Solved Please recommend a MP4 to MP3 converter software

[70816Bit]

Please can any recommend a free and safe conversion software to change files (music) from MP4 to MP3, I have got a MP3 / MP4 Player and burned the songs via a Sony software that I usually use for my other Sony Walkman MP3 / MP4 Player. Even though, this MP3 Player plays MP4, it is has messed the songs up and made them to MP4 - so I would have to re-burn all the discs again . A quick look on the web and it shows plenty of conversion software options, and looks like it may be a minefield if you get a dodgy one. Recommendations for a free, safe and reliable software would be great. Wish I still had access to Nero though, it would be great for this :huh:

Thanks

 

[whs]

Try this. It always worked well for me.

[REMOVED]

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
How about a softpedia download ?
[REMOVED]

That format factory download has already been rejected as unsafe :/
http://www.sevenforums.com/music-pi...ultiple-video-file-converter.html#post3219833

 

[whs]

What is unsafe ??

 

[derekimo]

With the previous thread and me just getting this at the softpedia download,



I think we can stop posting that link.

 

[whs]

Hmm strange. I never had any problems with Softpedia. But maybe they have been hacked.

 

[ThrashZone]

Thanks for confirming Derek

 

[derekimo]

Thanks for confirming Derek

You're welcome Mike.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Please can any recommend a free and safe conversion software to change files (music) from MP4 to MP3

For mass conversions, I use Freemake. It's pretty much a one-trick pony. Audio and video conversions is all it does.

Freemake | Best Freeware Alternatives To Paid Video Software

For one at a time, occasional conversions, I tend to use Audacity, which is a full-fledged audio editor that can also do conversions.

Audacity®

Both are free.

Both give you considerable control over the resulting mp3.

If you decide to try Audacity, you'd also need to download and install "LAME mp3 encoder", which is available at the same link noted above. It allows you to export as mp3. Without it, you can't do that.

 

[ThrashZone]

I always though .wav files were better :/
Yep never snapped to think of audacity

 

[bawldiggle]

We use free "online-convert.com" for almost all media conversions
For Video to MP3 use ... Convert audio to MP3

Don't be put off by the "Convert audio to MP3" because ...
Convert audio to MP3 introduction states ...

Convert your audio file to MP3 in high quality with this free online MP3 converter. Just upload your music and download the MP3 within an instant. You can also upload video files and extract the audio track to MP3.

I have been using this free online service for several years without any problems.
Conversion is returned to you as a download within a minute or so.

IMO using (some) online services avoids congesting my laptop with installed programs.

 

[70816Bit]

We use free "online-convert.com" for almost all media conversions
For Video to MP3 use ... Convert audio to MP3

Don't be put off by the "Convert audio to MP3" because ...
Convert audio to MP3 introduction states ...

Convert your audio file to MP3 in high quality with this free online MP3 converter. Just upload your music and download the MP3 within an instant. You can also upload video files and extract the audio track to MP3.

I have been using this free online service for several years without any problems.
Conversion is returned to you as a download within a minute or so.

IMO using (some) online services avoids congesting my laptop with installed programs.

Thanks, am going take a look at them all and try and work out which would be best user friendly for parents. Going to look at this one first, may I ask what settings do you use for bitrates and so on? or do you just leave it to default?

 

[ignatzatsonic]

may I ask what settings do you use for bitrates and so on? or do you just leave it to default?

The standard recommendation is 192 or higher bitrate if dealing with a stereo file and 96 or higher if using mono.

At 192 stereo, a song will typically be about 4 mb in size if it is 2.5 to 3 minutes long.

If you have a relatively small storage capacity, then maybe you use a lower bit rate so you can get more songs on that space.

You can go higher if you want if it makes you feel better, but the fact is very few people can tell the difference when you get above 96 mono or 192 stereo. Many people can't tell the difference between 128 and 192 in most cases.

Mono files will be only half the size of stereo files, so you can get twice as many mono songs in a given space. For instance, you might find that 80 bit rate mono sounds better than 128 stereo and takes up less space to boot.

The source material means a lot. If you have a poorly recorded sound file, an mp3 of it will also be disappointing, regardless of bit rate. So try to get the best possible source file if possible.

I'd try to use a good encoder, preferably Lame or FHG.

Variable bit rate is typically a good choice if available and will keep the file size down a bit.

If you are working on spoken word files rather than music, there's no reason to use high bit rates.

Do some experimentation on your own and trust your ears.

 

[bawldiggle]

@ 70816Bit

may I ask what settings do you use for bitrates and so on? or do you just leave it to default?

We just use defaults.
ignatzatsonic has had a lot more experience than I have ... am about to investigate his thoughts.

My wife (70) is a borderline IT Luddite, her interests are music, movies, books and audio books
- I do my best to keep our PCs alive and healthy

 

[wasnotwas]

I use Goldwave to extract audio from video's. I just drop the video file in the window, and bingo - there's the audio. It's not free, but it's good.

I have my doubts about 'free' online conversion websites. Why would they provide this 'free' service ? You don't think they are harvesting audio and video files by any chance . . .

 

[cornemuse]

I use 'Any-video-converter'. It will convert audio as well as video. Free with tolerable nags.

Free Video Converter, Any Video Converter Freeware: Convert any video to MP4/WMV/MP3 for mobile devices

-c-

 

[JTBSpartan]

Use Zamzar

 

[70816Bit]

Thanks everyone for your replies, my apologies for not getting back to this thread sooner. I've took a look at the responses and tried the various sites and I think if it was me using and doing the converting - which I will be doing at some point, there are some valid options, that I would like to explore. As thinking of my parents, and hopefully encouraging them to try for when am not around, looks to be 'Convert Audio to MP3'.

Thanks bawldiggle for helping with the bitrate conversion, been a long time since I've had to mess about with stuff along them lines. I tried an MP4 of my own, a good old Who gig from 1979 off YouTube and converted to an MP3 and bearing in mind, was not the best quality can honestly say but bearing in mind the source of the MP4 not bad at all .

I am going to mark this thread resolved and like I say, will explore everyone's options as well. I may post a separate post regarding the player itself (my Mum's) as it always sending her music to MP4 as default and ends she up waiting for me with any to convert her CD's and downloads and such.