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Author Topic: m4a to mp3 conversion  (Read 6045 times)

robp

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m4a to mp3 conversion
« on: August 08, 2008, 09:56:48 am »

I gave up on I tunes and I'm using Media Jukebox 12. I just purchased the mp3 encoder and I'm trying to convert my files. No problem with WMA but when trying to convert m4a I get the message "failed to play................. you may not have installed on your computer DirectShow filter for decoding the type of file you are trying to play. Please install appropriate filters and try again."
What do I need? Am I missing something? Help please.........
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Yaobing

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Re: m4a to mp3 conversion
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2008, 06:59:00 am »

Check out this wiki article for mp4 and m4a support.
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Yaobing Deng, JRiver Media Center

robp

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Re: m4a to mp3 conversion
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2008, 09:49:27 am »

OK, I've read most of the info and when I try to find DirectShow playback settings and go to "tools, options, playback," there is no "video". I can't find DirectShow playback options! (If it makes a difference, I do have Quicktime installed.)

I just noticed I don't even have a "video" tab or section in my library........
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JimH

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Re: m4a to mp3 conversion
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2008, 09:58:33 am »

Media Jukebox doesn't have video or those options.  JRiver Media Center does.
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robp

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Re: m4a to mp3 conversion
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2008, 10:06:15 am »

So is that to say I can't convert my m4a files to mp3 with media jukebox? I thought that was why I purchased the encoder.
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JimH

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Re: m4a to mp3 conversion
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2008, 10:43:15 am »

The purpose of the encoder is to encode in MP3.  Not all files can be read natively by MJ.
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Alex B

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Re: m4a to mp3 conversion
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2008, 12:58:20 pm »

OK, I've read most of the info and when I try to find DirectShow playback settings and go to "tools, options, playback," there is no "video". I can't find DirectShow playback options! (If it makes a difference, I do have Quicktime installed.)

I just noticed I don't even have a "video" tab or section in my library........

If your files are unprotected AAC m4a files you should be able to play them through DirectShow just by installing the CCCP filter pack. I just tried it and MJ12 appears to use the DirectShow playback method automatically if the correct filters are installed. You may need to enable the AAC format in ffdshow audio decoder's control panel (ffdshow is included in the CCCP package).

If the files can be played through DirectShow then they can be converted.

However, I wouldn't recommend converting lossy files to another lossy format. The resulting audio quality will be more or less degraded (this may not be audible if you use a high bitrate). Naturally, if you need to transcode the files for a device that doesn't support m4a then you need to do that, but you may want to keep the m4a files for PC playback. In general, it would be better to rip the files directly from the original CDs.
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robp

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Re: m4a to mp3 conversion
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2008, 07:03:46 pm »

Thanks, I'll try that. I appreciate the advice. I hadn't even considered the idea that converting a lossy file to another might degrade it further. I was trying to do it so I could burn mp3 cd's and also have all my music in the same format.
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KingSparta

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Re: m4a to mp3 conversion
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2008, 07:11:31 pm »

If You Have Old Ears, You Will Not Hear The Changes.

More So If You Served In the Artillery.
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robp

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Re: m4a to mp3 conversion
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2008, 09:32:01 am »

I'm sorry.............. what did you say?
I guess my age was showing in my question. I am somewhat of a luddite.
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