This is the first part to my Ultimate guide for audio conversion in Linux. I will be highlighting many programs that you can use and also show you how to use them. Since there are so many, I'm going to write about 3 programs at a time.
There are several ways to convert sound in Linux. Whether you want to convert directories of songs or just a single sound file, there's a tool available.
1. Audacity
If you only want to convert a single sound file, using Audacity is a very simple method. It is cross platform, and available in the package managers of all Linux distributions that I have used. If not, I have provided a link to the downloads page below. It is also a very useful audio editor.
For example, to convert a file into a mp3 file:
Step 1:
Open the file with audacity
Step 2:
Go to File » Export. You will have a range of formats to choose from, as shown in the screenshot below. For this particular example, mp3 will be chosen.
Step 3: Quality Setting
The quality can also be set before exporting.
»Variable Bit Rate is a mode that allows for higher quality as it would allocate more Bit Rate to parts in the audio that are more complex and less Bit Rate to simpler parts. The average Bit Rate would stay the same, but the sound quality would be improved.
»Joint Stereo: A mode that improves efficiency so that your audio sounds a lot better for lower Bit Rates. The difference is present in the higher Bit Rates but not that much.
2. Clementine music player
However, if one would like to convert multiple audio files, there are less time consuming ways. Clementine is a music manager and player but it can also convert audio for you. Clementine may be located in your package manager. Otherwise, it can also be downloaded from the project's website, which I have provided below.
Here is the main interface of the Clementine music player. The audio conversion tool can be located in the Tools menu, by clicking on Transcode music.
Multiple files can be added but a drawback is that multiple folders cannot be added. No worries. There are tools for that as well!
Overall, Clementine is quite a reliable tool for converting sdund, especially when you would like to convert multiple sound files. The lack of configuration options and the lack of a wide variety of formats might be limiting for some. The inclusion of such a tool in a music program is quite useful though.
3. Gnac
Soundconverter is a simple sound conversion program. It can be downloaded and installed from its project website. The interface is very simple but one can drag and drop whole folders of audio.
A limited but useful range of audio formats are available into which you can convert your audio.
Gnac also seems like a very convenient tool to use. The limitations of less formats and less configuration options are present but overall, it is very convenient.
I hope that you enjoyed reading Part 1. Part 2 will contain some powerful tools that can convert more formats and some that can be used directly from the command line.
Links
Download Audacity sound editor
Download Clementine Music Player
Download Gnac sound converter
There are several ways to convert sound in Linux. Whether you want to convert directories of songs or just a single sound file, there's a tool available.
1. Audacity
If you only want to convert a single sound file, using Audacity is a very simple method. It is cross platform, and available in the package managers of all Linux distributions that I have used. If not, I have provided a link to the downloads page below. It is also a very useful audio editor.
For example, to convert a file into a mp3 file:
Step 1:
Open the file with audacity
Step 2:
Go to File » Export. You will have a range of formats to choose from, as shown in the screenshot below. For this particular example, mp3 will be chosen.
Step 3: Quality Setting
»Variable Bit Rate is a mode that allows for higher quality as it would allocate more Bit Rate to parts in the audio that are more complex and less Bit Rate to simpler parts. The average Bit Rate would stay the same, but the sound quality would be improved.
»Joint Stereo: A mode that improves efficiency so that your audio sounds a lot better for lower Bit Rates. The difference is present in the higher Bit Rates but not that much.
2. Clementine music player
However, if one would like to convert multiple audio files, there are less time consuming ways. Clementine is a music manager and player but it can also convert audio for you. Clementine may be located in your package manager. Otherwise, it can also be downloaded from the project's website, which I have provided below.
Multiple files can be added but a drawback is that multiple folders cannot be added. No worries. There are tools for that as well!
A range of formats are present to choose from. However, there aren't very many formats.
3. Gnac
Soundconverter is a simple sound conversion program. It can be downloaded and installed from its project website. The interface is very simple but one can drag and drop whole folders of audio.
A limited but useful range of audio formats are available into which you can convert your audio.
By default, converted audio is placed alongside the original audio file but this can be further configured in the Preferences dialog
Gnac also seems like a very convenient tool to use. The limitations of less formats and less configuration options are present but overall, it is very convenient.
I hope that you enjoyed reading Part 1. Part 2 will contain some powerful tools that can convert more formats and some that can be used directly from the command line.
Links
Download Audacity sound editor
Download Clementine Music Player
Download Gnac sound converter
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