Problem converting wma to mp3 audio

Question

When I tried to convert my audio files from WMA to MP3, I get an error message that I need to search for a plugin. See pictures below.

How can I convert these audio files?

Solution

You can use ffmpeg or the VLC media player to convert WMA files to MP3. Once you have VLC installed, convert your file by:

1. Open VLC and select Media -> Convert / Save
2. Add your WMA file and click Convert/Save
3. Select Audio - MP3 from the conversion drop-down
4. Choose a destination for your file
5. Click Start

With ffmpeg, you can convert the file from the command-line using this code:

ffmpeg -i input.wma -ab 32 output.mp3

The -b option specifies the bitrate, so you may want to change that to fit your needs.