what do I do with a WMA file?

I just discovered that I can download audiobooks through my local library. So I did. One is an MP3, which I can play in itunes and I assume can transfer to my ipod. the other is a WMA file that itunes won't convert because it's "protected" and the file information says it cannot be "burnt".

How am I supposed to listen to a wma file without sitting at my computer?

You need to download the OverDrive software to your computer, and then use it to transfer the WMA files to your iPod (right click on the title and select from the menu).

Thanks for the suggestion - i did try it but Overdrive won't recognize the file I downloaded - even though it's a WMA. I'm still trying to figure out why they'd bother permitting you to download a book that you can't play on a portable device or in your car - is it normal to play audiobooks only on a computer? Anyway, there are lots of other audiobooks in the sea!

If you have an iPod, I don't believe that the WMA files through Overdrive work on it. There are other MP3 players that recognize and play the file, which I transfer to my device directly through Overdrive. Can you play the file using the Overdrive Media Console on your computer, or does it not work at all?

.wma is windows media audio file. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Audio

Do you need it (the .wma-file)? Or is it the same file as the mp3-file except in another file format? Sometimes you get different file formats to choose from depending on which you prefer or your media-player supports.

I found some tips on how to listen to .wma in itunes:
http://hubpages.com/hub/add-wma-in-itunes

A program I use on my computer for videos and audio is VLC media player. It's rather ugly but works for almost all file formats. http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

I hope it works out for you :)

/Malin

>4 bell7: no, I can't get Overdrive to "see" the file, it tells me it's not a recognized format

>5 Ma1in: the book i downloaded was only available as WMA, other books have mp3 formats, but not this particular one, for some reason. I can play it through my windows media player, but that's only on the computer - I need it to be portable so I can listen to it when I'm not at the computer.

I'll check that tip page and see, but I just get frustrated so will probably just skip this book and stick to those ones that are mp3 formats!

And thanks for the assistance!

If you want to try to rip the files (it's easier than it seems) I think this program is really good: FreeRip http://download.cnet.com/FreeRip-MP3/3000-2140_4-10050140.html?tag=mncol

(I use ubuntu/linux as operative system so I use another special kind of ripper/converter)

Don't get frustrated, see this as a way to learn something new and useful :) You will probably find more audiobooks in .wma and then you can easily handle it.
(I'm used to audiobook-problems so I'm not easily frustrated anymore..)

maybe a dumb question, but did you download the license as well as the book?

for my mp3 I have to sync the playlist to it, using Windows media player, have you tried that?

Did you read the accompanying documentation on your library's website? There are a lot of different schemes that libraries are using to ensure that downloads are "borrowed" not "kept". The one your library uses may make you listen to the thing on the device you downloaded it to.

Yeah, that's what it is... a protected WMA file that is not burnable or convertible so I have to listen to it on the machine that downloaded it. Unfortunate because I can't take my computer with me when I want to listen to the audiobook at the gym. Disappointing that the library has to do this, and I know it's to prevent "theft" but... if an audiobook isn't portable, it's rather useless.

Oh well, I guess I'll stick to Audible.

Not necessarily. Check the specific book because some are burnable or transferrable, others aren't. I've gotten books from the library that I can transfer to my MP3 player and some I have to listen to on my PC.

Usually what I do is borrow the CDs from the library, rip them to my PC and then sync them to my MP3. There are a whole lot more books on CD than there are books for download.

I'm really curious, what program did you use to download this originally....does your library use another program besides Overdrive, like Netlibrary? If it's an overdrive file, those are all able to be transferred either to an MP3 type device, or to an iPod. I'd suggest you check with your library if you are truly being hel hostage to your computer. Something's not right here....

I just found out that Overdrive has a newer version of it's console, one that is able to transfer more wma audiobooks to ipods, though not all. I haven't tried it yet, I'm still using the older version. But you may want to give it a try. It became available just a few days ago.

If it's Overdrive you're using, they're very good about helping resolve issues....I'm talking about emailing them for support. I've run into trouble a couple of times and it's to do with getting the windows media player security update and it not working because I use Firefox as a browser and needed to use Internet Explorer. Another time, I bought a MP3 player that wasn't supported by the Overdrive program.

i never had problems with wma
on my mac it plays in vlc

I've also dealt directly with the overdrive people via email and they have been extremely helpful. My library has icons for the type of gadgets you can play certain books on. For ipod compatibility there is an icon of the ipod.