Question about Windows Media Player & MP3s
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Topic: Question about Windows Media Player & MP3s
Posted By: Peter
Subject: Question about Windows Media Player & MP3s
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 11:44
Hello younger members & tech-savvy types!
I have a simple question, and I know you folks will know the answer right away: When I rip my music collection into my PC (new one, with Vista) via Windows Media Player, are the resulting files MP3s, and thus able to be loaded into an Ipod or such device? I don't have an Ipod yet, but plan to buy one in the near future, so can I keep ripping via WMP as I've always done, or is this not the right system for copying my Cds into an Ipod?
 Thanks,
 Peter
------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Replies:
Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 11:47
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Out of the box WMP creates WMA files ... you should open the menu, go to Extras -> Options and choose mp3 on the "Copy Music" tab. Be sure to choose bitrates >= 192kbit!
------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to: 
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Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 11:53
Thanks Mike -- what about the music I've already ripped, with the default settings? Can those be converted to MP3 format, or do I need to re-rip those discs, when I want to put them into an Ipod? ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 11:59
Okay, did that  -- would there be any audible advantage, or any disadvantage, to selecting an even higher bit rate (256 or 320)?
And what about those old WMA files -- are they no good to me for Ipod use? ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: cuncuna
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 12:02
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Hello kind sir. It'll be more helpful to invest a few hours to find out how to use some mp3 converter, like DB poweramp. I'm sure there's a free version somewhere, since they have released a new one recently. This way, you'll have control on the destination folder selection, and you'll be able to convert those old WMA files into mp3. Now, wma is a format that looses a lot of quality. When creating mp3 files, be sure to not use the "joint stereo" option", and always choose "Variable bitrate", setting 192 kbps as lower level, and 320 kpbs as higher. That way, the compressor can choose the right amount of compresión according to the flow of data or something like that, resulting into rich sound with not excesively large file size. More on this in your inbox. ------------- ¡Beware of the Bee! |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 12:07
Well, I just found out via "Help" that those old WMA files cannot be converted to MP3s with the Media Player (damn -- I'd already copied a fair number of CDs! ), but what about the various bitrates: adantages/disadvantages?
Anyone?  ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 12:14
Sincere thanks, Cannedtuna
,but truth be told it was only perhaps 40 - 50 CDs I'd copied.... Rather than looking for (and trying to figure out) new converting software, would an old technophobe like myself perhaps be better off just starting over with the copying (this time as Mike indicated, straight to MP3 format & at 192 rate)? ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
cuncuna wrote:Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 12:37
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^ you should not try to convert the WMAs ... it would result in a significant loss of quality. I think for you the best solution would be to rip your CDs in 256kbit mp3 in the WMP ... the solution which I use is a bit more technical (CDex). ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 12:45
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Thanks again Mike. I just ripped a few Cds at 192 -- what's the advantage/disadvantage of 256?
BTW, when I get an Ipod, I'll go for as much storage capacity as possible (or needed), if that's a factor re selecting bitrate. Also, does it matter if all the MP3s aren't at the same rate?
Also, am I likely to hear the difference from 192 to 256? ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 12:56
My research, admittedly not extensive, said a WMA has the same quality of an MP3 of twice the size. So for the sake of space I've done my whole collection in WMA format half the size of the standard MP3 download for the same quality 64K  (might be Microsqash propaganda) . It sounds OK to my ears. And when you consider that most of the time I'm listening to music on a portable device in a less than perfect environment (usually with background noise) it sounds fine to me. I can still do the CDs if I want to be sure of a higher quality listening experience. Of course there are audiophiles that poo poo the CD format. But look on the bright side, I've got over 1300 CDs in my collection that I have converted to WMA. Imagine having to redo those in another format... By the way, I just got an 80 GB Zune and am happy with it so far. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened... 
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Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 13:07
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^ So, Slart, WMA files can be put onto an Ipod? I'm confused! ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Slartibartfast
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 13:33
Sorry, didn't really address your question. Ipod has it's own proprietary format, I don't think it supports WMA. None of my players have been actual Ipods. ------------- Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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Posted By: MikeEnRegalia
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 13:43
256 is better than 192 ... theoretically. Personally I think the difference is negligible, but there are people who say that there's a blatant difference. Others again will say that mp3 sounds terrible regardless of the compression rate. I simply think that since the 256kbit files aren't that much larger than the 192kbit files, why not rip them in 256kbit and be on the safe side? Of course you could also use 320kbit. 256kbit is the size which I would recommend. ------------- https://awesomeprog.com/users/Mike" rel="nofollow">Recently listened to:
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Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 13:45
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^ Thanks for clarifying, El Slarto.
I believe MP3s will work in any such device, no?
BTW, currently ripping at 256 -- am I right in presuming that all the MP3s on an Ipod need not be at the same bitrate?
------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |
Posted By: Peter
Date Posted: December 26 2007 at 13:51
Mike, I'm in your debt for all the helpful & informative advice -- remind me to say something nice (or at least tolerant) about prog metal soon.... Okay, still going with 256, as indicated. When i get that Ipod, I'll go for maximum storage capacity! ------------- "And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!' He chortled in his joy. |