Convert M4A to WAV

Apple Inc. has designed an M4A open-source format based on QuickTime Fike. Now the format is being promoted in the iTunes store. It is a multimedia container intended for the placement of sound components and other data, such as images. MPEG-4 files may be stored with extensions M4A and MP4. In the latter case, they contain video as well.

Alongside these sound formats, MPEG-4 allows for lossy compaction through FFC Codec. However, it is possible to provide a lossless reduction thanks to the Apple Lossless format. The files may be played on Windows PCs via iTunes, Windows Media Player 12, KSP Sound Player, Winamp, and some other programs. With iTunes, the data can be converted into Windows-supported audio formats.

In comparison with its predecessor MP3, M4A format provides better sound quality and smaller file size. Thanks to lossless compaction, the data may be easily converted in both directions with no quality deterioration. The sound data encoded with ACC compression, which reduces the file size considerably.

Due to protection technology DRM, MP4 files cannot be easily distributed, while it is much simpler to replicate files in M4A; that is why “Apple Lovers” prefer the latter format. With M4A, it is possible to buy music on iTunes and download it into smartphones or other devices.

WAV is one of the most common audio formats and stands for Waveform Audio File Format. It is intended for operation with a digitalized audio stream. However, it has also been used for non-audio data due to its sampling rate (1 Hz to 4.3 GHz). It contains musical compositions, voice recordings, and various audio effects. Developed by programmers from Microsoft and IBM, it is a crucial audio format for placing uncompressed sound files on Windows PCs. The wav wave files can be played back in QuickTime, Windows Media Player, Wav Player, and some other programs. In addition to that, they can be processed in audio editing apps.

When a file is compressed into WAV, the data are not supposed to be lost, and the quality is excellent. However, the format did not have a considerable market share due to its larger size than MP3. It must have enough time and disc space to upload and send such files via the Internet. One of WAV's major advantages is linked to Linear Pulse Code Modulation (LPCM) to store an audio stream. Consequently, a copy is just as good as an original, highly appraised by experts in music and professional users.

Sound files with this extension are recorded into 8 or 16 bit per sample. A standard option for CD Audio is an audio stream of 16 bit per sample and a sampling frequency of 44.1 KHz. One second of sound corresponds to 88 Kb of internal memory. WAV files can store metadata in the INFO chunk, and they also include integrated IFF lists.

In some cases, the standard format may be used for broadcasting. For instance, BBC stereo data of 44 100 Hz and 16 bit are generally accepted within the VCS system.