How to convert Matroska (MKV) to M4A (AAC/ALAC)
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Upload your file
Drag and drop a file or click to select one. Keep this page open while the file uploads and converts.
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Convert Matroska (MKV) to M4A (AAC/ALAC)
NexMedia converts Matroska (MKV) to M4A (AAC/ALAC) on its own servers. Processing time depends on the file size and how busy the queue is.
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Download the converted file
When the conversion finishes, the download appears on this page. Your converted file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
About Matroska (MKV)
Matroska (MKV) is an open container format that can hold almost any video and audio codec, any number of audio and subtitle tracks, chapters and attachments.
It is popular for films and series with several audio languages and subtitle tracks, and for archiving video.
Many phones, browsers and TVs do not play MKV files directly, even when they support the codecs inside.
Convert MKV to M4A online free, no account required — M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually holding AAC.
Change MKV to M4A without losing quality — convert MKV to M4A free in your browser.
Why won't my MKV file play on my TV or phone? Most TVs and phones play MP4 or H.264 but not the Matroska container, so converting to MP4 makes the file playable on almost any device.
About M4A (AAC/ALAC)
M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file: the MP4 container holding only audio, usually AAC and sometimes Apple Lossless (ALAC).
Music bought on iTunes, iPhone voice memos and many podcast downloads.
Whether an M4A is lossy or lossless depends on the codec inside, which the file extension does not show.
Why convert audio to M4A? It wraps efficient AAC audio with chapter marks and cover art in one small file that Apple, Android and Windows all play.
What changes when you convert MKV to M4A
- The soundtrack of the MKV is re-encoded as M4A at the default settings, so it is close to the original but not bit-identical.
- Only the sound is kept: the M4A file contains the audio track of your MKV, and the picture is dropped.
Settings you can change
Before you convert MKV to M4A, you can adjust: Audio codec, Rate control, Audio bitrate, Quality (VBR), Sample rate, Channels, Normalize loudness, Trim start, Trim duration, and Keep tags.
Limits
Each plan sets a maximum file size and a number of conversions per day, and video and audio files also have a maximum length. Guests can convert files up to 100 megabytes and 5 per day; a free account raises this to 500 megabytes and 25 per day; paid plans go up to 100 gigabytes.
Your converted M4A file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
MKV to M4A: questions and answers
Does converting MKV to M4A reduce quality?
The soundtrack of the MKV is re-encoded as M4A at the default settings, so it is close to the original but not bit-identical.
What is the difference between MKV and M4A?
MKV is a flexible open container for video with any number of audio and subtitle tracks. M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually holding AAC.
Can I change the settings when converting MKV to M4A?
Before you convert MKV to M4A, you can adjust: Audio codec, Rate control, Audio bitrate, Quality (VBR), Sample rate, Channels, Normalize loudness, Trim start, Trim duration, and Keep tags.
Do I need an account to convert MKV to M4A?
No. You can convert MKV to M4A without an account; signing in raises the file-size and daily limits.
How long is my converted M4A file kept?
The M4A file you convert from MKV is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
When I convert MKV to M4A, can I keep just the sound?
Only the sound is kept: the M4A file contains the audio track of your MKV, and the picture is dropped.
Will converting MKV to M4A change my original file?
No. The conversion reads your MKV and writes a new M4A file, leaving your original MKV file untouched.