M4A File Documentation
Overview
Feature | Value |
---|---|
Format Name | MPEG-4 Audio File |
File Extension | .m4a |
MIME Type | audio/mp4 |
Container for | AAC or ALAC audio codecs |
Developed by | International Organization for Standardization |
Standard | ISO/IEC 14496-3 (MPEG-4 Part 3) |
Compression | Lossy (AAC) or Lossless (ALAC) |
Audio Bit Depth | 16-bit or 24-bit |
Audio Sampling Rate | Up to 48 kHz (commonly), supports up to 96 kHz |
Channels | Stereo or Mono, supports up to 8 channels for surround sound |
Metadata Support | Yes (ID3 tags for title, artist, album, etc.) |
Copy Protection | Optional DRM (Digital Rights Management) |
Typical Usage | Music, Podcasts, Audiobooks |
Advantages | High quality audio; more efficient than MP3 |
Disadvantages | Not as universally compatible as MP3 |
File Size Comparison | Smaller than WAV; higher or similar to MP3 (varies with codec and bitrate) |
Streaming | Supported (with suitable encoding) |
File Editability | Non-destructive editing possible with suitable software |
Multi-channel Audio Support | Yes |
Accessibility | High (supported by most modern devices and players) |
Primary Use Case | Music file format delivering high-fidelity audio within smaller file sizes |
Feedback
Was this page helpful?
Glad to hear it! Please tell us how we can improve.
Sorry to hear that. Please tell us how we can improve.