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You are here: Home / Podcasting Hacks / Editing Tricks / Use iTunes to Convert WAV files to MP3

Use iTunes to Convert WAV files to MP3

By Steve Stewart on May 18, 2016 5

How to Convert WAV files to MP3 in iTunes

This process became effective in the desktop version of iTunes 12.4.0.119

After importing our WAV file into iTunes, we need to:

  1. Go to File in the menu bar
  2. Drop down to Create New Version
  3. Click on Create MP3 Version

 

iTunes-File-Create-New-Version-Create-MP3-Version

This is not a huge change, but I spent five minutes trying to find it. I hope this tip saved you some time.

 


How to adjust Import/Convert settings in iTunes

Remember, you can always adjust your settings in iTunes by going to:

  1. PC: Click on Edit in the menu bar, then Properties (MAC: Click on iTunes in the menu bar, then Preferences)
  2. In the General tab, click on “Import Settings“
  3. Set the “Import using…” option to the format you want (MP3 Encoder)
  4. Adjust the Setting to what you want

 

Convert to mp3 using iTunes 128kbps mono

 

I convert my WAV files to a standard MP3, 128 kbps at 44.100 kHz Mono. This creates a smaller file at 64 kbps than the Stereo option – and it still sounds great for spoken word content (aka: Podcasts).


To get the best sound out of SPREAKER

If you host on Spreaker, you can create your MP3s in the following manner so Spreaker won't convert your file a second time:

  1. Properties/Preferences > Import Settings > Custom (same as above)
  2. Stereo Bit Rate: 128 kbps
  3. Sample Rate: 44.100 kHz
  4. Channels: Stereo
  5. Stereo Mode: Normal
  6. Pay attention to this last step:iTunes will warn you that the “settings are different from the recommended settings. Would you like to change to the recommended settings?” CLICK “DON'T CHANGE”

Spreaker-Stereo-not-joint

 

If you click “Change”, as I have a million times because I don't read the warning box correctly, then it will create a Stereo > Joint Stereo file.

This causes Spreaker to convert your MP3 one more time – which may degrade the audio (and we don't want that).

I hope this helped you. Please send it on to a friend!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amel says

    June 8, 2016 at 1:31 pm

    Thank you Steve for the tip!

    Reply
  2. Paula says

    July 29, 2016 at 1:54 am

    Thanks for this, I had no idea how to convert from WAV to MP3 so this has helped a lot.

    Reply
  3. Sam Callan says

    October 16, 2016 at 12:36 pm

    Why is the .mp3 not showing in my iTunes list after conversion?

    Reply
  4. Mary says

    October 25, 2016 at 1:51 pm

    You saved my sanity! I was beating my head against a wall trying to figure out why the conversion thing wasn’t coming up on the right click menu anymore. Thank you!!

    Reply
  5. CHRIS says

    March 8, 2017 at 8:48 pm

    AT LASSSTTTT!!! THANK U SOOOOOO MUCH!!!!

    Reply

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