Mary (or anyone else)...we need help! Mu3 to MP3

[JoanM]

Di and I are trying to download the Bluebird Cafe show. We can download and play it on iTunes but cannot save or burn to CD. I added download helped to FireFox but all the options seem to be for video. I was able to save the file through DLH but it still is m3u format and iTunes won't let me save, convert, or burn it. I also can't take it into Switch to convert to MP3...directions please oh techno queen. jm

[Sara]

Try doing this. (http://blogote.com/2008/ideas/how-to-convert-m3u-to-mp3-audio-files-and-download-them.html) I haven't tried it yet, but it looks like it might be promising.

[JoanM]

Thanks Sara, Supported OS: Windows XP, Vista, 7...off in search of Mac compatible

[richthelandlord]

Joan M, that should work just the same for a Mac.

The m3u file isn't an audio file at all, it's just a playlist that points to where they really are, so by opening it in anything that can read text you can see that location to go and fetch the 'real' file you want.

The problem sometimes arises that your mate has given you an m3u file, but when you read it, it's pointing to his/her hard drive rather than anywhere on the internet... obviously you can't download it from there, they'll need to give you the right thing.

[JoanM]

and it's called m3u2mp3 you can download it here (http://mac.wareseeker.com/download/m3u2mp3-1.14.rar/c3aa4273c) once you've downloaded it, all you have to do is drag the icon on the m3u onto the m3u2mp3 icon then wait while it does its magic. You can now import into iTunes and burn a CD from a playlist. Next step will be to go in and split it into separate files. jm

[paularoid]

As richthelandlord alluded, you need to have the actual files in existence on your system or at least have them available for immediate physical access in some way. An "m3u" file is really nothing but a text list of files. This is true whether it's on a Mac, a PC, a linux system or other.

It's okay if the m3u file points to files that are readily available on a network as long as all people and programs that need them can follow those directions and travel easily over said network (like either a local network or even the internet). If the m3u file points to files on the internet you can run into problems though so it's best to have them locally available. The BEST thing is to have the actual files on your system.

[JoanM]

As richthelandlord alluded, you need to have the actual files in existence on your system or at least have them available for immediate physical access in some way. An "m3u" file is really nothing but a text list of files. This is true whether it's on a Mac, a PC, a linux system or other.

It's okay if the m3u file points to files that are readily available on a network as long as all people and programs that need them can follow those directions and travel easily over said network (like either a local network or even the internet). If the m3u file points to files on the internet you can run into problems though so it's best to have them locally available. The BEST thing is to have the actual files on your system.

Thanks Paul, I was able to do the download and have the file on my hard drive. I could also play it through iTunes, but I couldn't burn it to a CD. The m3u2mp3 converter took it to an MP3 file and then I took it into Audacity to split that big MP3 file into separate song files. Somewhere along the way I found some directions that said it would separate into individual files on it's own but that didn't happen and frankly I'm not convinced that it wasn't one long file to begin with anyway. But...now I've got the separate song files as MP3 and I can burn a CD as well as take individual songs to my iPod shuffle so I can listen to them as I'm walking in the pool (which was my original goal). Learning Never Ends! jm

[aforeyego]

Thanks Paul, I was able to do the download and have the file on my hard drive. I could also play it through iTunes, but I couldn't burn it to a CD. The m3u2mp3 converter took it to an MP3 file and then I took it into Audacity to split that big MP3 file into separate song files. Somewhere along the way I found some directions that said it would separate into individual files on it's own but that didn't happen and frankly I'm not convinced that it wasn't one long file to begin with anyway. But...now I've got the separate song files as MP3 and I can burn a CD as well as take individual songs to my iPod shuffle so I can listen to them as I'm walking in the pool (which was my original goal). Learning Never Ends! jm

Joan, I wrote the solution in 'janisianforum:

m3u To mp3 , worked for me. (easy as pie :=)

http://www.janisian.com/forum/showthread.php?10662-Janis-at-the-BlueBird-Cafe-7-pm-Central/page2

[Sara]

This morning, I finally had time to take care of this little conversion. I had to do a little variation to get it to work for me, but it did work!

[JoanM]

Was anyone able to download the file in separate files for each song? (I split them into songs once I did the conversion.) I also could use some help with the titles of the songs Tony and Craig sang. jm

[Sara]

Was anyone able to download the file in separate files for each song? (I split them into songs once I did the conversion.)
To the best of my knowledge, that was one continuous 54 MB file. Maybe it was recorded that way, as the performance occurred? Don't know if that's the case or if it's even possible to download parts of the performance separately.

[aforeyego]

Was anyone able to download the file in separate files for each song? (I split them into songs once I did the conversion.) I also could use some help with the titles of the songs Tony and Craig sang. jm

Joan,, here's a link (audacity > open source) = program for recording & editing sound:

http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Audacity_Wiki_Home_Page

you may want a smaller program (Mp3splt):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mp3splt

both for MAC :=)

[dragonlady]

Ok I got to the mp3 listing and put it in my browser but still couldn't download it...it would only play...I don't have winamp and don't want to download yet another program onto my computer.

Mary,

I have the download helper in forefox but don't see how to use it in this instance can you give me a hand and tell me how you got it to work?

-dian

[Sara]

Ok I got to the mp3 listing and put it in my browser but still couldn't download it...it would only play...I don't have winamp and don't want to download yet another program onto my computer.

-dian
Di, I don't have winamp, either. The first time I tried, my browser said it was an invalid URL. I tried a couple of ways (frankly, I don't remember the steps, exactly, but it involved opening in iTunes and right-clicking to locate file and then pasting it into Notepad.) Somewhere along the line, it opened up Quicktime on the internet and I was able to download from there, using RealPlayer. Got a perfectly good 54 MB mp3. I wish I could be more specific. When I'm playing trial and error, I almost always get there but sometimes don't know how. :rolleyes:

[Mary6906]

Sara, I can't remember exactly what I did now either, but I sort of did what you did and it was trial and error.

[dragonlady]

Maybe I'll just prevail on one of you to send it to me on disk? I'll work on separating out each track for whoever sends it to me.

What do you say?

-di

[Sara]

I'd be happy to, Di. Please PM me your address and then be just a little patient with me, okay? I'll let you know when it's in the mail.

[dragonlady]

Thanks Sara...going to PM you now...

-di

[JoanM]

Sara, Di...I'll send Di a CD with the rude girl stickers she got in the auction...jm

[aforeyego]

Hiya JoanM,,,

just read this thread again, to find, that almost everything I've read yesterday "has changed" (!) > no,, I haven't got my new pair of glasses, yet [though I definitely need them, along with a new 'bulb']<

You wrote:

(I split them into songs once I did the conversion.)

.... and I gave you links to 'audacity' and 'Mp3splt' .... (! :o !)

wonder if this is only a bright flash in my tiny leftover brain ....

... :confused: ...