Best free MP3 Encoder

leegroves86

Senior member
Apr 21, 2005
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I have hundreds of songs on my HDD that are unfortunately in WMA format. I would like to convert them all to MP3. More worried about ease of use and quality than the time it takes. I would need the be able too select hundreds of songs and have the program encode them and leave them exactly where they originally were. What is the best FREE, unlimited use encoder out there?
 

dwcal

Senior member
Jul 21, 2004
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DBPoweramp is the one you want. It's freeware, no-nags, no junk. Converts between a lot of formats including WMA to MP3. You'll always lose quality in a lossy to lossy conversion, so keep the original files.

http://dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm
 

xtknight

Elite Member
Oct 15, 2004
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Originally posted by: dwcal
DBPoweramp is the one you want. It's freeware, no-nags, no junk. Converts between a lot of formats including WMA to MP3. You'll always lose quality in a lossy to lossy conversion, so keep the original files.

http://dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm

** mp3 encoder on 30 day trial license

Well actually using the 'lame' codec should work instead. I know 'lame' is free. I don't know which of the mp3 encoders is 30 day trial...
 

RaiderJ

Diamond Member
Apr 29, 2001
7,582
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Not sure what program would do that, but my advice is to fine one that you can use the LAME codec with.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
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CDex

And if you want a different version of LAME, search Google for "LAME dll download." Get that DLL, stick it in CDex's main folder, overwriting the one there, and load the program.

Though it hasn't been updated in awhile, CDex has good batch capabilities.
If it can't decode WMA's right away, maybe you can copy the in_wm.dll from your Winamp plugins folder, and put it in CDex's plugins folder. May or may not work - I've never tried it.