Need Free.wav to .mp3 converter

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I’m looking for software to convert a couple .wav files to .mp3 format. My Google searches have yielded little of any use. Tried on program, ABC Convert that changed the file extension but the file was only a few KBs in size and had no content . Any suggestions ???

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See Audacity: Features. If is .

Joe

--Joe

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Thanks for the suggestion Joe.

I suppose I should have been more clear about my needs. I have 2 .wav files that I extracted from PowerPoint slide shows and want to make MP3 files to use as background music for a couple slide shows I am working on (not PowerPoint). At first look, this seems to be software to rip tracks from CDs and convert them to MP3 in the process. I would rather not waste a CD doing this and simply convert the files to MP3.

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You should be able to use Audacity to open a .wav file and convert it.

Ian

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Thanks Ian. I’ll give it a try.

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Ian,
I tried Audacity and it created the file after I downloaded a required LAME .dll file, but the file would not play in WinAmp. It did, however, play in Windows Media Player and iTunes. WinAmp is my default MP3 player.

I’ve attached the error message FYI. Thanks for the help.

~Doc

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Looks like the wrong error message was attached.

Joe

--Joe

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I don’t believe so. The error was to let Ian know that Audacity does not export mp3 files without this dll file.

There was no error message when I tried to play the file in WinAmp. It displayed no bit rate or other file information and just wouldn’t play.

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Yes but you only have to install the .dll once and then you are fine to produce mp3 files. It guides you how to do that.

Ian

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I found the dll as a stand alone download and just dropped it in the folder I stored the installation files in, pointed the program there and was able to create the file. But, as I said earlier, it wouldn’t play in WinAmp. I was able to play the files in WMP and iTunes, so it must have something to do with the way WinAmp is reading mp3s created from the wav files. I just deleted the program and will try the one that John has recommended. This is just a one time deal and that’s why is important. But if the files I get aren’t universally useful in all my players, I really don’t want to keep the program or the files.

Thanks for your time and interest.

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I’m not sure why this wouldn’t work for you. I’ve just tried opening a .wav file in Audacity, then exporting as an .mp3. It played OK in Winamp for me.

Ian

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I can’t figure this one out either. Seems to me it must be related to the way these wav files are made (format, compression, etc.). Either way, I now have a couple more pieces of software to work with if I ever get the time to learn how to use them properly.

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It’s possible to have compressed WAV files. Make a copy of the WAV files and rename the copies to MP3, then see if they are playable by WinAmp. If so, they are already compressed.

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That was it John !!!! Thanks for staying with this !!!

Good trick to know. You can rename any mp3 file to wav and have it play as a wav file.

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XP MCE has this capability built in via right-click options – you might see if it’s built into in your OS. If not, CD Ripper program Exact Audio Copy has an option to do this under the Tools menu.

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Thanks for the thought John. XP Pro SP2 has no such right click option.

I should have been a bit more clear about my needs here. See my reply to Joe above.

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After reading the thread with Joe, I still recommend Exact Audio Copy; it has a relatively small footprint, comes with the LAME DLL installed, and you can kill it after you are done with it.

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Thanks for staying with this John. I’ll give that a try tonight.

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Since I have had it installed for some time, there may be setup steps I don’t remember, such as the MP3 compression settings, file location settings etc, but I think they are limited, and you should be able to run the format conversion with a minimum of work.

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All,

For this sort of job, I tend to use CDex . There is an option in the Convert menu to convert WAV to almost anything and it’s

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Thanks for the suggestion. I tried an old version of CDex I have had on my system for years and it wouldn’t accept the wav files. Returned the attached error.

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John,

Installed EAC and going through the Configuration Wizard process found that I was going to have to DL the LAME 3.9 version or higher to get the LAME.exe file and place it in the EAC folder. Did that and when I attempted to comvert my .wav files I was presented with the following error. It seems I will not be able to convert these particular wav files and have had all the fun I can stand playing with them.

Thanks to all for the interest and input but….

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“Have you ever wanted to convert files without the need to download software ?” try http://www.zamzar.com/%5B/url%5D

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That works !! Thanks !!!

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It worked on a compressed WAV file?

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Yes it did. But the process turned a 377kb WAV into a 3mb MP3 , while renaming it to MP3 kept the size at 377kb.

There was also a major difference in the bitrate of the mp3 files. The renamed file had a bitrate of 20 while the one Zamzar converted had a bitrate of 128 and sounded fuller and cleaner. Both played in WinAmp.

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(Edited by HansV to make URL clickable – see Help 19)

try DB PowerAmp – http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm%5B/url%5D
Don

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FYI – the newest version of dB PowerAmp (r12) will not let you convert to MP3’s unless you pay a ‘licensing fee’. The site claims “Thompson” (the MP3 people) are requiring that for the Lame encoder, but that is very questionable since the Lame encoder can be downloaded for free… Reportedly you get a 30-day free trial, but I think you still have to register the program with them to get it to work — or at least it did not work on my laptop.

I used dB PowerAmp (r10) for years, but I only discovered this yesterday when I tried to update… Previous versions let you convert to MP3’s for free.
_________

It looks as if EAC is implying that the files are not at 44.1 mHz?? I believe that renaming an .mp3 to .wav really does not cause the program to “play the files as a .wav file”, the associated program simply realizes that it is misnamed — and since it can play the .mp3 anyways, it does.

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