WMA Files on Mac OSX - using in iTunes!?
 

I have downloaded some WMA Files and Can't pull them into itunes. What are WMA Files and how can they be played?
Thanks

Here you can read about WMA files:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Audio

According to Apple:

Converting WMA Files

In iTunes for Windows, you can convert your unprotected WMA files to AAC files (or whatever file format is chosen in the Importing pane of iTunes Preferences) without changing the original WMA file. Simply drag the WMA files into your library in iTunes and iTunes does the grunt work, converting them for you. Windows Media Player 9 or later must be installed to convert unprotected WMA files. Protected WMA files cannot be converted.
;)

And if you want to read the whole story:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/hottips/

iTunes for mac cannot play wma files. Only the windows version can. I did find this a couple of weeks ago though: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...omponents.mspx

For mac, stick with mp3 & m4a files. You'll be better off. Not many mac programs can play or burn wma files! I don't know of any mac burner program that can burn wma files!

:eek: :eek: :D So far to the advantages of Macs:D :eek: :eek:

WMA Files
 

Thanks for responding. I have the Mac Version of the Windows Media player but it won't play the WMA files that I have downloaded. I have even tried to pull them in to Toast but get an error there also.
So I assume they must be protectred.

AFAIK Toast won't play or burn wma files. It never has before & I've used each version from Toast 3-7.

WMA Files
 

I also have downloaded some WMA files on my G5 using Limewire not realizing that ITunes doesn't like them. After some research on a different forum, I found a file conversion program that is supposed to work. I have not had a chance to try it yet, but thought I would pass it along in case anyone is interested. I will update after I have a chance to try it tonight.

http://www.nch.com.au/switch/

The program is called switch. It's an open source project from Austrailia.

I also have Switch but haven't used it yet. Just to correct something I said earlier. There is a way you can get wma files to play in iTunes after all. See Mac HElp? How I can open zip and wma files on my iMac?. But you will need QuickTime Pro in order for this to work. Besides, despite the description, if you have QT Pro you should be able to convert the audio file within it instead whilst using that extra plug-in. I have that plug-in but haven't tried the conversion to another format yet. Only for playback.

Well, I attempted to use Switch but I was unsuccessful. I'm not sure what I was doing wrong, but Limewire will not allow you to drag a WMA file out of the LW library into Switch for conversion. I even tried the "Save As" feature in LW to put the WMA files someplace other than LW on my computer, but it did not work. Does this feature work in the Pro version? The only way I can access these files is through Limewire. The Limewire Library isn't even viewable when you browse the LW application folder in OSX. The library is "grayed" out and won't let you click on it.

Any ideas or helpful hints would be much appreciated.

Drag & drop into the program. But it kept coming up with errors during conversion & ending up with a file size of 4 KB. I kept getting permission errors. So much for Switch's wma abilities.

Did you try the other method I suggested? It's supposed to work in QT Pro with the addition of a special QT plug-in.