Skip to main content ↑ ↓

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey? (Read 11612 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

There are some radio programs I like that only serve their archives in WMA format, but I want to listen to these on my iPod.

So I downloaded the free version of Media Monkey because I was told that it could transcode WMA files to MP3.  But I don't see any way to do this in the UI.  I searched the Media Monkey "Help" for "transcode" and got only 1 hit, referring to an auto-sync feature available only in the "Gold" edition.

MM opens and plays WMA files just fine -  isn't there any way to just tell it to convert it to another format (MP3 or AAC)?

Thanks in advance.

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: melomaniac on
Use foobar2000 to transcode:
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index....27&t=65146#


That article seemed to imply that foobar2000 is just a frontend, and you need to get a separate codec to actually do any transcoding (the thread seemed to be about using it with LAME to go from FLAC or something).

MediaMonkey seems to have native ability to go from WMA to MP3.

I've found  _ A _ way to do it with MM - but it's a PITA - it seems like I have to have MM scan whole folders to find potential candidate files and then select the ones I want to convert.    But all I want to do is say "convert this one". 

Does anyone know if there's a way to do that with MM, or am I just going about this all wrong?

BTW - the WMA files are not DRM'ed - they're just ABC/RN's program archive.

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: plnelson on
There are some radio programs I like that only serve their archives in WMA format, but I want to listen to these on my iPod.

So I downloaded the free version of Media Monkey because I was told that it could transcode WMA files to MP3.  But I don't see any way to do this in the UI.  I searched the Media Monkey "Help" for "transcode" and got only 1 hit, referring to an auto-sync feature available only in the "Gold" edition.

MM opens and plays WMA files just fine -  isn't there any way to just tell it to convert it to another format (MP3 or AAC)?

Thanks in advance.



Foobar.  Download the .dll add on file for .ape files from the foobar site and get the LAME codec and you have the tool you need.

- Jason

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: JasonQ on
Quote from: plnelson on

There are some radio programs I like that only serve their archives in WMA format, but I want to listen to these on my iPod.

So I downloaded the free version of Media Monkey because I was told that it could transcode WMA files to MP3.  But I don't see any way to do this in the UI.  I searched the Media Monkey "Help" for "transcode" and got only 1 hit, referring to an auto-sync feature available only in the "Gold" edition.

MM opens and plays WMA files just fine -  isn't there any way to just tell it to convert it to another format (MP3 or AAC)?

Thanks in advance.



Foobar.  Download the .dll add on file for .ape files from the foobar site and get the LAME codec and you have the tool you need.

- Jason


I'm not looking for a kit that I have to assemble and debug myself!  And anyway, why do I care about .ape files if I'm using foobar?  (.ape is a Media Monkey format)

I'm already using Media Monkey to do it, but the UI is so bad that I think it was designed by a monkey.  It takes a million steps because I can't just open a file and convert it (as far as I can tell), instead it makes me scan whole folders where it finds a LIST of WMA files, then I have to select the one I want, type in a filename, etc.  As I said, it's a PITA.

I'm just looking for a good easy-to-use tool where I open (or point to)  my WMA file and tell it to output it as MP3.

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #6 –
Nevermind . . .

the iPod won't play WMA,

BUT

iTunes will open it, and automatically convert it to AAC, which the iPod plays natively.


. . . so, problem solved!

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #7 –
You seem a bit confused.
iTunes and Media Monkey both contain encoders to do the converting for them, they don't do it "natively".

The ones that come with Media monkey are crippled to only allow a limited number of encodes (unless you pay otherwise), and Apple pays for the licensing fees of proprietary encoders, with the idea that they will recoup the costs by generating revenue through the iTunes store or by delivering their own shovelware through iTunes' update system, like the recent MoblieMe fiasco, and Safari.

Because foobar's creators are nice enough to create a free product that doesn't burden you with half-working solutions (crippleware) or to trash your system (shovelware), you are required to download the encoders separate. If it's really a burden to drop a file or two into foobar's folder, then God help you.

Lastly, LAME typically delivers better quality for smaller file sizes than iTunes' MP3 encoder.
elevatorladylevitateme

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #8 –
1. APE is a format for the Monkey’s Audio codec. But this has nothing to do with MediaMonkey, it's just another Monkey.

2. IMHO you don't have to scan all files to convert them. Just click on 'My Computer' in the navigation tree and navigate to your songs. Select them and with Ctrl+Shift+C they get converted.

By the way I'd have a look at the MediaMonkey-forum for questions about this program: www.mediamonkey.com/forum
Hydrogenaudio is very technical and there are only a few MediaMonkey-users here.

@shakey_snake: MM also uses the lame-codec but with your mentioned limitation. But you also have to simply overwrite the lame_enc.dll with a official one and then the limitation has gone. IMHO it's a better solution than foobar's, specially for beginners who don't want to load additional things the first day they try the software. Just my 2 cents.

Big_Berny

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Big_Berny on
@shakey_snake: MM also uses the lame-codec but with your mentioned limitation. But you also have to simply overwrite the lame_enc.dll with a official one and then the limitation has gone. IMHO it's a better solution than foobar's, specially for beginners who don't want to load additional things the first day they try the software. Just my 2 cents.

Having something work for a little bit (is it 15 tracks?) and then stop working probably confuses more people than it helps. Especially if this guy wanted to convert more than the limit.

And in the end, it doesn't really help anything since you have to download a LAME compile anyways.

Lots of extra work by the Dev to implement a feature for something that only superficially helps appearances is a waste of time, IMO.
elevatorladylevitateme

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #10 –
IIRC the current foobar install plays wma straight out of the "box". So all you need to do is load the (wma) song into foobars playlist then right-click it and select "convert" from the context menu.

There's got to be some serious lameless if that's really too hard!

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #11 –
@shakey_snake: Well, there's a message which shows up ufter 15 tracks. So it doesn't stop without any hint.

This way with a limited lame-encoder isn't even so bad because if you by the GOLD version you don't have the limitation. It's just in the free version where the devs don't pay the fees. But most users have to download lame anyway you're right. That's why I didn't say that it's such a great feature. But IMHO it's surely not worse than without any lame-encoder.

Big_Berny

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #12 –
Quote from: shakey_snake on
LAME typically delivers better quality for smaller file sizes than iTunes' MP3 encoder.
Test results, please.


Quote from: Big_Berny on
This way with a limited lame-encoder isn't even so bad because if you by the GOLD version you don't have the limitation.
With foobar2000 you don't have to buy anything. 

Transcode to MP3 with Media Monkey?

Reply #13 –
I know greynol. All people hear love foobar2000!  But as I said also for MM you can just download a official lame_enc.dll and then the limitation has gone.