on a mac (os 9.2.1) how can i convert mp3's already encoded at 160
kbps into 56 kpbs without re-converting them from cd again. .  Please
tell me the name of the software (preferably shareware) i can use to
do this.

Thanks for your help.  

Reid

You're actuall ygoing to have to re-encode them, by playing the file
and recording (encoding) at a lower bitrate. There are tools to help
you...
CDMaster 32 will do it for you on a Wondows machine:
http://www.zittware.com/Products/CDMaster32/Tutorials/mp3_bitrate_conversion.html

Ignoring for a moment the fact that there's only one codec that will
sound respectable at 56kbit and it's not mp3, your best bet is to
re-encode from the CD.  Any time you go from one compressed format to
another you lose more quality, and while a 56kbit mp3 is going to
sound awful anyway it should sound a bit less awful if you start with
the source material rather than starting with an already-compressed
stream.

fatass-ga,

I use SoundJam MP 2.5.2 with Mac OS 9.1.   It has a Converter that
allows you to easily change mp3s to a different bit rate.   I'm not
certain if SoundJam is still available.  Apple used a large portion of
the program when they built iTunes (although iTunes is still missing
some great features that SoundJam has).