audio file converter recommendations

[pwallie]

On 9/8/2024 at 8:22 AM, Max Arwood said:

For wave to mp3 I have always liked RazorLame.  The actual encoder is Lame. Lame has been around for years (1998). Lame has had many versions through the years. It is still considered the best mp3 encoder.  This pair once setup is super fast, easy to use and free. This only makes mp3s. It doesn’t do other stuff. Quick media converter does a ton of stuff. It even has codecs for some phone formats. I use both. If it’s just audio I usually tend to use RazorLame. 

https://lame.sourceforge.io/

https://www.videohelp.com/software/RazorLame
 

The video help site has a ton of great stuff.  You might want to look around a little. 

this ^^^ export as wav, check it's ok then pop it through razorlame, finish it off with mp3tag for metadata 👍

[Max Arwood]

Yes windows could do this  

 

https://www.editframe.com/guides/how-to-install-and-start-using-ffmpeg-in-under-10-minutes

offical site

https://www.ffmpeg.org/download.html#build-windows

 

 

edit-

Qucik meds converter is a GUI only. Sometimes called a front end. All it does is sort thru the hundreds of commands that ffmpeg has built into it. 
QMC sends this to ffmpeg

c:\fmpeg myvideo -r -g 225, 860, /w /c /e :f mp3 /280 /o /etc

so you don’t have to memorize all this stuff lol! ffmpeg is a command line application with no GUI. That’s why most humans need QMC or other front end to use it  

Including me lol

Edited September 14 by Max Arwood
Edit

[gmp]

I installed the FFmpeg files from the download and did like the website said and went to advanced system settings and added a path in Environments to my E:\FFmeg folder with the 3 files in it, but in the CMD prompt it didn't find it so when I opened Quick media converter it still can't find the files. I double-checked what I did. Do you think the website is up to date? Let me know if you have any tips - we're close

[Max Arwood]

You could re-read path stuff or I think you could drop the files in any of the default windows paths. 
 

Variable: %PATH%

Default Value: C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem; etc.

Details: Contains a list of paths to binary files used by various programs. You can execute the files kept in these directories directly from the command line without using the entire path. 
 

one of the default pre setup folders. Any of the above. 

[gmp]

I put the 3 files in C:\Windows, rebooted and opened Quick media converter and got the same screen asking me to download the FFmpeg files. If I answer yes or no, it doesn't work.

3 files

ffmpeg.exe
ffplay.exe
ffprobe.exe

[pwallie]

vlc also offers conversion during "save as" - does a bunch of video formats as well as audio https://www.videolan.org/

[Max Arwood]

I’ll send you the version of ffmpeg mine uses. You could try it. I’ll try to do it tomorrow. Do you have win 11?

Steps on how to change MP4 to WAV with FFmpeg

1)Download FFmpeg library and install it.

2)Open Terminal / Command Prompt on your computer.

3)Type in the command: ffmpeg -i inputvideoname.mp4 outputaudioname.wav. ... 

4)Press “Enter” to start converting MP4 to WAV.

 

Does this work?

Edited September 17 by Max Arwood
Added info

[gmp]

Max, Quick media converter has been working great, thanks.

 

I had to convert an AAC file and found this App that's super easy and fast - Switch Sound File Converter. https://www.nch.com.au/index.html

I'm very impressed with NCH, they have quite a few ready good free software products and none of them install a bunch of BS on your computer