What is M4A? How to convert M4A to MP3?

Nov. 1, 2009 - PRLog -- The following article will share with you what is M4A and how to convert M4A to MP3 using an M4A to MP3 Converter - Protected Music Converter.

What is M4A?

The M4A file type is primarily associated with 'MPEG-4 Audio Layer'. Files in .M4A format are actually the audio layer of (non-video) MPEG 4 movies. M4A is slated to become the new standard for audio file compression. This format is also known as Apple Lossless, Apple Lossless Encoder, or ALE. It is a new codec designed to provide lossless encoding in less storage space.

What is the difference among M4A, M4P, MP4, M4B and M4R?

-- MPEG-4 files with audio and video generally use the standard .mp4 extension.

-- Audio-only MPEG-4 files generally have a .m4a extension. This is especially true of non-protected content.

-- MPEG-4 files with audio streams encrypted by FairPlay Digital Rights Management as sold through the iTunes Store use the .m4p extension. iTunes Plus tracks are unencrypted and use .m4a accordingly. Click here to learn about how to convert M4P to MP3: http://www.softdiggs.com/howto/convert-m4p-to-mp3.php

-- Audio book and podcast files, which also contain metadata including chapter markers, images, and hyperlinks, can use the extension .m4a, but more commonly use the .m4b extension. An .m4a audio file cannot "bookmark" (remember the last listening spot), whereas .m4b extension files can.

-- The Apple iPhone uses MPEG-4 audio for its ringtones but uses the .m4r extension rather than the .m4a extension.

How to convert M4A to MP3

Protected Music Converter http://www.softdiggs.com/drm-music-converter.php is an easy DRM Music Converter and M4A Converter that can convert M4A to MP3 with one step and the speed is up to 27x. It also can convert M4P to MP3, AAC to MP3, protected WMA to MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, M4A, OGG and various file formats on Windows PC.

And the way to convert M4A to MP3 with this protected music converter is very simple:

1. Add iTunes M4A or other protected files.
2. Choose "MP3" as the output format
3. Pressthe "Start" button.

Now you can own the music forever and play M4A songs on your mp3 player, cell phone, windows media player and other portable players at will.