CNET Editors' review
M4A is the file extension for MPEG-4 Audio, the audio part of your MPEG-4 videos. Apple has used the M4a (small "a") designation for several of the low-loss audio formats it's sold for years at the iTunes Store. To add to the confusion, some have digital rights management encryption, and some don't. To make a long story short, compatibility is the issue, especially for people with large MP3 collections. Maniac Tools' Free M4a to MP3 Converter does what its name indicates: it converts M4a, AAC, 3GP, and MP4 Audio files to MP3s (or WAVs) that are compatible with most media players and portables. While we're on the subject of compatibility, we should point out that Free M4A to MP3 Converter doesn't convert or play M4B files used by audiobooks.
Free M4a to MP3 Converter's simple user interface is easy to understand. It has a two-tiered toolbar, but only the top row contains buttons that activate Free M4a to MP3 Converter's features, the Add, Remove, Play, and Convert buttons. The bottom row links to other Manic utilities functionally related to Free M4a to MP3 Converter, such as ID3 Tag Editor, MP3 Splitter/Joiner, and Movienizer. We didn't try these downloads. But the M4a tool proved easy to use and capable. We changed the destination from Explorer's Music folder to our own destination; we could also specify whether we wanted the tool to save converted files in the destination folder or somewhere else. Under Output Formats, clicking the Setup button opened a simple tool for setting MP3 audio quality and some general preferences. While all this was really pretty easy, there's a good Help file. A Notifications Area on the program's menu bar popped up with notice of more of the developer's tools.
When we'd set Free M4a to MP3 Converter's options, we merely had to add our files, select the output format, and press Convert. Many a music collection contains some orphan files awaiting conversion, and we found a few without too much trouble. The converted MP3s played normally and sounded great, too, in our usual media player, though Free M4a to MP3 Converter plays files, too.
Free M4a to MP3 Converter - Convert files in M4a/AAC format to MP3 - Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From ManiacTools:
The race of audio formats has never ended or slowed down. Quite the opposite, it's just revving up and often confuses people by the variety of formats they have to choose from. So far, MP3 has been the most popular format in the world, but Apple's iTunes is catching up quickly with their M4A/AAC music due to the astounding sales volumes of their multimedia gadgets and the popularity of their online music distribution services. If you would like to be able to easily convert M4A/AAC music into MP3 and are seeking a simple, fast and affordable tool, Free M4A to MP3 Converter should be your first candidate for a permanent place in your software arsenal. The name of the software speaks for itself - it's free and narrowly focused. It allows you to convert m4a to MP3, convert AAC to MP3/WAV and listen to the converted music with the help of the built-in player. Using the program is a child's game - just browse your computer for m4a and aac audio, add the necessary files to the conversion list (or simply drag them from the Explorer and drop onto the working area of the application), specify the output location and the output audio parameters and click the "Convert" button on the toolbar. Free M4a to MP3 Converter also supports M4B files, which are usually used for audio books, so you won't have any problems converting this rather rare format into MP3, which can be played on virtually any audio device these days. If your original m4a or AAC audio had any tags with song-related information, they will be preserved as well, as the software supports tag inheritance during conversion. The program is currently available in 11 languages that you can switch on the go. For a free, stable and fast M4A conversion tool, look no further than Free M4a to MP3 Converter. Offering a functional minimum of features, it is perfect for what it was created for.
What's new in this version: [+] An option to scan all M4a files in the selected folders and subfolders. [+] An option to delete the original file after a successfull conversion. [-] Bugs fixed.
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 128 votes
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Current version:
4.4 starsout of 14 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Works well but conduit installed."
Version: Free M4a to MP3 Converter 8.1
Pros
Works as described. Reasonably speedy. Graphical interface is easy to understand.
Cons
Installed Conduit search engine despite the fact I clicked decline and so far I've been unable to uninstall it. Allowing this kind of piggy-backing -- esp when I declined it and it hid itself so I can't get rid of it -- is unethical IMHO and maybe even illegal.
Summary
I'd give it 4.5 stars, but points off for the conduit problem.
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"It simply does not work"
Version: Free M4a to MP3 Converter 8.1
Pros
Nada. Nothing. The application converts m4a to nothing.
Cons
It says it converts m4a files to some mp3 files, but the resulted mp3 files have 0 bites length. The application simply does not do its job.
OS: Win 7 Home Premium -
"Simply great!"
Version: Free M4a to MP3 Converter 8.1
Pros
Simplicity and does what it claims
Cons
None as of yet
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"Does what I need."
Version: Free M4a to MP3 Converter 8.1
Pros
It simply does what I needed.
Cons
As already mentioned, uncheck unwated "extras".
Summary
Thank you, nice software!
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"woeks great"
Version: Free M4a to MP3 Converter 8.1
Pros
works good and very fast
Cons
many adware - make sure to uncheck ALL checkboxes if you dont wabr ny of it to be installed
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"Works like a charm"
Version: Free M4a to MP3 Converter 8.1
Pros
Easy to use. Fast even in high quality. Transfers ID3tag info
Cons
Be carefull during instalation. Uncheck unwanted programs
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"fantastic!!"
Version: Free M4a to MP3 Converter 8.1
Pros
VERY easy! simply click "add folder", click "convert" and wha-la! done!
Cons
Be careful to uncheck the "extras" during custom installation so that you do not download the extra software...
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"Works Great, but malware junk is installed"
Version: Free M4a to MP3 Converter 8.1
Pros
Very easy to use - you can drag & drop multiple files onto the app for conversion.
Cons
I selected custom install and deselected all of options, but it installed them anyway. I went immediately to the control panel and uninstalled the junk. Well, it's free...
Summary
Works for me.
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"This worked great"
Version: Free M4a to MP3 Converter 8.1
Pros
was able to put my music off itunes MP4 on my MP3 player with no problems.
Cons
There were no cons from my point of veiw.
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""Best free converter!""
Version: Free M4a to MP3 Converter 8.1
Pros
Very easy to use. Allows you to convert to mp3 at 320k
Cons
None. I've been using this program for about 3 years now.
Summary
Simple, and all that I needed. No problem with this program
Very easy to use.
Thanks so much to the developers!
