With Helium you can easily convert one or more audio files from one format to another.

During the conversion process, tags will also be converted to ensure that no data is lost. It is also possible to calculate replay gain for the resulting files for formats which supports this.


To start converting files, do the following:

  • Select the files or album you would like to convert and the select Tools > Convert files...
  • Select the output format from the Output format drop-down list. Click Options... to configure the output quality and other options. This is described more in detail below.
  • Select the output folder where the resulting files should be saved. To output the converted files to the same folder as the source files, checkmark "Output to same folder as source files"
  • If you would like to automatically add the resulting files to your Library, checkmark "Add the output files to the Library"
  • If you automatically would like to remove the source files from your Library, checkmark "Remove files from Library"
  • To delete the source files from disc, checkmark "Delete source files after conversion". This setting requires that "Remove files from Library" is checkmarked
  • Select how conflicing files should be handled from the "How should conflicting filenames be handled?". 
    • To overwrite existing files, select "Overwrite file"
    • To skip conversion for existing files, select "Skip conversion"
    • To append a unique number in the end of the file, select "Append number"

When all options are set, click OK to perform the conversion.


Options per file format

FLAC

The compression level controls the quality versus speed ranging from 0 (low) to 8 (high). Click here for more details.

Checkmark "Use volume gain" to automatically add volume gain during the encoding.


M4A, MP4

Select the bitrate range from the quality dropdown.


MP3

  • For constant bitrate, select the Constant bitrate radio item and then select the desired quality from the drop-down
  • For variable bitrate, select the Variable bitrate radio item and then select the quality from the drop-down. The quality is calculated by the encoder depending on the audio data. Click here for more details.
  • To use volume gain (replay gain) during the encoding, checkmark "Use volume gain" and select if you would like to use track or album gain.


Ogg Vorbis

Select the compression level from the drop-down and if you would like to use volume gain by checkmarking the "Use volume gain" checkbox.


WavPack

  • To use high quality encoding, checkmark "High quality". This setting will use better compression ratio, but perform the encoding slower.
  • To use fast mode, checkmark "Fast mode". This setting will perform the encoding fast, but with some compromise in compression ratio.
  • To use volume gain (replay gain) during the encoding, checkmark "Use volume gain" and select if you would like to use track or album gain.


Wave

There are no options available for this format.


WMA

  • For constant bitrate, select the Constant bitrate radio item and then select the desired quality from the drop-down
  • For variable bitrate, select the Variable bitrate radio item and then select the quality from the drop-down. Click here for more details.