How to Convert AAC to Windows Media

by Anthony Brandt

Overview

AAC is the native digital audio file format of Apple iTunes and, by extension, the iPod, making it a very popular format. Windows Media Audio (WMA) is the native audio file format of Windows Media Player. Because iTunes runs on Windows, but Windows Media Player does not run on Mac OS X, AAC files are far more cross-compatible between Windows and OS X than WMA files. However, a user wanting to convert an AAC into a WMA can do so in both operating systems by using the free Switch Sound File Converter program.

Step 1

Go to the Switch Sound File Converter website to download the version of the program for your operating system (see Resources). Download the installation file and install Switch Sound File Converter.
Step 2

Open Switch Sound File Converter and click either the "Add File(s)" or "Add Folder" button in the toolbar of the program window. Use "Add File(s)" to choose one or more files out of a folder to be converted; use "Add Folder" to convert an entire folder at one time.
Step 3

Select the folder or the AAC files you want to convert. Click "OK," "Open," or the equivalent button to proceed. Your AAC files will appear in the conversion list.
Step 4

Choose your Output Folder--the file folder you want your WMA files placed in--in the lower portion of the window. Beneath "Output Folder," change the Output Format to WMA.
Step 5

Click "Encoder Options," next to "WMA." The first menu lets you choose what type of WMA to encode. Select "Windows Media Audio" from the drop down menu. Do not choose "Windows Media Audio Professional" or "Windows Media Audio Voice." The lower menu lets you select the bitrate to encode your WMA in. Choose at least a 128 kbps bitrate.
Step 6

Click the "Convert" button located in the lower right portion of the window. Your newly-encoded WMAs will be outputted to the folder your chose.

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Unless hard drive space is a significant issue, try to encode your WMA in the highest bitrate possible, especially if converting from a lossy file like AAC. ("Lossy" digital audio files are ones that have been compressed to give up some sound quality in exchange for a small file size.) Converting to WMA out of AAC will degrade an already-degraded file, so keeping your bitrate high will cut down on losses in audio quality.
Unless hard drive space is a significant issue, try to encode your WMA in the highest bitrate possible, especially if converting from a lossy file like AAC. ("Lossy" digital audio files are ones that have been compressed to give up some sound quality in exchange for a small file size.) Converting to WMA out of AAC will degrade an already-degraded file, so keeping your bitrate high will cut down on losses in audio quality.

References & Resources