Downloading from itunes - MP3/4?

[Alixw]

I just downloaded a song from itunes - but it downloaded in MP4 format rather than MP3. Is there any way i can make it download or change it to an MP3?

[ugly_bob]

mp4 files are usually videos.
Try running it through Windows Media Player. Is it a music video, rather than just the song?
You can extract the audio only if this is the case using various programs - including Nero if you've got that for CD/DVD burning.

[Alixw]

No, its just the song, no video! it says it's protected when I try to convert it.
Dont have Nero or any kind of program like that! Doesn't look like i'm going to have much luck!?

Thanks though bob!

[fo3nix]

iTunes songs, along with pretty much all the other legal music stores, are encrypted with DRM. I'd strongly suggest you don't use them.

You can't just convert them to mp3.

What you can do, with iTunes music, is burn your track to a CD then import that track as an mp3.

[Gromit]

Fo3nix is completely wrong. Follow this

Open iTunes, go to Edit, Edit preferences, importing, and set the import to mp3. This will make downloads or Cds that you put into iTunes into mp3 format.

If you have a download that is in another format (AAC or m4a) , you can now just open iTunes, go to Advanced, highlight the track, and click on 'Convert selection to mp3

Very easy. Enjoy iTunes, it is great software.

[Alixw]

Hi Gromit

I did that a few dyas ago and it still didnt work!! I clicked on the 'help' tab and followed the instructions there. Howver - one paragraph in the help section says : purchased songs are encoded using a protected AAC format that prevents them from being converted.

So i guess that means it can't be done?!

[fo3nix]

Gromit: I have it right, and you have it wrong, I'm afraid. Downloaded music is not in m4a format, it's m4p (p for protected). This won't convert the files for you. Buy a song and try it.

And yes, iTunes is great software, I use it constantly. But DRM is universally terrible.