How to convert audio files: Did you download songs from the Internet but your phone can’t play them? Don’t despair, the solution to your problems is two clicks away. All you have to do is install an audio file converter, such as the ones I’m about to tell you about, and give it “in the meal” all the songs that you can’t listen to on your mobile.
No matter what the format of the starting file is, the converters that I will present to you are able to handle all the most popular ones: AAC, WAV, OGG, MP3 and many more. I bet you will be surprised at how efficient and easy to use. How do you say? Are you not very familiar with IT and new technologies and are you concerned that the use of the resources in question is out of your reach? Come on, don’t be a coward! Apart from the fact that these are very easy to use tools but then I don’t really see what you worry about if I’m here with you, well available to provide you with all the explanations you need.
Courage therefore, let’s not waste any more time chatting and we immediately see how to convert audio files using Windows, Mac or even an online service compatible with all the most popular web browsers. Are you ready? Yes? Great. I wish you, as usual, happy reading and I make you a great, indeed a very good luck for everything.
Fre: ac (Windows / Mac / Linux)
The first resource I want to talk to you about is Fre: ac . This is without a doubt one of the best audio converters currently available on the square. Its main advantages? It is free, open source, compatible with all popular operating systems (Windows, Mac and Linux) and supports a wide range of audio files: MP3, OGG, FLAC, AAC, WMA and others.
To download it to your PC, connected to its official website , select the item Downloads from the left sidebar and click on the link freac-xxexe located next to the wording Self extracting installer (if you use a Windows PC) or on the link freac-xx- macosx.dmg (if you use a Mac).
Download is complete, if you are using a Windows PC, open the installation package freac – xx.exe just obtained and click on Yes , on Next , again on Yes , again on Next four times and on Finish to complete the setup. Then start the program by double clicking on the relevant shortcut that has been added to the desktop.
If you are using a Mac, open the .dmg package that contains the software and drag the Fre: ac icon to the macOS Applications folder . Then right-click on it and choose Open two consecutive times, in order to start the application, however, going around Apple’s limitations imposed on unauthorized developers.
Now that you see the Fre: ac window on the screen, you just have to select the format in which you want to convert the audio files. Then click on the arrow located next to the Play button at the top right and choose one of the available options in the menu that opens.
Next, if you want to adjust the bit-rate or other parameters relating to the files to be obtained, click on the gear icon located at the top right and set your preferences. If you are not sure where to get your hands – I recommend – do not change any settings.
To conclude, click on the white sheet icon located at the top left to select the songs to convert, press on Play and wait for the process to be completed.
If you want to choose the folder in which to save the songs, press the Browse … button located at the bottom right before starting the conversion procedure.
Switch Audio File Converter (Windows / Mac)
As an alternative to the above resource, you can rely on Switch Audio File Converter to convert audio files on your computer. It is a program available for both Windows and Mac, free (but possibly usable in a paid version, with some extra features), very easy to use and capable of impeccably fulfilling the purpose for which it is intended. It supports all popular formats, allows you to adjust the advanced conversion settings and has a pretty nice interface. In short, try it now and you will see that it will satisfy you.
To download it to your computer, connected to the program’s website and click on the Download Switch Audio File Converter for Windows link . If what you’re using is a Mac, click Download Switch Audio File Converter for Mac OS X .
When the download is complete, if you are using Windows, open the newly obtained switchsetup.exe file and click Yes . Choose to download the Italian translation by pressing on Download and install Italian (v x.xx) and click on Next .
On Mac, on the other hand, api the compressed archive obtained, then the .dmg package contained inside it and then presses on Agree . Then drag the program icon to the macOS Applications folder , right-click on it and select Open two consecutive times, in order to start Switch Audio File Converter, however, going around the limitations imposed by Apple on unauthorized developers.
Now that, regardless of the operating system, display the program window on the screen, drag the audio files you want to convert into it or click on the Add file button at the top to select the files “manually”.
Then select the output format from the Format: drop-down menu that changes at the bottom left and adjusts (if you want) the settings relating to the bit-rate, metadata and volume by clicking on the Options … adjacent button .
Finally, click on the Convert button and wait for the transformation procedure to be started and completed.
By default, the converted songs will be saved in your computer’s Music folder . If you want, however, you can set a custom location by clicking on the Browse button next to the Save in: menu , at the bottom of the software window, before starting the conversion.
MediaHuman Free Audio Converter (Windows / Mac)
Another great program that you can appeal to to convert audio files is MediaHuman Free Audio Converter . It is a free software for Windows and Mac that allows you to convert all the main formats: WMA, MP3, AAC, WAV, FLAC, OGG, AIFF and Apple Lossless. It is very intuitive and also allows you to intervene on the quality of the final file.
To download it immediately on your computer, connected to the program’s website and click on the button depicting the logo of the operating system you are using.
When the download is complete, if you are using Windows open the MHAudioConverter.exe file and click on Run and on Yes . Then select the item I accept the terms of the license agreement , press on Next four times in succession and complete the setup by pressing first on Install and then on Finish .
If, on the other hand, you are using a Mac, open the newly obtained .dmg package and drag the converter icon to the Applications folder of macOS. Afterwards, right-click on it and select Open twice in a row, in order to start the program, however, going around the limitations imposed by Apple on non-“blessed” developers.
Once the MediaHuman Free Audio Converter window appears on the screen, drag the audio files you want to convert onto them or select them “manually” by clicking on the [+] button at the top.
Then expand the Format drop-down menu located on the toolbar, select the output format you prefer, set (if you want) also the bit-rate and press Close .
Finally, click on the button with the two arrows located on the toolbar and MediaHuman Free Audio Converter will go into action by going to convert all the files.
When the process is complete, you will find the songs converted in the Music folder on your computer. If you want to change the destination of the output files, before starting the conversion click on the wrench icon , select the Output tab and specify a path in the field under the heading Output folder .
iTunes (Mac / Windows)
Do you need to copy a music CD to your computer? Then I recommend you rely on iTunes , the Apple music software available for Mac and Windows, useful not only for the management of audio files but also for that of the iOS devices that are connected to the computer. On macOS it is already pre-installed, while on Microsoft operating systems it must be downloaded separately (as I explained to you in my tutorial dedicated to the topic ).
To use it for your purpose, all you have to do is answer in the affirmative in the window that you see automatically appear on the screen after inserting the CD in the computer’s player and through which you are asked if you intend to import the disc or not . Alternatively (or in any case if the warning does not appear), you must select the CD icon from the menu on the top left and click on the Import CD button located at the top right.
The conversion can take place in various formats, such as AAC and MP3. To choose the one you prefer, go to the iTunes> Preferences … section through the menu bar, select the General tab in the window that appears and press the Import Settings … button .
If you need more detailed instructions, take a look at my tutorial on how to convert CD to MP3 in which I explained how to copy music from a CD to your computer with both iTunes and Windows Media Player.
Windows Media Player (Windows)
If you use a Windows PC, as regards copying music CDs to your computer, as an alternative to iTunes you can use Windows Media Player , the media player included “standard” in all major editions of the Microsoft operating system (if you can’t to find it among the available programs, read my article dedicated to the topic to find out how to fix it).
To use it for your purpose, insert the reference disk in the computer’s CD / DVD player, then start Windows Media Player through the Start menu , select the diskette icon from the left sidebar and click the Copy from CD settings button located at the top.
Finally, select the file format in which you want to convert the tracks of the audio CD ( MP3 or WMA ). Then you have to press the Copy from CD button .
Media.io (Online)
As anticipated at the beginning, it is also possible to convert audio files online. Do not you believe it? Then try Media me . It is a Web service compatible with all the most popular browsers (as well as with all operating systems) that allows you to convert the main audio file formats: MP3, AAC, WMA and many others. It is totally free, does not require registration and does not require special plugins to work. In short, what more could you want?
If you want to try it, visit its main page , press the Add your files button and select the audio files to convert. Then indicate the desired output format from the Convert to: drop-down menu and, finally, press the Convert button .
Accept now the terms of use of the service by clicking on the I agree button and after a few seconds of waiting the Download All button will automatically appear . Click on it and you can immediately download all the converted songs on your computer (they will be saved in the Downloads folder , if you have not changed the default browser settings).
If instead of saving the files on the PC you prefer to save them on Dropbox (if you have an account), click on the button with the arrow next to the one to proceed with the download, select the appropriate option from the menu that appears, run the login to the service and specify the location on which to save the songs.