M4A vs FLAC, M4A is smaller and widely supported, while FLAC has better sound quality but a larger file size. The article also shows simple ways to convert them using 2 file converters: MiniTool Video Converter and CloudConvert.
What Is M4A
M4A (MPEG-4 Audio) is an audio format from Apple that can store songs, audiobooks, and podcasts. You can find the audio files downloaded from Apple’s iTunes Store in M4A format.
Generally, the M4A format uses 2 codecs, including AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) and ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec). If the audio file downloaded from the iTunes Store has copy protection, the file will be saved with the M4P extension.
What Is FLAC
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is an audio coding format that uses lossless compression. There is no sound quality lost during the compression compared with other lossy audio formats like MP3 and WMA. What’s more, FLAC is an open format with royalty-free licensing.
A Comparison of M4A vs FLAC
FLAC vs M4A, which audio format is better? Check their differences in this table:
| M4A | FLAC | |
| Sound Quality | Lossless | Compressed |
| Size | Large | Small |
| DRM Protection | None | Usually none |
| Compatibility | Good | Wide |
Sound Quality and Size
FLAC is a good choice if you want to preserve the original audio quality. Usually, the M4A audio downloaded from the iTunes Store is encoded with the AAC codec. AAC is a compressed codec that will lower the audio quality to get a smaller file size. If the M4A audio is encoded with FLAC, it will have good sound quality. Compared with M4A, FLAC files are larger in file size.
DRM Protection
Both formats are generally DRM-free, but M4A has more exceptions depending on where the file comes from.
FLAC is known as an open audio format with royalty-free licensing. Also, M4A has no DRM protection. One thing you need to pay attention to is that the audio with copy protection will use the M4P extension.
Compatibility
M4A performs better in everyday playback compatibility across devices. This format can be played on various audio players and is supported by many operating systems, such as Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. While you can also play FLAC on many audio players, its compatibility is not as good as M4A.
M4A vs FLAC, which one is better? There is no absolute answer! You need to choose from them according to your specific needs.
How To Convert M4A and FLAC
Are there any good ways to convert M4A to FLAC or turn FLAC to M4A? Do you need to convert between M4A and FLAC? You can try online converters. Before using an online tool, you should make sure it is secure.
1. MiniTool Video Converter
Fast steps:
- Open MiniTool Video Converter.
- Add the M4A audio.
- Select FLAC as the output format.
- Choose the save location.
- Start conversion.
MiniTool Video Converter supports multiple formats, including M4A, FLAC, MP3, AAC, WMA, and more. You can use this software to convert M4A to FLAC. Here’s how:
1. Open MiniTool Video Converter.
Download and install the latest version of the video converter, then open it on your computer.
MiniTool Video ConverterClick to Download100%Clean & Safe
2. Add the M4A audio.
Click Add Files to upload the source M4A file.
3. Select FLAC as the output format.
Click the gear icon to open the output format window, then select Audio, choose FLAC, and set it to Lossless Quality.
4. Choose save location.
Open the Output menu and choose where to save the converted FLAC file.
5. Start conversion.
Click the Convert option to start processing the file.
Once the conversion is complete, click the folder icon to access the saved file.
2. CloudConvert
Among various online converters, CloudConvert, Convertio, FreeConvert, and others are good choices. They support converting audio, video, image, document, ebook, and presentation formats. It can help you convert between M4A and FLAC. With their intuitive and simple operation, you can easily master how to use them. In this part, we take CloudConvert as an example. Here’s how:
1. Go to the official website of CloudConvert.
2. Click the Select File button to import your M4A or FLAC file.
3. Click the inverted arrow to open the output format list and choose the target format.
4. Click the Convert button to start the conversion. Once the process is over, you can click the Download button to save the converted file.
Conclusion
M4A vs FLAC, which audio format is better? You need to select an appropriate format according to your needs since they have their own pros and cons. What’s more, you can use an M4A converter like MiniTool Video Converter or other audio converters to convert formats.
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