Converting an audio file from one format to another is called transcoding, generally speaking it is best not to transcode from lossy to lossy format (mp3, wma, ogg are lossy formats), after each conversion quality is lost, ideally re-rip from the original audio CD. Converting from lossless (FLAC, Monkeys, etc) formats have no quality loss. 

If there is a good reason to convert, such as the audio format is not supported in a portable player, or you wish to use a lower bit rate (creating a smaller file, of a lower audio quality) then by all means transcode. Finally, if a 128Kbps mp3 file is converted to a 192Kbps mp3, the 192Kbps file is not of any higher quality - once quality is lost, it is gone forever.

Codecs

dBpowerAMP is designed to be an open and extensible converter, Codecs (compression and decompression types, mp3 is a codec as is Windows Media Audio) are continuously updated,  new codecs are added, so it is worth once in a while looking at [Codec Central] (dBpowerAMPs online web site).

Converting from Explorer

Perhaps the simplest way to convert is through Windows Explorer, from your desktop right click on My Computer and select Explore (or press Windows Key + E):

Open the correct drive and folder to your audio files:

Select one or more files (select all files with Control + A  keys) and right click on one file:

dBpowerAMP Music Converter is shown:

Choose a converting to audio format (mp3 (Lame) is selected above) formats in light gray are Smart Install Codecs and can be installed by selecting them whilst connected to the internet. Rename Files allows different filenames to be given (select a file and press F2), as well as listing files converting from.

Each Audio Codec has different compression settings and the part highlighted above by blue changes for each codec, to receive help on each codec look in Start >> Programs >> dBpowerAMP Music Converter >> Help >> Codecs.

Output To dictates the folder files are saved into, either the same as the original (overwrite, or rename existing if converting from and to same format) or a folder of your choosing, click Browse to select a different folder.

Power Pack DSP and Volume Normalize can alter the sound data during conversion (for example to match the loudness across audio tracks), the full range of digital affects are covered in DSP Effects.

Preserve ID Tags - additional track information, such as Artist and Track are often embedded in ID Tags. If this information is present, it can be passed onto the new converted files. Note not all audio formats support ID Tags, for those that do, additional tag creation options such as tag creation type can be set from dMC Configuration.

Delete Source File(s) After Conversion - care should be taken when using this option, if ticked all source files (files converting from) are deleted after conversion.

Add to dBpowerAMP Music Collection - for those lucky enough to have dBpowerAMP Audio Player (dAP) (a free download), this option when checked adds newly converted files to dBpowerAMP's Music Collection.

Whilst Converting

After clicking  Convert >>   dBpowerAMP begins converting:

This window is informative, it tells of how far along the conversion (File x of x, and total percentage bar), time elapsed, time remaining and the Real-time Encoding speed. The Real-time encoding speed shows how fast the compression codec is working, for example an audio file that is 10 minutes long takes 1 minute to compress, it would have a 10x Real-time Encoding speed.

Power Pack Installed: A Priority option whilst encoding instructs Windows how much time it should gives to dBpowerAMP in relation to other programs, busy working and don't want to be slowed down with a conversion in the background? if so select Below Normal. In addition there are Pause conversion, or a one time After Conversion shutdown the computer.   With 'fun bars' the percentage bar can randomly change appearance, many funky designs can be installed.

Simple File Selector

Another way to select files is with Simple File Selector, found in Start >> Programs >> dBpowerAMP Music Converter and select dBpowerAMP Music Converter, when run a traditional Open File selection window is shown, use this to select audio file(s) to convert from - multiple files can be selected by holding down the CTRL key whilst clicking files. A useful feature of  Simple File Selector is Files of Type drop list box, clicked this to view all the file types dMC is able to convert.

File Selector

	File Selector facilitates selecting large numbers of files, be them in folders and sub-folders, or selectively convert just one type of audio file in a folder containing many.

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