How to Convert to mp3

Category: Tutorials Posted by Amar Toor, Nov 6th 2009 2:30PM

Converting your m4a files into gold-encrusted mp3 gems doesn't have to be difficult. Sweat needn't be broken. Tears needn't be shed. Blood needn't be spilled. Take a deep breath, put your head between your knees for a few seconds, and when you're ready, follow these easy steps to mp3-hood.

The first thing you'll need, though, is Winamp Pro, which you can find here. (Winamp Standard supports a lot of files, but for mp3's, you'll need to go Pro...) Got it? Cool. Now, let's talk....

Step 1:

Find the file you want to convert by going to your your Media Library tab, and click on "Audio" from your "Local Media". If you haven't already added audio files to your Winamp Media Player, you can go to File >> Add Media to Library. Alternatively, you could drag and drop the file from your Windows Explorer into the Winamp player.

Step 2:
Right-click your file once you've loaded it into Winamp, and click on the "Send to..." option from the pop-up menu. A list will pop up, and in that list will be the "Format Converter" option. Click on it.

How to Convert to mp3 - Step 2

Step 3:
Click on the "MP3 Encoder v1.35 a" option, which will be lurking at the bottom of the "Configuration" window. If you want to save the file to a particular folder or change its name, now is where you'd wanna do that, by simply inputing those changes in the appropriate fields at the top of the "Configuration" window. But most likely you'll just leave the default location and naming scheme.

How to Convert to mp3 - Step 3

Step 4:
Now, having traversed these treacherous seas, you arrive at your pot of gold. Click "OK" to get the conversion rolling. Eventually, a pop-up window will, um, pop up, and gently nudge you to let you know that the file was converted successfully. Nod approvingly, and click "Done."

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

1. I like winamp b'casit very nice

Posted at 11:28PM on Nov 22nd 2009 by megaib

2. almarri_tim@hotmail.com

Posted at 9:56AM on Nov 23rd 2009 by almarri_tim@hotmail.com

3. This tip is for m4a files. What about m4p files from iTunes?

Posted at 2:27AM on Dec 1st 2009 by Al Schoen

4. Used Winamp Pro to try to convert a 4.5MB m4a extension file to MP3 using your directions. Received Transcoder error "Cannot Find Decoder" & converting failed. Is there a plugin I need in addition to what WA Pro already has?

Posted at 7:12PM on Dec 8th 2009 by Don S.

5. I can't convert a streamed WMA to _anything_ - including a WMA. Everything says 'Can't Find Decoder.' fresh installation of 5.56 directly from the 'Go Pro' page. Restarted WinAmp. Restarted computer (twice). Should it have to be this hard to save a file ?

Posted at 6:37PM on Dec 9th 2009 by rich herzog

6. I dont have winamp pro how do I do it without?

Posted at 4:37PM on Jan 23rd 2010 by Angelica

7. THANK YOU

Posted at 4:44AM on Mar 19th 2010 by paul

8. Can this be used to just change the filename? If it's able to do so, then there's a bug. When I tried to just change the file naming fomat, I received the error: Transcoding Failed - Cannot open destination file.

Posted at 4:40AM on Apr 19th 2010 by Bob

9. for those of you who have problems converting to mp3, it may be possible that winamp is missing the enc_lame.dll file, which is a free dll containing instructions on how to convert to mp3, usable by programs that are supposed to do mp3 conversions. there are probably better plugins than this one out there, but not for free. to find out if this is indeed your problem, check in C:\Program Files\Winamp\Plugins(assuming you installed winamp in the default directory, which is C:\Program Files\Winamp on most computers). if the file is missing, do dig a bit on the forums to find out where you can get the needed file(latest version at this time is 3.98)

Posted at 8:33PM on Jun 6th 2010 by Dr Ew

10. Bought the winamp pro so I could convert some M4P files but I get the same problems as those above, the Can't find Decoder message. Checked the enc_lame.dll file and its there, it just won't work. Feeling ripped off.

Posted at 3:41AM on Jul 5th 2010 by Greg

11. Hi! I really love WinAmp, but I use it just as music player. For conversion I prefer to use simple software MediaConverter123, it converts any audio or video files, has YouTube ripper and CD ripper. It's really helpful. Advise you to try: http://mediaconverter123.com/

Posted at 12:12PM on Jul 17th 2010 by Alice Alice

12. I get the same Cannot find Decoder error message when trying to convert to mp3. I just bought winamp pro and I can't seem to solve the problem. Does anyone have a solution for this specific problem?

Posted at 11:28PM on Sep 1st 2010 by damnlefty

13. WinAmp rules. To download MP3 from YouTube use http://musicfromyoutube.org The downloaded MP3 and AAC songs can be played on WinAmp.

Posted at 6:12AM on Oct 27th 2010 by Matt

14. please help i cant see my videos in wincamp i can hear them but no vision of them what can i do please help,desparate corinne,spain

Posted at 11:09PM on Dec 12th 2010 by corinne

15. This makes listening to your music tracks convenient. I’ve also learned another way of converting music files to MP3, try this http://mp3filesconvert.com

Posted at 3:08AM on Apr 7th 2011 by mc

16. I am trying to convert aac, and I keep getting the error that it can't find the decoder.

Posted at 2:39PM on Feb 25th 2012 by YukonJack

17. this is cool stuff to convert music files to mp3, however, for drm wma files, you may check this tutorial to convert protected wma to mp3

Posted at 4:10AM on Sep 5th 2011 by BETTY

18. Hi, Anyone knows this answer to this? If I unchecked "show this before each convert" but later want to change the format converter preferences again, how do I bring back the "Format Converter" screen? Thanks!

Posted at 3:02PM on Nov 10th 2011 by Hukeli

19. windows media player automagically inserts my album art (CD covers) when I rip to MP3 but winamp doesnt. I cant find any setting anywhere, nor any help information.

Posted at 5:57AM on Dec 6th 2011 by andy

20. Total rip off. I bought winamp pro just to convert MP3s and for the last 3 days I've tried converting some flac files to .mp3 so I can get them into that crap software iTunes because winamp doesn't work with my ipods. Big disappointment. Anyone looking to convert mp3s don't expect to do it in winamp and save your money. Buy something else.

Posted at 11:06PM on Dec 19th 2011 by tcpdump

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