Convert M4A to AIFF

M4A stands for MPEG A Audio. It is a type of audio file type that is encoded using Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) or Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC).

M4A was developed to help you store a wide range of file types, such as audiobooks, podcasts, and songs. That is in addition to the fact that it is a better competitor to MP3.

Some of the benefits or advantages of using M4A are:

1. 1. It is easy to edit and transfer M4A files because it is designed to be an unprotected audio file format.
2. 2. M4A files have additional enhancements that boost the sound quality.

How to create and how to open an M4A file

You can create and open an M4A file in many ways. The simplest way is to use an Apple voice recorder or convert another audio format into M4A.

There are several programs and applications out there that support the playback of M4A files. Some of them are Winamp, VLC Media Player, Windows Media Player, and QuickTime. The other programs that open M4A files are Microsoft Zune, Elmedia Player (for Mac users), Apple iTunes, Rhythmbox (for Linux users), and iPad.

Which other formats M4A can be converted into and why

M4A files may be a strong competitor to the MP3 file formats. Yet, this type of digital audio file format has many disadvantages, such as appearing as a data file (instead of a media or document), and low compatibility with some devices.

So, here are some of the other formats or alternatives to the M4A file format:

1. 1. MP3
2. 2 WAV
3. 3. OGG
4. 4. FLAC

One major reason why you might need to convert your M4A file is because it is a file extension, which means that only specific applications can open it. MP3 is supported by almost any device.

You may also want to convert it to AAC because it produces better sound quality, even at low bitrates.

AIFF is intended for viewing and processing of audio data, as well as for its storage in digital devices. Apple designers developed it on the base of IFF in late 1980s. Thanks to lossless coding, it is very similar to WAV. In Windows OS, it is mostly used with .aiff extension.

AIFF files have gained significant attention from Mac PC users. They are popular as well among professional musicians who are most particular about sound quality. The fact that the format is widely supported by various multimedia software, and universal players, may also be considered a notable benefit. To open AIFF files in Windows OS, installing Apple iTunes, Windows Media Player, Roxio Creator, and some other programs are required.

When being coded, the stream is divided into sound segments. A minute of standard stereo sound corresponds with 10 Mb of memory approximately. Standard non-compressed files use .aif or .aiff. In such files, audio data are represented in the form of pulse code modulation. If some data are lost through codecs, .aifc is used.

A standard 16 bit AIFF file has two channels for stereo sound and a 44 100 Hz sampling frequency. Being non-compressed, it differs in size significantly from MP3 and other similar formats. Sometimes it may contain samples and cycle information.