Jul. 5, 2007 - iPOD® School -- Using Your mp3 Player in your Homeschool - File Conversion

iPod School -- Using Your mp3 Player in Your Homeschool

File Conversion

"I have a small capacity mp3 player (Creative Zen V).   I wanted to load my Prima Latina CD onto it, and was having trouble, because the files are not audio files (.wda extensions, I think).   After a little searching, I found a FREE downloadable program that converts CD files to various audio formats.  It worked very well, and I didn't even read the directions on how to use the program;  it was a friendly interface.  You can go to http://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html  and download their Switch program, which has a fully functional "Rip" program that is really all you need for this type of situation.  I put my CD in the drive, and converted them to .mp3 files, which saved a TON of space on my Zen, so that I could load up with other podcasts and such.  I'm not at all a computer or audiofile, and it was super easy to use."  Alane  (Thank you Alane )

Note:  If you are using an iPod and not a Creative Zen, many files can be converted within iTunes.  For example,  Windows Media Audio (WMA) files are not directly supported by iPod players.   iTunes can be used to convert WMA files into a compatible file format that can be used in the iPod.  Using Switch (program linked above) will allow you to translate almost any file into a file iTunes can convert for your iPod. 

It doesn't go both ways though...  Most Files purchased from iTunes cannot be converted into non-Apple formats because they have Digital Rights Management encoded.  iTunes recently introduced files free of Digital Rights Management, and those files can be used on any mp3 player.   This is good news for those of us using two different types of mp3 player.  (I have officially purchased my first "non-iPod" mp3 player -- my cell phone!)  Watch carefully when downloading music purchases from iTunes if you want to be able to use it on both forms of mp3 player.