Thread: files to Audio mp3's

I was expecting a list of files I can manipulate into a batch file.

If you don't want to post it on line, email it to me.

Right click on one of the files and see what the properties bring up..

Should have something like this "MP3 audio (audio/mpeg)" or maybe "MPEG-1 Layer 3 (MP3)"...

Just copy and paste what it shows..

Changing file extensions without knowing exactly what the extension should be can be fatal but most times just inconvenient...

to change extensions in bulk, you can use a wild card like "*.mp3" with out the quotes... The asterix is the wild card for all the files thus the extension is changed... Not sure of the windows command to rename files so you are on your own there... In Linux its "rn" so may be something simular...

Originally Posted by Wraithe

... wild card like "*.mp3" with out the quotes...

Unless your filename contains spaces. You can work around using the first six characters of the file name and add ~1, but it starts to get messy if you have other files with the same 6 characters at the start (~2, ~3 etc).

Pedro, the code I added to my first post should work. Open a new file in notepad and enter the code. Save it, then use file explorer to change its name and extension to <name>.bat (<name> is whatever you want to call it). Create a copy of the folder where you want to work the magic and copy/ move your batch file to the location. Double click the batch file to run...

Please note I DO NOT GUARANTEE BATCH FILES OR CODE PROVIDED, use it at your own risk. That's why I strongly recommend you experiment on a copy of the folder (directory in batch file speak).

Originally Posted by theresanothersteve

Unless your filename contains spaces. You can work around using the first six characters of the file name and add ~1, but it starts to get messy if you have other files with the same 6 characters at the start (~2, ~3 etc).

If you only wish to change the extension, then you can change it using the wild card for the name and add .mp3... Obviously if you have other files that are not mp3 then do this in a seperate folder(directory) with only the files you wish to change.. Its a simple process to relabel the files to mp3... This will also allow you to test if the relabel has worked...

The other issue could be that the files are not mp3 and then you would need to convert to mp3... I understand there are some files that are encrypted when saved in windows, but you can convert them with windows...

If someone is not fluent with a computer, its best to keep things simple and not apply process's that require a knowledge of computers beyond the user level... Not a lot of people spend hours modifying files or the OS, thus its better to simplify first and have all the information about what is being converted, then a simple process to get the result will make a user more confident to try other things...

Another point to consider is to change the permissions of the files in question... If they are copied, then they would carry the permissions un-changed, maybe they can change with a copy command and then be manipulated... Changing the attributes in windows is not that hard but I would have to look the command up, as its been 20 years since I used windows properly...

"Theresanothersteve", you would know these commands, it was the easiest way to change permissions in windows, then manipulate the file to your hearts content...

How many files are we talking about?

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

How many files are we talking about?

Pedro stated 500 in his first post...

Originally Posted by Wraithe

Pedro stated 500 in his first post...

Is that all?

I'd have done them by now.

Originally Posted by Mick_Marsh

Is that all?

I'd have done them by now.

ROFL, thats a bit rough Mick... Pedro may be one of the older generation that is still looking for the "ON" key of a mobile...


Actually just realised, I worked with a younger person than I, who didnt know what SMS or TEXT was...
But saying that, my son is 18 and thinks computers are only for old people... Probably has something to do with us over 50's all having computers...