Converting MPG4 to MP3

[Carbo]

I want to convert a few small files from MPG4 to MP3 format. Is there an easy to use and free program that can quickly do the task? Thanks.

 

[Ken g6]

I'm not entirely clear what you're asking for. Do you want to strip the audio out of a video and save it as an mp3? If that's the case, VirtualDub will at least strip the audio out; then you can use something else (Audacity? There's got to be something simpler.) to convert to mp3.

 

[Carbo]

It's an audio file presently in MPG4 format, that just needs to be converted to MP3 for use in an MP3 player.

 

[Anteaus]

Just curious, how did you get a mp4 container with just the audio stream. Mpg4 is generally used for video. It just seems odd. Usually in these cases there is video but the codec isn't installed so all you get is the audio.

 

[Carbo]

Turns out this is an iTunes MPEG4 audio file that my daughter wants to convert to MP3. Sorry for the misinformation.
Is there an easy way to make the conversion? Thank you.

 

[Anteaus]

Is the song protected (i.e. purchased on itunes)? If so, the simplest way to do it is burn it to a music cd within itunes then rip the track using Windows Media Player or any number of other programs. If the song isn't protected, you can do the above or you can resort to something like Audacity or some sort of program that strips the audio track. MP4 is normally a video container so there aren't many audio only converters that woud readily convert it, at least in my experience.

 

[Soundmanred]

It's an M4a file(MPEG4Audio), not just an "MPEG4" file.
There are tons of converters out there.

 

[kamikazekyle]

Dbpoweramp has been one of my go-to's for audio only conversion. You can get a codec filter for damn near every mainstream audio codec, including standard M4a and Apple lossless. It's trialware, but you can use it for 30 days with full functionality, and can use LAME as the MP3 encoder for free after that.

Though, as Anteaus said, it has to be unprotected (ala iTunes Plus song or something like that).

 

[Carbo]

Thanks for all the replies, gents. I'll scan the horizon to see what works for me.