well and you're certainly not gaining anything in audio quality doing this as you're converting from 1 lossee format to another thus losing quality in the conversion anyway. If it helps I use the Switch Audio File Converter. On 2 Feb 2014, at 10:15 am, Evan Reese wrote: > Hello, > I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good > results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, and > the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my Book > Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly after > trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with it and > those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen albums or so > are having this trouble. > > Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because > apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion > after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also > remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where > it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I > converted after a reinstall aren't any better. > > So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on > Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible they > are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. > > I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, and a > cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently I've got > to get something else. > > Thanks much for any suggestions. > > Evan > ** Dane Trethowan Skype: grtdane12 Phone US (213) 438-9741 Phone U.K. 01245 79 0598 Phone Australia (03) 9005 8589 Mobile: +61400494862 Fax +61397437954
Re: Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Perhaps I might suggest Switch from NCH software. Been using this for approx 3 years with excellent results including converting multiple files. You can download a non-restricted copy of this but it will just bitch at you till you purchase. Not sure of price. Probably less than $30 though. As I say this will convert to and from many formats. HTH Andrea On 2/02/2014 10:15 AM, Evan Reese wrote: Hello, I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen albums or so are having this trouble. Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I converted after a reinstall aren't any better. So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, and a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently I've got to get something else. Thanks much for any suggestions. Evan -- Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Brad
Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium and Window Eyes 8.4. That might make a difference in what someone might suggest. Thanks again. Evan
Looking for a New mp3 to m4a Converter
Hello, I've been using the Freemake Audio Converter since March of 2012 with good results. However lately, it's been having trouble opening multiple files, and the conversions it makes play in Winamp just fine, but they cause my Book Sense fits. I have to remove the battery to get it to speak correctly after trying to play one of these. I've converted several hundred CDs with it and those play in my Book Sense just fine, but the most recent dozen albums or so are having this trouble. Well, I tried an uninstall and reinstall, but that did not go well because apparently it didn't really uninstall, because when I tried a conversion after reinstalling it, it remembered the last album I did, and it also remembered where I told it to store the converted files, which is not where it stores them if you don't change it. And, needless to say, the files I converted after a reinstall aren't any better. So I think I'm gonna have to switch to another converter. I found some on Google that say they convert mp3 to m4a, but I don't know how accessible they are. So that's what I'm hoping someone here can help me with. I'd appreciate any advice. This Freemake Audio Converter is accessible, and a cinch to run, and I did thousands of files with it, but apparently I've got to get something else. Thanks much for any suggestions. Evan
