Converting iTunes files into a more useable format?

[Golf4food]

I'm very new to the world of iTunes and such, and have a question:

I know how to convert pre-existing files from my PC into different formats using iTunes, but what about songs that you download from iTunes straight from Apple? They evidently only want you playing those on iTunes or on your iPod. What if I want to play it on something different? What are my options?

For instance, I have a computer that does not have iTunes on it, but I could easily play an .mp3 or .wav. Apple doesn't want to let me convert the file I paid them for, however. Is there any way around their scheming little code that prevents me from using something I rightfully paid for?

Is burning the track to a CD, then putting it on the other computer in a compatible format the only option? If so, I'm gonna' have to download a lot more songs to fill up a CD (I'd hate to waste one for just one song!)

 

[lucyanna girl]

You can convert your Itunes library to mp3's easily.
Open Itunes library. Click on Edit. In the box that opens up click on Advanced. Now click on Importing. In the Import Using change the setting to
MP3 Encoder. Next clip OK. Highlight the name of the song you wish to convert. Now right mouse click on the highlighted song title. Click on convert selection to MP3. The song will be converted to the MP3 format while the original will stay in the MP4 (Itunes) format. This will work unless the song is protected. Don't forget to change back when you are finished.

Penny

 

[jfulcer]

This will work unless the song is protected. Don't forget to change back when you are finished.

Penny

Most of the songs purchased from Itunes are protected.

While I agree that it's scheming little code and I don't agree that there should be DRM, I think that a little basic searching about this question on Google would reveal the actual answer to this question. While it's not the easiest thing to do... it can be done but is technically breaking your contract with Apple. I do think that Alex and other webmasters wouldn't be happy with hacking solutions posted on the DIS....

Sorry, I don't mean to be a DRM snob. I think the solution, IMHO, is to just buy the CDs themselves and you can rip to MP3 to your hearts content.

 

[Golf4food]

You can convert your Itunes library to mp3's easily.
Open Itunes library. Click on Edit. In the box that opens up click on Advanced. Now click on Importing. In the Import Using change the setting to
MP3 Encoder. Next clip OK. Highlight the name of the song you wish to convert. Now right mouse click on the highlighted song title. Click on convert selection to MP3. The song will be converted to the MP3 format while the original will stay in the MP4 (Itunes) format. This will work unless the song is protected. Don't forget to change back when you are finished.

Penny

This does not work on protect songs you download from Apple. You can convert preexisting files that you have downloaded as mp3 or wav, or CDs you have burned onto the PC, but you cannot convert protected Apple files - hence the source of my question.

I'm all for copyrights and artist compensation, but once I pay for the file, it should be mine just as if I bought the whole CD. Otherwise they shouldn't offer the option of purchasing just individual songs.

The problem with the converters on the web is that they evidently do not work on files downloaded using iTunes version 6, which is what I have...

 

[jfulcer]

The problem with the converters on the web is that they evidently do not work on files downloaded using iTunes version 6, which is what I have...

Don't think converter. Think CD-R. And the final step is not using Itunes....

 

[ekmdisney]

You will have to put iTunes on the other computer. After that you can e-mail an attachment with the song you are wanting to put on the other computer. Then when you open it in the other computer, iTunes will know it is one of theirs and start to play it. I just had to go through this my self. Just because of one song. The song is now on a CD, but I had to upload some of the artist other CDs onto my computer and make a CD mix, using the iTunes burner. Because my other CD burner program would not read the song that I got from iTunes. (And my audio converter program couldn't read it either.) Even though it was a little bit of a headache to do all of this. I would much rather go through this and only pay .99 cents for the song, then pay $4.00 for a cd single that I will only play once...and that would be just so I can rip it to my hard drive.