Audio file formats

[freeradical]

Are .m4a files created by QuickTime usable by those on Windows machines, or should I record something in Garage Band and export it, or use some tool to convert the .m4a file into .wmv or something?

[kj]

mp3?

[freeradical]

Garage band appears to have 4 export options.

- AAC

- MP3

- AIFF

- WAVE

It's interesting in that 256 kb/s is the highest option for an mp3.

[graylocks]

my windows/android friend has been listening to my m4a files fine.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

It depends on how much work you want to do to idiot proof the final product.

When I compress video files with Handbrake, it defaults to .m4a extension on Win10. Handbrake won't output audio only formats.

Converting video files to audio with VLC seems to work fastest when using .wmv as the file type (CD audio). Doing that results in larger files (but at least 10x smaller than source video file).

The default audio file player in Win10 is Groove Music. It will play a VLC generated .wmv file with the .m4a extension. I have overwritten default programs for the majority o) known file types (.doc .rtf .xls .m4a .mp3 .png .pdf), so what happens on my computer likely won't be typical.

[kj]

I like this faq:

https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/whats-t...rmats.html

"Although many audio players can playback M4A files across various platforms, the audio format still can’t compete with MP3’s universal compatibility, which is why MP3s still rule the world due to their cross-platform adoption."

Although it says M4A is gaining in popularity and better quality. So it's a tradeoff, as always.

[mikebw]

freeradical wrote:
Are .m4a files created by QuickTime usable by those on Windows machines, or should I record something in Garage Band and export it, or use some tool to convert the .m4a file into .wmv or something?

The answer is yes for recent versions of Windows. If you already have the .m4a don't bother converting it. Otherwise I would export a WAV file.