This is especially to the canteen DJ's, whom I've put in alphabetical order with the exception of Gucho. Gucho seems to be the one who posts the most tunes in alternative formats like real audio and windows media. I want to thank Gucho for inspiring me to find more real audio music sites and tools to convert them to wav and mp3 format. Downloading real audio files goes so quickly and the conversions to wav's and mp3's go faster than downloading an mp3.
Here's some info on a really great tool that is completely freeware, according to the producer's website...
I have the unlicensed basic free version of the Switch program. I checked their website to see the software that comes with the complete licensed version, but didn't see anything more that I would use because I don't use my computer for business.
my notes for using Switch:
Make sure the "Output Format" at the bottom of the main screen is set for "mp3".
Click on the "Encoder Settings" tab at the bottom and choose the default settings for good quality 128 Bitrate.
The "Convert" icon can't be clicked on to start the process until after you click on the "Add File(s)" icon and browse to select the file/files you want to convert. If you prefer to 'drag and drop' the files into the window for conversion, the "Convert" icon is automatically activated.
Be sure the file/files you want to remove from the program are highlighted before you click on the "Remove" icon. If you don't remove the files after converting them, the program will try to convert them again and removing them from the program does not delete them from where you had them.
Make note of the "Output Folder", which you can change by clicking the tab next to that line and browsing to the folder you want the converted file to land.
Always check the converted file to make sure it is about the same length as the original file.
So far I've only had one file that converted and was not playable...it was more than a MB in size but the "duration" was indicated as zero.
Media files that were recorded at lower or higher Bitrates will be converted to the 128 Bitrate, so most converted files will be much larger; for examples: a 338KB wav file became 2.01MB mp3, a 299KB ram file became 2.34MB mp3, a 1.26MB wma file became 4.85MB mp3
Switch will also convert songs in some real media format.
Most files that play offline and end in .ram or .ra worked and even some ending in .rm
If a real audio file doesn't convert, try renaming a copy of the file and give it a new extension of .ram,,,this worked with several .rm files that the program wouldn't allow me to convert.
Some real audio format videos will also convert; for example, a 6.31MB ram video converted to a 3.52MB mp3 of the same length.
So far, all Windows Media files that end in .asx or .asf can be converted by renaming a copy of the file to .wma,,,this allowed me to convert a 409KB .asx file renamed .wma to a 2.49MB .mp3 AND a 695KB .asf file to a 4.1MB mp3
I made copies of all my .asf and .asx files that play offline, renamed them to .wma, and they were all successfully converted.
If you can download the file for real media files that stream, drop the real media icon in the Switch program's window and click "Convert". It will create an mp3 faster than the time it takes to listen to the song (and I'm on dial-up).
Even if the file to stream is only 4KB, it still worked for me.
So far, windows media files that require an internet connection do not work with this converter.
Here's the link to more info about Switch Sound File Conversion Software:
http://www.nch.com.au/switch/index.html
And here are two link options to download the program:
http://ftp.audiochannel.net/software/switch.zip
http://www.nch.com.au/switch/switchsetup.exe
Bump! Thanks for info.
WOW!! You must be a mind reader!!! I was looking LAST NIGHT for a converter to use for .rm files. I HATE Real Media, and removed it from my machine as soon as I got it. Thank you so much!!!
Hey Susannah ~ do you have RMP on your machine? I get a message that says I need the software that is required to play RM files on the machine in order to convert. It tells me to DL a new version of RMP.
Thank you for that wonderful information. learning how to convert various audio files was something I was looking for.
Susannah,
Thank you so much for your insight about the media and for providing links.
First, we use Windows Media Player because that's universal for anyone using Microsoft products. However, you can use other players to listen to the music.
Second, we aren't encouraging people to download the music. This is for entertainment purposes for our Troops, Veterans, and their families.
Third, we do not encourage hotlinking from other sites unless you have permission. It is taking their bandwidth away. We've had many issues with outside sites doing that to us. We try not to do the same thing back to others unless of course it is a major site such as artistdirect.com and they know we provide links directly to their download pages.
Fourth, there are many tools that can be used for conversions and it's always great to hear about others out there.
Fifth, anyone that would like to share something with our Troops (especially music or music videos) please provide the link directly to the page and not to the actual music or music videos. We don't want issues from other sites especially since we don't want hotlinking of our own stuff.
We appreciate everyone playing music to entertain our Troops.