How to convert .wav file into MP3 file with iTunes

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June 14, 2010 Category: Articles, Royalty free music, Tutorials

When you purchase music from www.premiumbeat.com we send you a link to download the music in .wav format and in MP3 format. You are welcome to download both versions if you wish. However some people prefer to do the .wav-to-MP3 conversion themselves because they need a specific level of sound compression or for other reasons. This tutorial shows you how to accomplish that.

You can download iTunes for Mac or PC for free at http://www.apple.com/itunes/download

For those of you who came in late, iTunes is a media player that allows you to play and organize digital music and video files. But if you thought that iTunes is just a digital music jukebox, think again! It allows you to buy music online, burn CDs, and sync files. Plus, it allows you to convert audio files easily and quickly.

That’s really a useful function for many of you. Consider for example, that you have purchased background music from a royalty free music website such as www.premiumbeat.com. Now you want to use it on your website, but the .wav file is too big. You need to convert the file to MP3 format. Or, maybe you want to listen to your favorite soundtracks on the long drive to office every day. But the .wav format is not compatible with the music player in your car. So what do you do?

Try converting the .wav files into MP3 file with iTunes. If you don’t know how, just follow the simple step-by-step instructions given below and you are on track.

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. To open iTunes Preferences
    • Windows: On the Edit menu, click Preferences.
    • Mac: From the iTunes menu, choose Preferences.

      UPDATE: If you are using iTunes 8 or iTunes 9 open PREFERENCES, it will be automatically under the GENERAL tab and go directly to IMPORT SETTINGS (You do not have to select Advanced) .

    • In the drop down list next to Import Using, select MP3 Encoder.
    • iTunes3

  1. Select one of the three preferences from the drop down list next to Setting, to specify a quality preference. Your options are:
  • Good Quality (128 kbps)
  • High Quality (160 kbps)
  • Higher Quality (192 kbps)
  1. For web usage, you may need more compression. In Setting, choose Custom and then choose between 24 kpbs and 128 kbps according to the quality you want. 64 kpbs and 128 kbps are often used by web designers. (Tip: Always use the Stereo mode for music). Click OK to close that window.
  2. Click OK again to close the Preferences window.
  3. Select one or more .wav files from your music library.
  4. Open the Advanced tab on top of your screen , choose Create MP3 Version.

The conversion time will vary depending on the number of files, the type of conversion, and the speed of your computer.

You will hear a beep sound when iTunes completes converting your files. The new MP3 music file will be automatically generated and will be placed right under the original file in the music library (Under LIBRARY select Music).

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    Contact us at support@premiumbeat.com

    10 comments so far

    Eric

    Reply

    Thank you for the article! I used to use MediaConverter123 for audio and video conversion, it worked well.

    KC

    Reply

    It was EZ and worked perfectly! Thanks for making it quick and painless.

    PB

    Reply

    The settings seem to be configured differently than this in iTunes 9.2. Do you know what the updated instructions would be?

    Gilles

    Reply

    I just checked with iTunes 9.2.1 and what is described in the tutorial still holds. I re-positioned some of the text and hopefully it has made it clearer.

    Alex

    Reply

    Ah... I'm on a Mac, and I have no idea what you're talking about when you say "under GENERAL". I got "ITUNES", "FILE", "EDIT","VIEW","CONTROLS", "STORE,"ADVANCED", "WINDOW," and "HELP." :c I dunno which to find anything under. I tried advanced, but it doesn't have the options described. Help? Please and thank you.

    Gilles

    Reply

    Yes I am on a MAC too! As it is mentioned you need to go under the iTunes menu and open "preferences" - that is where all these tabs are available.

    Jerry

    Reply

    I also have the same problem on MAC. No "General - Importing - Burning" tabs under Advanced preferences. Does anyone know the solution?

    Gilles

    Reply

    Hi Jerry - I re-worded the text and hopefully it is clearer now. As soon as you open the Preferences panel you have the Importing option on your lower right side. From there you just follow instructions.

    Randy

    Reply

    Couldn't get it to work. Is seemed to only convert some of the files selected. Is there some other conversion program that I can download.

    Gilles

    Reply

    Hmmm.. I don't know why it would do that. Maybe these files are protected somehow. A good program if you work on a Mac is Sound Studio at http://www.felttip.com/ss/ I believe you can get a free trial.

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