WMA and MP3 files are very similar because they sound nearly the same in terms of quality, are both relatively small files and they only support audio information. At the same time, there are many reasons why you should convert a WMA into an MP3. This is especially true if you aren’t running the Windows OS or if you enjoy using mobile technology.
Apple Computers:
The Apple OS has exponentially increased in popularity due to the iPhone, iPod and iPad. While WMAs can be used on an Apple computer, it can be fairly difficult. This is because this OS is not natively meant to use these files since they were made for a Windows environment. You can get around this by using a special Mac WMA player, but the player just temporarily converts the WMA into a suitable format for the Mac. This means that you often need to wait a few seconds for this temporary conversion to finish before the file will play.It’s much easier to play MP3 files within an Apple environment. QuickTime easily supports these files and you don’t need any special software.
Mobile Devices:
While there are some mobile devices that can play WMA files, mostly Windows devices, the vast majority of tablets and smartphones are meant to work with MP3s. This is often because MP3 files are somewhat easier to play and they have become very popular due to overwhelming support from many Apple mobile devices. MP3s also don’t have a security protocol, which means that the programs needed to play them are much easier to build when compared to making a WMA player.If you have an Apple, Android or BlackBerry device, then it’s a good idea to convert your WMAs into MP3s. It’s a good idea to convert the files into MP3s anyway because every mobile device, even Windows ones, support MP3 files due to their popularity.
Smaller Footprint:
Though they are both relatively small formats that don’t require much memory, MP3s are often smaller than WMAs. Not only that, but their quality is similar in most situations. There’s no reason to use WMAs if space is an issue. You can often reduce your media library by about 50MB to 100MB by converting your files, depending on how large your media library is.The reason why MP3s are smaller is because they disregard inaudible noise. WMAs will keep this information in the file, but MP3s will erase it so that the file has to support less overall data.
Somewhat Better Quality:
While both of these formats are similar when it comes to quality, many people consider MP3s slightly better. This is usually the case if the file is set to a moderate or high bit rate. Some people can’t tell the difference, but many audiophiles agree that MP3s are superior to WMAs.The only time when this is different is if the bit rate is set very low. WMAs tend to be better in this scenario, but the difference is slight.
iTunes Support:
Many people love using iTunes even if they don’t have an Apple device because this makes it very easy to manage your media library. While there are other interfaces that offer similar functions and capabilities, few programs have been able to rival iTunes in terms of popularity and overall support. The problem is that iTunes is fairly exclusive when it comes to file support.iTunes will not accept WMA files. You must convert the audio files into MP3s if you want to add them to iTunes.
Versatility:
WMA files are not as versatile as MP3s. This isn’t because WMAs are inferior. It’s because MP3s have much more support. MP3 files can be used with many media library interfaces, mobile devices, editing programs and so on. WMAs are sometimes supported by these programs, but not as often as MP3s. If you want a file that is very versatile, then you need to convert your files into MP3s.Conclusion:
While both formats are great and have their own advantages, many people consider the MP3 a superior format. This is because the files are usually smaller, sound better, work with most mobile devices and have more support. If you want all of these advantages, then just convert your WMA files. The entire process shouldn’t take long since most audio files are relatively small.Author Bio:
Katelyn Roberts is a video and music blogger who use KoyoteSoft when creating videos and sharing them online. KoyoteSoft.com can convert wma to mp3 with ease.
