Hi again Aristotle. All is, I believe, now resolved. Your latest script didn't work as you'd intended. Each time xmms finished its chore, it sat there without closing. As there were two wma test files to be converted, that meant that xmms had to be closed twice manually before the script finished. (When, however, the script was helped in that way, it ultimately produced two perfect mp3 test files.) I don't know that I'm expressing this properly, but what I had found by trial and error with my script was that the "xmmsctrl quit" command didn't seem to do anything unless there'd been an antecedent "xmmsctrl launch" command; it wasn't enough merely to have earlier started xmms by typing its own name, followed by a reference to a file to be played. When I added to your latest script, immediately before the line "xmms "$src"", the line "xmmsctrl launch", then the script ran from beginning to end without interruption, with xmms opening and closing at the appropriate points. At the same time, by running and rerunning the script and checking the results, I found that the script didn't do its job properly if, when it ran, there was already in the .xmms directory a file called xmms.m3u, which, as I understand it, is a playlist file. I therefore added to the line "xmmsctrl launch" the word "clear" and that put an end to that problem, although if with any potential adverse consequences, I'm not now aware. You asked me whether I had MPlayer. The answer's no. I'm doing all this on an ancient laptop running DSL. I tried to get MPlayer to run on it, but it wouldn't for some reason I can't now remember. In any event, even if it would, it'd be very cramped, given the ancient laptop's specifications. You also raised the issue of changing the script so that it would convert other audio file formats as well. I believe I understand how that could be done, but the circumstances in which I'm struggling with all this are peculiar. I gave the laptop to the son of friends and he's the one who asks me for things he wants to be able to do. I then try to work out (or, to be more accurate, try to get others to work out!) how to do them. The only kind of file he says he wants to convert to mp3 is wma, so, at least for now, the script can be used as it is. My warmest thanks for all the help you've given me with this. Best wishes, Leslie