M4A - Audio-only MPEG-4
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In order to play a file that was save in the m4a format, you will need a M4A file player more advanced than iTunes or Quicktime. Luckily, such a software to play M4A music exists on the market and you will discover all about it in the following sections. Check out Elmedia Player - a handy M4A player Mac app.
Format introduction:
MPEG-4 Part 14 or MP4 is a digital multimedia container format most commonly used to store video and audio, but can also be used to store other data such as subtitles and still images. M4A stands for MPEG 4 Audio and is a filename extension used to represent audio files.
- M4A Player is a free audio player for M4A audio files, it helps you to quickly open and play '.m4a' audio files, and software supports all basic audio playback functions, and supports loop.
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Android emulator for mac download. Technical details:
Audio-only MPEG-4 files generally have a .m4a extension. This is especially true of non-protected content. M4A is often compressed using AAC encoding (lossy), but can also be in Apple Lossless format.
File extension | .m4a |
MIME | video/mp4 |
Developed by | International Organization for Standardization |
Type of format | Media container |
Associated programs | Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, MPlayer, Media Player Classic, VLC Media Player, K-Multimedia Player |
Sample file | sample.m4a |
Wikipedia | M4A on Wikipedia |
The list shows what formats can convert to M4A and what formats can be converted from M4A. Click on a link below to start a specific conversion.
M4a Player Windows
# | Conversion | Position | Type |
---|---|---|---|
1 | M4A to MP3 | convert from M4A | convert audio to audio |
2 | M4A to WAV | convert from M4A | convert audio to audio |
3 | M4A to OGG | convert from M4A | convert audio to audio |
4 | M4A to WMA | convert from M4A | convert audio to audio |
5 | M4A to AAC | convert from M4A | convert audio to audio |
6 | M4A to FLAC | convert from M4A | convert audio to audio |
7 | M4A to AIFF | convert from M4A | convert audio to audio |
8 | M4A to OPUS | convert from M4A | convert audio to audio |
9 | M4A to AMR | convert from M4A | convert audio to audio |
10 | AVI to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
11 | 3GP to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
12 | MPEG to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
13 | WMV to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
14 | MP4 to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
15 | MKV to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
16 | M2TS to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
17 | WEBM to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
18 | FLV to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
19 | SWF to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
20 | ASF to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
21 | MOV to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
22 | M4V to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
23 | RM to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
24 | VOB to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
25 | OGV to M4A | convert to M4A | convert video to audio |
26 | MP3 to M4A | convert to M4A | convert audio to audio |
27 | WAV to M4A | convert to M4A | convert audio to audio |
28 | OGG to M4A | convert to M4A | convert audio to audio |
29 | WMA to M4A | convert to M4A | convert audio to audio |
30 | AAC to M4A | convert to M4A | convert audio to audio |
31 | FLAC to M4A | convert to M4A | convert audio to audio |
32 | AIFF to M4A | convert to M4A | convert audio to audio |
33 | OPUS to M4A | convert to M4A | convert audio to audio |
34 | AMR to M4A | convert to M4A | convert audio to audio |
List of unpopular conversions supported:
Convert from M4A: M4A to AU, M4A to MKA, M4A to RA.
Convert to M4A: M2V to M4A, BIK to M4A, MXF to M4A, AU to M4A, MKA to M4A, RA to M4A, AAX to M4A.
Convert to M4A: M2V to M4A, BIK to M4A, MXF to M4A, AU to M4A, MKA to M4A, RA to M4A, AAX to M4A.
Click here to bookmark the file format description or
M4A is short for MPEG-4 Part 14 and the file type was created by Apple in 2004 using the QuickTime File Format. The iTunes store runs on M4A file downloads (15 billion files worldwide). It is a digital multimedia container format used to store audio components, but can store other data (e.g. images) as well. MPEG-4 Part 14 files can be saved under the extension M4A and MP4 (the difference being MP4 is capable of storing video). Like most audio file types, there is a lossy compression option and it is accomplished using AAC encoding. Unlike other audio files there is a lossless compression available, which is possible due to the Apple Lossless format.
Technical details of M4A files
M4A files are an improvement on MP3 files primarily due to the fact they are capable of being lossless, as opposed to the lossy competition. This means the files can be converted back and forth from the original audio file and file size. MP4 copying is restricted using the DRM technology but the M4A file type is easier to distribute and copy. This explains why the Apple store uses M4A files, to allow users to purchase audio and transfer the content to CD’s or mobile music players. Strictly an Apple product, it can be difficult to utilize the files in Windows. However, iTunes for Windows makes it possible, as well as converting the files to a Windows compatible audio file (which will cause lossy compression).
More information about the M4A file format
M4a Player Bluetooth
File extension | .m4a |
File category | Audio |
Example file | Download example.m4a file (882.82 KiB) |
Associated programs | Apple QuickTime Player Apple iTunes Microsoft Windows Media Player VideoLan VLC Media Player |
Useful links | M4A Information |
File conversion | Convert a file to M4A |
Developer | Apple |