How to convert MP3 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.
- 2
Convert MP3 to M4A (AAC/ALAC)
NexMedia converts MP3 to M4A (AAC/ALAC) on its own servers. Processing time depends on the file size and how busy the queue is.
- 3
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 MP3
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) is a lossy audio format from the early 1990s. It removes the sound listeners are least likely to notice, typically at 128 to 320 kbit/s.
It plays on virtually every device and app, which makes it the default for music files, podcasts and audiobooks.
MP3 tops out at 320 kbit/s and two channels, and every re-encode removes a little more detail.
Convert MP3 to M4A online free, no account required — M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually holding AAC.
Change MP3 to M4A without losing quality — convert MP3 to M4A free in your browser.
Why does my MP3 sound muffled compared to the CD? The format discards frequencies the encoder deems inaudible, and a low bitrate throws away even more — re-encoding cannot bring them back.
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 MP3 to M4A
- The audio is decoded and re-encoded as M4A at the default settings, so the result is close to the MP3 but not bit-identical.
Settings you can change
Before you convert MP3 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.
MP3 to M4A: questions and answers
Does converting MP3 to M4A reduce quality?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as M4A at the default settings, so the result is close to the MP3 but not bit-identical.
What is the difference between MP3 and M4A?
MP3 is a universally supported lossy audio format. M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually holding AAC.
Can I change the settings when converting MP3 to M4A?
Before you convert MP3 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 MP3 to M4A?
No. You can convert MP3 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 MP3 is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
When I convert MP3 to M4A, is the audio re-encoded?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as M4A at the default settings, so the result is close to the MP3 but not bit-identical.
Will converting MP3 to M4A change my original file?
No. The conversion reads your MP3 and writes a new M4A file, leaving your original MP3 file untouched.