Difference between revisions of "Convert WMA audio files"

Revision as of 13:39, 15 September 2010

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 or aiff 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 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.wma It is also the default file format for the Olympus Digital recorders available through media loan
+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?===
@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 You don't need to convert these files as they are native to Windows and will play under Express Scribe.
 ====Macintosh====
-=====Options for 10.6 users=====
+You will need to convert these files before you can bring them into other programs.
-*Use All2MP3 - [http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/27103/all2mp3 download here].
+#Launch [[:Category:Audacity|Audacity]]
-*You can also use the [http://www.mediaconverter.org online media conversion tool]
+#[[Import Audio - Audacity|Import]] the WMA file
-*Note: if you were previously using Switch+Flip4Mac this stopped working under 10.6
+#[[Exporting Audio|Export]] your audio as an mp3 or aiff file
-=====Options for 10.5 or older:=====
-*All2MP3 - [http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/27103/all2mp3 download here]
-*Or [http://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html Switch] with [http://dynamic.telestream.net/downloads/download-flip4macwmv.htm Flip4Mac]. Note: You'll need to install both to convert WMA files.
-:Alert: 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.
-:'''Using Switch'''
-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]]