This article explains how to convert any type of audio file to a standard format with a high level of compatibility (such as MP3 or WAV format) using Windows Media Player. The only way to convert audio files using Windows Media Player is to first burn them to a CD and then copy them back to your computer in a different format than the original. Windows Media Player can copy music on a CD and store it on your computer in the following audio formats: WMA, MP3, WAV, ALAC or FLAC.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Use a CD to Convert
Step 1. Insert a blank CD into your computer's optical drive
Technically, Windows Media Player cannot directly convert an audio file to another format. In order to overcome this limitation, you must first burn the music to be converted to a CD, then you can use Windows Media Player to copy the audio files from the CD to your computer by converting them into one of the following audio formats: WMA, MP3, WAV, ALAC or FLAC.
- It's best to use a rewritable CD marked CD-RW to burn, so you can reuse it hundreds of times before you need to replace it.
- If your computer does not have a DVD player, you will need to purchase an external USB one.
Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop.
Step 3. Type the keywords windows media player into the "Start" menu
Your computer will search for the Windows Media Player program.
Step 4. Click the Windows Media Player icon
It features the white "Play" button symbol on a blue and orange background. It should have appeared at the top of the "Start" menu. The Windows Media Player window will appear.
If the Windows Media Player icon does not appear in the search results list, it means it is not installed on your computer. Windows Media Player is included in the operating system only if you perform a fresh installation of Windows 10 or upgrade to Windows 10 from a Windows 7 or Windows 8 installation
Step 5. Click on the Music tab
It is listed in the left pane of the Windows Media Player window. The contents of the Windows Media Player music library will be displayed.
Step 6. Click on the Burn tab
It is located in the upper right of the program window. Inside the right pane of the Windows Media Player window you will see the contents of the tab Burn.
Step 7. Select the music tracks to burn to the CD
Individually drag all audio tracks to be copied to the CD onto the card Burn. Remember that you can select up to 80 minutes of music using most CDs.
If the audio files you want to burn to the CD are not already in the Windows Media Player library, you will need to add them now, before you can drag them onto the card. Burn of the program.
Step 8. Click the Start Burn button
It is located at the top of the card Burn. The files you have selected will be burned to the CD.
Step 9. Wait for the CD burning process to complete
The time required to complete this step can vary from a few seconds to several minutes. When the CD has been burned correctly, you can copy the files it contains to your computer and convert them to the format you want.
Step 10. Click on the Organize tab
It is located in the upper left of the Windows Media Player window. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 11. Click on the Options… item
A dialog box will appear.
Step 12. Click on the Rip Music from CD tab
It is displayed at the top of the "Options" window.
Step 13. Select the folder to save the imported audio tracks from the CD
Click on the button Change placed in the box "Copy music from CD to this path", choose the folder you prefer and finally click on the button OK.
Step 14. Select the format to convert the songs copied from the CD to
Click on the "Format" drop-down menu, located in the center of the window, then click on the audio format you want to use.
- The most used formats that guarantee the highest level of compatibility are the MP3 And WAV. The former is a compressed format while the latter guarantees the original quality level.
- Any format whose name includes the words "Windows Media" is only compatible with devices that use Windows, so if you are looking to convert audio files to a format that can be played by any device you should avoid using these types of formats.
Step 15. Set the audio quality level
Drag the "Audio Quality" slider to the right to increase the sound quality of the files that will be extracted from the CD. Remember that increasing the audio quality will result in larger files.
Step 16. Click the Apply buttons successively And OK.
Step 17. Insert the CD into your computer's optical drive
The system should detect it and treat it like any audio CD. If the song playback has started automatically, click on the "Pause" button to stop it.
Step 18. Click the Copy CD button
It is located at the top of the Windows Media Player window. The program will start the procedure for importing the audio tracks contained in the CD into the computer in the specified format. This step should take approximately 10-30 seconds for each song to complete. When the import and conversion process is complete, all files should be stored in the folder you indicated.
Method 2 of 2: Convert Audio Files with VLC
Step 1. Download and install VLC Media Player
If for any reason you don't have the ability to burn a CD or import its contents to your computer using Windows Media Player or if you find this method easier, you can use VLC to convert an audio file from one format to another. You can download the VLC installation file from the following URL:
Step 2. Launch the VLC app
It features an orange traffic cone icon. Click on the "Start" button located in the lower left corner of the desktop, type in the keyword VLC, then click on the program icon that will appear in the search results list.
Step 3. Click on the Media menu
It is the first menu located in the upper left of the program window. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 4. Click on Convert / Save option
It is listed at the bottom of VLC's "Media" menu. The dialog box will appear where you can perform the file conversion.
Step 5. Click the Add button
It is displayed in the upper right of the "Open Media" dialog box.
Step 6. Select the files you want to convert, then click the Open button
Navigate to the folder where the files you want to convert are stored, then select them all with a click of the mouse. At this point click on the button You open located in the lower right part of the window to import the files selected in the box displayed in the "File selection" section of the "Open media" window.
To select multiple audio files at the same time, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on all the songs you want to convert
Step 7. Click the Convert / Save button
It is located in the lower right corner of the "Open Media" window.
Step 8. Select an audio profile for conversion
Use the "Profile" drop-down menu to choose the audio format to use for the conversion. You can select one of the following formats: OGG, MP3, FLAC or CD.
Step 9. Click the wrench icon (optional)
It is located to the right of the "Profile" drop-down menu. This way you will have the possibility to change the settings of the audio profile you have chosen.
Step 10. Select a format (optional)
Click on the radio button corresponding to the audio format you want to use for conversion.
Step 11. Click on the Audio Encoding tab (optional)
It will allow you to change the way the files will be converted.
Step 12. Select the type of audio encoding to use (optional)
Use the "Encoding" drop-down menu to select the audio format in which the selected files will be converted.
Step 13. Change the sample rate
Use the arrow icons located to the right of the "Bitrate" text field to change this setting. The higher the sample rate, the better the audio quality of the files. However, the space occupied on the disk or on the device by each file will be greater.
In the case of the MP3 format, a sampling rate of 128 kb / s guarantees average sound quality, a bit rate of 192 kb / s offers high audio quality, while a bit rate of 320 kb / s guarantees perfect quality identical to that offered by audio CDs
Step 14. Click the Save button
This way the new settings will be saved on the profile you have selected.
Step 15. Click the Start button
The file conversion process will start. The files converted to the new format will be stored in the same folder where the original ones are.
Advice
Having a Windows operating system does not mean that you have to use Windows Media Player to perform the conversion of audio files. You have many other alternatives available, such as VLC Media Player, iTunes and Groove
Warnings
- Do not download software from the web without first protecting your computer with proper antivirus and antimalware software.
- Converting copyrighted files may be illegal in the country where you live. Before downloading or converting audio files, carefully read the legislation in force in the area where you reside.
