Introduction

This guide shows you a simple registry edit that increases the maximum bit rate Windows Media Player can rip music at in Windows Media Audio (WMA) format.

Increase the Maximum Bit Rate

Warning: You’ll have to edit the registry to increase the maximum bit rate. Editing the registry can cause irreversible damage to your computer if done wrong.

Note: You need to be logged in as a user with Administrative privileges to edit the registry.

1. Open the registry editor by typing regedit in the search box in the Start menu and then press Enter on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer using the arrows to the left of each folder and then click the Preferences folder under MediaPlayer in the left pane of the registry editor.
3. Double-click WMARecordRate in the right pane.
4. Select decimal in the WMARecordRate DWORD value.

   ^[1]

5. Change 192000 to 320000 as the value data.
6. Click OK, exit the registry editor, and restart your computer.

To set Windows Media Player to rip CDs in WMA format with a bit rate of 320 Kbps open the rip music settings tab in Windows Media Player options and select Windows Media Audio as the format. Slide the audio quality bar all the way to the right. Don’t worry about it still saying 192 Kbps as the bit rate. It will now rip CDs in WMA format at a bit rate of 320 Kbps.