"A friend of mine burned his demo cd using itunes on his pc. I zipped it up and sent it to myself so I could copy it onto my own computer/non-iPod mp3 player. It turned out to be a folder of M4A files that I can't play. I'm looking for free, or very cheap, software to convert them to MP3, no spyware, very small footprint, clean install, no iTunes. Google brings up a number of results. I tried a freeware app called Bonk or something and it didn't work. What kind of M4A to MP3 converter should I use?"

Like what Google has brought up, there are many M4A to MP3 converting programs for converting M4A to MP3. Here in this post, a professional M4A to MP3 converter program and an online audio converter will be introduced so that you have more than one solution for converting M4A to MP3. Take a look.

Part 1: Convert M4A to MP3 with Leawo Video Converter

Leawo Video Converter could help you easily convert M4A sound files to MP3 format or other audio formats within a few clicks. While acting as a professional audio converter tool, this video converter could easily convert audio files between various audio formats like M4A, AAC, OGG, WAV, MP3, etc. With this M4A to MP3 converter, you can customize output quality settings and also listen to the track with the help of the built-in player.

  • Leawo Video Converter
  • Leawo Video Converter

    1. Convert video and audio files between 180+ formats without quality loss
    2. Support 720P, 1080P and even real 4K video output
    3. Create photo slideshows from photos stored on camera, computer, camcorder, etc
    4. Built-in video editor to trim, crop, add watermark, apply special effect, etc
    5. 2D to 3D converter with 6 different 3D movie effects available

Download and install Leawo Video Converter on your computer, and then follow the guide below to convert M4A to MP3.

Step 1: Import source M4A audio files

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Kick off Leawo Video Converter to enter the main program interface, and click "Add Video" button on the sub-menu to load your source M4A audio files.

Note:

    It allows batch conversion, and more, it also allows merging audio files into a big one by clicking the "Merge all files into one" button next to the green convert button.

Step 2: Set MP3 as output format

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Click the drop-down box next to the "Add Photo" button. On the drop-down list, select "Change" option. Then on the popup Profile window, select "MP3" from "Format" column as output format.

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Note: If you need, you could click the "Edit" button on the drop-down profile setting box to adjust detailed audio parameters including audio codec, bit rate, channel and sample rate.

Step 3: Convert M4A to MP3

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Click the big green "Convert" button on the sub-menu bar next to the format setting drop-down box. Then, on the popup sidebar, set output directory. After setting output directory, click the "Convert" button right below. Leawo Video Converter would start to convert M4A to MP3 immediately.

After a while, you will get your MP3 files and feel free to enjoy them on common devices and players. This would be one of the most efficient ways for you to convert M4A to MP3. Surely, there is also online solution available for you to convert M4A to MP3 online for free. And there is also Mac version for M4A to MP3 Mac conversion if you are using Mac.

Video guide on how to use Leawo Video Converter:

Here is the video for those who still don't know how to convert M4A to MP3 with Leawo Video Converter.

Part 2: Convert M4A to MP3 with Online Free M4A to MP3 Converter

On the other hand, you can use a free M4A to MP3 converter to convert M4A to MP3 free, such as Online Audio Converter. It is a free online app that converts audio files for you. The app supports all formats, processes your files quickly, and does not require installation. Check out the guide below to convert M4A to MP3 free with this free M4A to MP3 converter.

Step 1: Import source M4A audio files

After entering the page of this online audio converter, click "Open files" button to browse and choose source M4A audio files for importing. Alternatively, you can import source M4A audio files via Google Drive, Dropbox or URL.

Step 2: Set MP3 as output format

Click on "mp3" to set MP3 as output format, and at the same time you can perform advanced settings to set Bitrate, Sample rate, Channels, etc.

Step 3: Start converting M4A to MP3

Click on "Convert" button to start converting M4A to MP3.

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Part 3: Convert M4A to MP3 with Leawo Music Recorder

Except for the professional M4A to MP3 converter and the free online converter, you can also record the M4A audio files and save as common MP3 format as you like with professional recording software. And Leawo Music Recorder would be the most commonly used recording tool which is powerful but easy-to-use music recording software program that lets you record music from any built-in input audio, computer audio and online music sources, like YouTube, Spotify, AOL Music, Last.fm, etc. and then save in MP3 or WAV format with lossless quality. Moreover, it could even automatically add music tags when recording music and allows you to manually edit music tags via music tag editor. It has a built-in library so that you could find and manage all the recorded music files. Ever more, you could share recorded music files to iTunes within one click if necessary. Therefore, with Music Recording downloaded and installed, you are able to record the M4A files and save them as common MP3 files simply in couple of steps.

  • music-recorder
  • Leawo Music Recorder

    - Record any sound from computer stream audio and built-in input audio.
    - Record music from 1000+ music sites like YouTube, Facebook, Veoh, VEVO, etc.
    - Schedule music recording via the internal recording task scheduler.
    - Automatically/manually add and complete music tags like artist, album, cover, genre, etc.
    - Save recorded musicfiles into either WAV or MP3 format for wide uses.

Step 1. Run and enter Leawo Music Recorder

Launch the recorder on your PC by clicking Music Recorder icon on the start navigation bar on your PC, and Music Recorder will start to run.

Edit output file (optional

Step 2. Adjust recording settings

Now you can click on the "Audio Source" icon to pop up the audio source setting panel where you could select "Record Computer Audio" option to record your downloaded M4A files. It is for online audio and record streaming audio. Surely, you should choose "Record Audio Input" option if you are going to record audio from built-in input audio like Mic.

Edit output file (optional

What's more, on the setting panel you are also allowed to set the output path on the "General" option, choose output format on "Format" option and set the start time and duration of the recording under "Scheduler" option if you need.

Set directory for recordings

Step 3. Start Recording M4A files and save as MP3 files

Click the red "Start" button and then click to play the M4A audio file right away. Make sure that you initially let this music recording software start recording before you play your M4A file to avoid any unnecessary content missing.

Set recording audio source

When the recording process completes, you will find the recorded MP3 audio files listed on the Media page on the program and you can manually edit the music tags, add recorded music to iTunes if necessary and play the lossless music as you like. Definitely, you can transfer MP3 files to any portable devices or get them played on common audio players as well.

Part 4: Convert M4A to MP3 with Free Windows Media Player

To convert M4A to MP3 without iTunes but via Windows Media player is also a good method. Windows Media player can play various kinds of media files, like WMV, WMA and MKV and MP3. This player is also useful when it comes to converting M4A to MP3. You can read through this part to see how to make it.

Step 1. Add music file

Run Windows Media player on your PC and then add the M4A files to this program via dragging and dropping directly. Thus, the files will be shown in the library of this software.

Step 2. Go to "Options" panel

Hit on the "Organize" button at the top left of the interface and then choose "Options" tab to click on.

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Step 3. Find "Rip Music"

On the panel that shows up, you need to hit on "Rip Music" and then drag down to hit on the "Change" button to choose a proper folder for the converted MP3 files.

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Step 4. Start to convert

Move to the "Format" area and then click on the box under it to choose "MP3" as the target format via scrolling down. You are also able to set the bit rate for the output MP3 audio files. Click on "OK" button to confirm your settings.

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Extension: Convert DRM-locked M4A to MP3 with Leawo Prof. DRM

Sometimes we purchase songs in M4A format from iTunes Store and might want to listen to these iTunes songs on other MP3 players. However, we will be told that we can't play these iTunes M4A songs on other players due to DRM protection. What should we do then? Don't worry. You could actually turn to Leawo Prof. DRM to convert DRM-locked M4A songs to DRM-free MP3 format in simple clicks. As a professional iTunes music converter, Leawo Prof. DRM could perform as iTunes music converter to help you remove DRM protection and convert DRM-M4A files to DRM-free MP3 format easily.

download prof. drm download prof. drm mac

Step 1: Add iTunes M4A music

Launch Leawo Prof. DRM. It will automatically launch your iTunes. Then click the button of "Add Files" on the toolbar. On the popup "Add Files" window, consecutively open "Library > Music" to choose and add M4A music from your iTunes library.

Add iTunes videos

Step 2: Set parameters for the output music files

Leawo Prof. DRM will convert iTunes music to MP3 files by default. And it allows you to set the MP3 parameters like channel, bit rate, sample. To do these, click the pencil edit icon in each loaded iTunes music title.

Set output MP3 parameters

Step 3: Set an output folder

At the bottom of the interface, open the "Output" box to set output directory.

Adjust  file parameters

Step 4: Remove DRM from iTunes music and convert M4A to MP3

Click the "Convert" button at the bottom right corner to begin to remove DRM from iTunes M4A music and convert iTunes M4A music song to MP3 at the same time.

Set output directory

Step 5: Check the converted MP3 music files

When the conversion completes, tap the "Converted" tab to check the converted music files. Click the option of "Open file" to open the output MP3 music file.

Check the converted Music files

After converting with Leawo Prof. DRM, you could then freely transfer the converted iTunes music to Sony Smart TV and other non-Apple devices for unlimited listening.

With Leawo Prof. DRM, you could not only convert iTunes DRM music to DRM-free MP3 files, but also convert iTunes DRM M4V video to DRM-free MP4 video, convert iTunes/Audible audiobooks to DRM-free MP3 audio files, convert eBooks from Kindle, Kobo and Adobe Digital Edition, and download and convert Spotify songs freely.

Bonus Tip: How to Enjoy MP3 Music on the Go on iPhone

When you have saved many great pieces of music on your computer, you may want to import them to your iPhone for you to enjoy on the go. In order to make it come true, you can resort to Leawo iTransfer, which is one powerful and effective tool for you to use. It can deal with the file transferring among iOS devices, iTunes and computers. The following contents will demonstrate you how to transfer MP3 files to iPhone from computer. You can free download this program to give it a go.

  • itransfer
  • Leawo iTransfer

    - Transfer files among iOS devices, iTunes and PCs with ease.
    - 6x faster than iTunes
    - Transfer up to 14 kinds of data and files without iTunes.
    - Support the latest iOS devices like iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, etc.
    - Play back, view, and delete data and files on iOS devices.
    - Support Windows & Mac OS

Step 1. Launch Leawo iTransfer and Connect iPhone

Run Leawo iTransfer and then insert iPhone into computer with matched USB cord. Your iPhone info will be detected by this tool and shown in the right part of the window.

how-to-enjoy-mp3-music-on-the-go-on-iphone-start-12

Step 2. Check iPhone Songs

Click on the name of your iPhone at the top left of the interface and then hit on the "Music" tab under the menu of "LIBRARY" in the left sidebar to view all songs on your iPhone in the right part of the screen.

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Step 3. Import Files to iPhone

Hit on "Add > Add File" or "Add > Add Folder" tab to choose MP3 files from your computer and import them to your iPhone by clicking on the "Open" button.

how-to-enjoy-mp3-music-on-the-go-on-iphone-add-14

After you read through this tutorial, you will be able to convert M4A to MP3 files and transfer them to your iPhone for free listening on the go. It is quite a pleasant experience for you to transfer great songs or other files from computer to iPhone or from iPhone to computer for your convenience.