Difference between revisions of "Convert WMA audio files"

Latest revision as of 09:57, 3 March 2022

What is a WMA file?

Windows Media Audio (WMA) is an audio data compression technology developed by Microsoft. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.wma It is also the default file format for the Olympus Digital recorders available through media loan.

How do I convert WMA files to something useful?

Windows

You don't need to convert these files as they are native to Windows and will play under Express Scribe.

Macintosh

You will need to convert these files before you can bring them into other programs.

Launch Audacity
Import the WMA file
Export your audio as an .mp3, .aiff or .wav file

Online Media file conversion

If none of the above works for you there's always mediaconverter.org, a handy, free site where you can convert media files to and from almost every useful format. It's a bit slow, and you can't do batch conversion, but it'll work in a pinch.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 __NOTOC__
 ===What is a WMA file?===
-Windows Media Audio (WMA) is an audio data compression technology developed by Microsoft. See
+Windows Media Audio (WMA) is an audio data compression technology developed by Microsoft. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.wma It is also the default file format for the Olympus Digital recorders available through media loan.
-en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.wma
 ===How do I convert WMA files to something useful?===
+====Windows====
+You don't need to convert these files as they are native to Windows and will play under Express Scribe.
 ====Macintosh====
-=====10.6 users=====
+You will need to convert these files before you can bring them into other programs.
-ALERT: If you are using Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard you will have to use the [http://www.mediaconverter.org online media conversion tool] (Switch+Flip4Mac no longer works on 10.6)
+#Launch [[:Category:Audacity|Audacity]]
-=====10.5 or older:=====
+#[[Import Audio - Audacity|Import]] the WMA file
-Use [http://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html Switch] with [http://dynamic.telestream.net/downloads/download-flip4macwmv.htm Flip4Mac]. You'll need to install both to convert WMA files. '''Note:''' As of Dec 2009, there is a conflict between the latest version of Switch and Flip4Mac causing it to crash while trying to convert wma files. Make sure you use a [http://dynamic.telestream.net/downloads/download-flip4macwmv.htm previous version of Flip4mac 2.2.3.7] seems to be working.
+#[[Exporting Audio|Export]] your audio as an .mp3, .aiff or .wav file
-Once installed (or if you're in one of the campus' computer labs where these applications are already installed):
-#Drag your .wma file into Switch
-#select the '''output format''' that you desire from the drop down menu (i.e. .wav or .mp3)
-#Pay attention to the '''output folder'''. This is where your converted file is going to be saved
-#highlight your file in the main window and select '''Convert'''
 ===Online Media file conversion===
-If none of these works for you there's always [http://www.mediaconverter.org mediaconverter.org], a handy, free site where you can convert media files to and from almost every useful format. It's a bit slow, and you can't do batch conversion, but it'll work in a pinch.
+If none of the above works for you there's always [http://www.mediaconverter.org mediaconverter.org], a handy, free site where you can convert media files to and from almost every useful format. It's a bit slow, and you can't do batch conversion, but it'll work in a pinch.
 [[Category:Software Help]]
 [[Category:Express Scribe]]
+[[Category:Audacity]]
+[[Category:Audio_Production]]