How to Convert M4A & M4P Music Files

Converting M4A and M4P files allows you to play them on any audio player.

M4A and M4P files are iPod-compatible music files, but some other players will not support them. M4A can be converted with any number of free audio-conversion programs, but converting M4P files is trickier because they are encrypted with DRM (Digital Rights Management). While "cracking" DRM is illegal, there is an easy and legal way to remove DRM from M4P files using iTunes.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Audio Conversion Program (for M4A conversion)
• CD burner (for M4P Conversion)
• Blank CD-Rs (for M4P conversion)
• iTunes (for M4P conversion)

Instructions

M4A Conversion using Free Audio Convert Wizard

1. Download and install Free Audio Convert Wizard (see link in Resources). Once installation is complete, launch the program.

2. Click the "add..." button and select the M4A files you want to convert. When you're done adding files click "Next."

3. Choose the output directory by clicking on the "Select..." button. Then choose the file format you want to convert the M4A files to. The most common and widely compatible audio file format is MP3. After choosing the format you want click "Convert." The program will then convert the files to the format you chose.

M4A Conversion using Free MP3 WMA Converter

1. Download and install Free MP3 WMA Converter (see link in Resources). When installation is complete, launch the program.

2. Either drag the files you want converted into the program window or click on "Add files" under the "File" menu and select the files in that menu.

3. By default this program saves your converted files to the director of the original file. If you want to change this unclick the box next to "Save in the file's directory" and then click on the button next to "Output path" to name your own directory.

4. Choose the output format you want via the drop-down menu. You can convert the files to MP3 or another audio file format if you wish. Once you've made your choices click on "Convert" to convert the files to the new format.

Converting M4P using iTunes

1. Open iTunes. The only program that has built-in support for M4P is iTunes, so it must be used for this process.

2. Click on "Edit" and go to "Preferences." Under the "General" tab, click on "Import settings."

3. Choose the format you want to convert the M4P files to in this menu. MP3 is the most common and compatible audio file format, but other formats are available here as well. Once you've made your selection click "OK" and leave the preferences menu.

4. Create a new playlist (Ctrl+N) and add the M4P files you want converted.

5. Insert a CD into your computer and with your playlist selected click on the "burn disc" option in the bottom right corner. When your songs are burned to CD they DRM will be stripped from them.

6. When the burning process is complete iTunes will eject your disc. Insert it back in your computer and let iTunes rip the disc to your library. You will not have DRM-free copies of your M4P files in the file format you chose earlier.

References

• Free Audio Video Soft: How to Convert MP3 to OGG
• Daniusoft: How to bypass DRM

Resources

• Koyote Soft: Free MP3 WMA Converter
• Free Audio Video Soft: Free Audio Convert Wizard