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How to decode .WMA files back to .WAV:
Microsoft does not allow most third party programs to decode wma so it's very hard to find some solutions . Take a small list of programs that are capable of decoding .wma : - dBPowerAMP (Music Converter) : This is a freeware conversion utility supporting wma-2-mp3 or wma-2-ogg or whatever . You have to download the wma plugin (it's also free) , plus ogg or whatever you want more . I couldn't manage to use Gogo but Lame is fast too . I manged to use gogo.exe , seting up the 'Generic CLI encoder' . Ogg works fast and cool . ID3 tags were successfully transferred . There is NO reason for this utility to be absent from your PC ... Tip: during installation set 'ID3 Tag Information' to 'Both v1 & v2' . - VLC Media Player : This is an excellent piece of software . It's a multi platform media player with build in encoding engines & streaming server . This is the only alternative player that can play wmv files as well as WMP7 . This player can convert wma/mp3/ogg to each other . Unfortunately there is no ID3 tag transfer . - WinAmp 2.22 : This is a freeware direct wma-2-mp3 solution . Winamp also transfers ID3 successfully . Due to Microsoft pressures , current versions of WinAmp prevents WMA technology from being recorded to .wav file . It looks like version 2.22 was one of the best versions ever made : i) in_mp3.dll was using FHG codec for producing fine audio for .mp3 files . ii) in_wm.dll WMA codec was unlocked . If you want to find it , search Internet for file winamp222.exe . However you can use the files mentioned above & overwrite your existing ones , avoiding older WinAmp installation . Winamp decodes much slower than the previous solution . The advantage is that you can utilize all those cool Dsp plugins (limiters , enhancers etc) .
- WavePad . This is the only freeware sound editor I know that can load .wma (you have to download an additional component but it's also free). Can also save .mp3 (includes lame.exe) . - Cd-Copy (Cd-Ripper - Freeware) . - Nero (CD-Burner - Shareware ) . Earlier Nero versions up to 5.0.xx can directly open .wma . Concerning later versions you have to download & install a separate wma plugin found from Ahead site , but I am a bit confused because it did not always worked ( probably it's a matter of Nero version but I didn't find out the solution yet) . Anyway 5.0.31 works great as a .wma decoder . - Nero Wave Editor . This is a full featured audio editor included with Nero . If you find difficulties using Nero GUI , you can use this application to open and decode .wma . - SoundForge 6 (Commercial). No need to introduce a so well known audio editing software . The later versions of SoundForge can open .wma files . - Cool Edit 2 (Commercial). It's the same story . Cool Edit 2 directly opens .wma with no fear . Previous version - Cool Edit 2000 - need an extra plugin to do this . - Awave Audio 9 . Awave was popular from the age of Win 3.1 as a multi format audio converter . This version supports all possible conversions (supports .og ) . - There are dozens of audio converting utilities today in Tucows , claiming .wma conversion , but haven't really test yet any other program .
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