There is a lot of confusion surrounding the terms AAC and M4A. In this post, we will explore the difference between these two audio formats. We will also discuss why AAC is more popular than M4A. By the end of this post, you should have a clear understanding of the difference between AAC and M4A.
What is AAC?
AAC is a digital audio file format that offers a higher quality sound than MP3 files. AAC files are smaller in size than MP3 files, making them ideal for use on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. AAC files can also be played on most computers and home stereo systems. AAC is a proprietary format developed by Apple Inc. and is not compatible with all devices and software. AAC files are typically encoded using the MPEG-4 standard.
What is M4A?
M4A is a digital audio file format that is similar to MP3 but offers a number of advantages over its more popular counterpart. For one, M4A files are compressed using a different algorithm that results in smaller file sizes without sacrificing sound quality. This makes M4A ideal for streaming audio over the internet. In addition, M4A files support digital rights management (DRM), which means that they can be encoded with information that controls how they can be used. DRM-protected M4A files can only be played on authorized devices, making them less likely to be pirated. As a result, M4A is slowly gaining popularity as a format for distributing digital music.
Difference between AAC and M4A
AAC and M4A are both audio formats that are used to compress sound files. AAC is a lossy format, which means that it removes some of the data from the original file in order to reduce its size. M4A is also a lossy format, but it is more efficient than AAC, so it can achieve a higher level of compression while still maintaining audio quality. AAC is the standard format for iTunes and M4A is the standard format for Sony’s portable media players.
Conclusion
AAC and M4A are two different audio file formats with unique benefits. If you’re looking for a high-quality, lossless format that supports metadata and chapters, then M4A is the way to go. However, if you need a smaller file size or compatibility with older devices, AAC might be the better option for you.
