Music m4p format and iTunes

I downloaded from iTunes and the files came down as .M4P format. They will play in the iTunes player but I want to save them to a CD for my car.

How can I convert them to .wav or even .mp3 that I can then format with software I already have?

 

Not a problem. You burn to CD with the iTunes program. You can mix and match a play list with the iTunes downloads and your mp3s from other sources. It's actually really neat.

I had to find some web site of a 12 year old or so to understand how to make a playlist. First the songs you downloaded from iTunes are in your iTunes library. I have iTunes as my default player. I can add selections from my mp3 folder by double clicking.

To make the playlist after you have what you want in the library, in the left column, double click on the + at the bottom. Name the playlist. Double click on the new playlist until it opens in its own window. You drag and drop from the library into the playlist window.

Sequencing is also not obvious. The thing seemed not to want to sequence. What you first have to do is make sure all the shuffle, repeat and whatnot are OFF. Click on the top blue bar in the number column. Click it more than once if it helps you with general sequence. This clicking will force the numbers to be the sequence from whatever sequenced the playlist before, like song name, artist or whatever. Now just sequence it by moving it from the number column to whever you want it.

To burn to CD. This is a bit not real obvious. You don't just click on the burn in the right corner. First, go into the Edit > Preferences > Burn Tab: Audio CD, etc. Sound Check will adjust the level of the various songs if from all kinds of sources.

Now, under FILE > Burn to CD. If you have too many songs, it'll tell you. Uncheck some of the selections if you want to burn to single CD, otherwise iTunes will automatically span. Now you are ready to hit that Burn in the right corner.

Now, I don't know if these CDA files have digital rights managment. But Audio Grabber will rip the created CD back to MP3s!

I keep MP3, regular CDA CDs, and back the original m4p file to disk. I make an MP3 file because if I download from another service, like Wal-Mart, they use WMA. You burn those in a simlar manner using Windows Media Player. I can get WMP 9 to mix and match with mp3s!

But WMP 9 won't burn m4ps from Apple and iTunes won't burn the downloaded wma files!

iTunes and Wal-Mart make freeloading not worth the effort. It takes too long to freeload!

 

You can also burn the iTunes to .mp3 discs if you want w/iTunes program. Same method, just select mp3 under the preferences.

 

I will try that today and post the results. I knew there was something else going on because I never did see the "burn CD" icon at the upper right that they said should be there.

Thanks

 

Some services use Windows Media Player 9 as the engine. Windows Media Player will burn the downloaded file to a CD. But WMP seems to be a bit picky about the DRM (Digital Management Rights). It may not burn MP3s from other sources.

itunes seems to be not so picky about the mix and match sources.

dBPowerAmp (www.dbpoweramp.com) has an excellent free digitial converter. It'll digitially convert various music formats for burning to a CD using a standard burning program. But it won't convert the m4ps of iTunes. iTunes will convert such to mp3s on disk.

 

I burned the M4Ps from my HD to a CD but the file type shown on the CD is .cda. I don't think it converted it well since I could not play the CD on my computer. If can save them on CD as mp3, then I should be able to convert with software I have to .wav for the auto cd. What a pain. That will keep me from Itunes forever.

 

Standard audio CDs are .cda format. There's something not correct. Perhaps you have a bad burn or the settings. Try playing the CD with another CD playback program or in another device, like your car or home unit.

I have been cranking out CDs with iTunes. It'll burn straight MP3 disks. It will burn disks from .mp3 and .m4p in mix and match. I like it as a burner.

Both iTunes and Windows Media Player will burn .cda disks from mp3 files. Windows Media Player should be able to extact the .cda files from your cd to .wma. See if it does that.

 

tenbob I was wondering how your CDs have come out. I've found iTunes to burn BETTER than my Roxio. I had a few mp3s that didn't like to burn with Roxio, causing me to make a few coasters. I haven't done that in years. But iTunes burned the list just fine.

 

I havent had a chance to experiment more since I made the CD thru Itunes. It said CDA on the list but would not play in my car. Will have to play around some more

 

It could be the media. But I think you didn't do something right. Are you sure that you have check: AUDIO CD, and not DATA, in the PREFERENCES of iTunes?

iTunes will burn m4ps and mp3s from any source in a mix and match!