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Selecting your conversion options

You can specify the format and location for your converted files. You can choose one of three different types of Windows Media Audio files, or you can choose MP3 file format. You can then select the bit rate, deciding whether you want the converted file to have less compression and better sound quality or a smaller file size. When you select the folder to save your converted files to, you can also save the converted files to Media Library in Windows Media Player.

In addition, you can specify whether you want Audio Converter to use volume leveling for your converted files. Volume leveling means that the volume levels on a set of files are leveled so that some files do not sound louder than others when played at the same volume level. During the volume leveling process, Audio Converter reads the audio files first to analyze volume data, and then converts the files to the appropriate volume level.

To select conversion options

  1. Select one of the following formats for your converted files.
    File format Description
    Windows Media Audio Audio files are converted using a constant bit rate, which means that the same compression is used throughout the entire audio file. Depending on the music, the audio quality may not be the same throughout the file if certain sections of the audio were more complex and therefore harder to compress. However, you will have a better estimate of the amount of disk space the audio file will require on your computer.
    Windows Media Audio (variable bit rate) Audio files are converted using a variety of bit rates to compress the music as necessary. By using a variable bit rate, Audio Converter can use more compression for audio sections that are easy to compress and less compression for audio sections that are harder to compress. A higher bit rate is used for more complex data and a lower bit rate is used for less complex data. The end result is an audio file that has a consistent audio quality throughout. The file also has a better audio quality, but can require less disk space than a file that is converted by using the Windows Media Audio format. Before you convert a file, however, there is no way to tell how much disk space the file will require on your computer.
    Windows Media Audio Lossless Audio files are converted using very little or no compression in order to have the very best audio quality. The audio quality of the converted and source files is the same. Files converted by using this format require the most disk space. When you select this format, the Quality slider is not available. You can play audio files encoded by using Windows Media Audio Lossless only on computers.
    MP3 Audio files are converted by using an MP3 codec that recompresses the audio file.

    If you install an MP3 encoder on your computer, you can convert your audio files to MP3 files. For more information about purchasing an MP3 encoder (third-party MP3 Creation Pack), see the Microsoft Web site.


  2. To select the bit rate for Windows Media Audio or MP3, or the bit rate range for Windows Media Audio (variable bit rate), move the Quality slider.
  3. If you want all of the converted files to have the same volume level, select Use volume leveling.
  4. If you want the converted files to be saved in the same folders as the original files, click Save my converted audio files in the same folders as the source files.

    -or-

    If you want the converted files to be saved in a different folder, click Save my converted audio files in this folder. Then click Browse, click the folder you want in the Browse dialog box, and then click OK.

  5. If you clicked Save my converted audio files in this folder in the previous step and you want Audio Converter to save your files in the same folder structure that was used for the original audio files, select the Use the same folder structure as the source file location check box.
  6. If you want the converted files to be added to Media Library in Windows Media Player, select Add my converted audio files to Media Library.
  7. Click one of the following options, which specify the action to take if Audio Converter finds that one or more of your audio files already exists in the destination folder where your converted files are being saved.
    Click To
    Skip conversion Convert only audio files that do not already exist in the destination folder. If you chose to save the converted files in the same folder as the source files, Audio Converter converts the source files, and only skips the files in the destination folder that have already been converted.
    Create new file Automatically convert all selected audio files, even if they already exist in the destination folder. For files with the same name, Audio Converter appends pertinent file information, including the bit rate, to the end of the file names so that you can identify the newly converted files.
    Replace it Automatically convert all selected audio files, even if they already exist in the destination folder. For files with the same name, Audio Converter overwrites the existing files with the newly converted files.

  8. Click Next.

    If you want to return to the previous page, click Back.

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