Charlie Wilson
M4A is the new replacement for the older MP3 audio format and includes many enhancement and improvements. Many popular applications and hardware devices already support M4A. This site is dedicated to helping you learn more about M4A and MP4 audio files. Hopefully you will begin to use this popular, new audio file format.
What does M4A stand for?
Many people have questions about M4A, since it is relatively new. M4A stands for MPEG 4 Audio, and it is a popular file extension used to represent audio files.
Most people are familiar with MP3 and how it shrinks down the file size of songs and other audio files. M4A and MP4 do the same thing as MP3 does, but even better. Quality is better and file sizes are usually smaller than MP3 files. But unlike MP3, no licenses or payments are required to be able to stream or distribute content in M4A format (unlike MP3 which requires you to pay royalties on content you distribute in MP3 format). This fact alone, is more than enough reason (due to the extreme cost savings) to use M4A files instead of MP3 files. In addition, M4A files tend to sound much better than MP3 files encoded at the same bitrate.
http://www.m4a.com/
What does M4A stand for?
Many people have questions about M4A, since it is relatively new. M4A stands for MPEG 4 Audio, and it is a popular file extension used to represent audio files.
Most people are familiar with MP3 and how it shrinks down the file size of songs and other audio files. M4A and MP4 do the same thing as MP3 does, but even better. Quality is better and file sizes are usually smaller than MP3 files. But unlike MP3, no licenses or payments are required to be able to stream or distribute content in M4A format (unlike MP3 which requires you to pay royalties on content you distribute in MP3 format). This fact alone, is more than enough reason (due to the extreme cost savings) to use M4A files instead of MP3 files. In addition, M4A files tend to sound much better than MP3 files encoded at the same bitrate.
http://www.m4a.com/
geposted Mon 15 Jun 09 @ 7:04 pm
DJ Cyder
every Mac user has known this for a long time. I converted my entire collection (320 kbs) to itunes plus format and save a $hitload of hard drive space. Itunes will do this conversion for free.
geposted Mon 15 Jun 09 @ 10:28 pm
bogart
I just got Itunes 8. I did not see anywhere to either download
as MP4 or to change previous mp3 to mp4.
What did I overlook please?
as MP4 or to change previous mp3 to mp4.
What did I overlook please?
geposted Tue 16 Jun 09 @ 12:29 pm
DJmga
M4A files can be created/imported by changing the import setting in iTunes Preferences: select Apple Lossless Encoder
geposted Tue 16 Jun 09 @ 12:50 pm
Andrew87
M4A is simply a container. By default you will convert to AAC (as Cyder has done); while this is a 'better' format than MP3, do not convert your existing music as you will only lose quality. Only do the switch if you can rip the files from the original CD source.
geposted Tue 16 Jun 09 @ 12:57 pm
djrenee
I don't know anything about M4A but I'm not sure I need to know anything?
I don't use Itunes, I rip my music from Promoonly Audio CD's (mp3/320KBS).
I'm NOT concerned with compressing audio, actually I'm on the verge of leaving my audio files in their native format. That being said do I want to know more about M4A or should I just turn off the computer and go to Wal-mart and buy that damn Shami-Wow thing.
I don't use Itunes, I rip my music from Promoonly Audio CD's (mp3/320KBS).
I'm NOT concerned with compressing audio, actually I'm on the verge of leaving my audio files in their native format. That being said do I want to know more about M4A or should I just turn off the computer and go to Wal-mart and buy that damn Shami-Wow thing.
geposted Tue 16 Jun 09 @ 1:36 pm
DJmga
djrenee wrote :
...I'm on the verge of leaving my audio files in their native format...
...I'm on the verge of leaving my audio files in their native format...
If you're considering that route, then why not use flac format (lossless compression)? Much smaller than WAV and you won't be able to tell the difference in sound quality. Disk space may not be an issue for you, but your backups will be quicker ;-)
geposted Tue 16 Jun 09 @ 3:44 pm