Are you a music lover? Do you have any idea on what type of format the songs you love to have? If you are curious to find out, we are actually to discuss two audio formats here – M4A vs. M4B. If you wanted to know more about these two, the similarities and differences of each will be presented in this post.
Many songs are being introduced to the public from time to time. You have songs in numerous genres like pop, classic, R&B, jazz, rock, and more. And, you can stream and listen to all those songs even if you are using any music streaming service from any media and music player.
However, there are streaming services that are using specific audio formats for the songs they are offering to their users. If you have built an interest in M4A and M4B, we will now be beginning the discussion with the difference between the two.
Contents Guide Part 1: M4A Vs. M4B: Similarities and DifferencesPart 2: Additional Tip: Converting Your M4A And M4B Files to Other FormatsPart 3: To Wrap It All
In the first part of this article, we are about to highlight the similarities and differences between M4A and M4B in terms of five capabilities and features.
Let us start the discussion with the first one.
You might be seeing files containing the M4B file extension. If you are not that aware, those files are the MPEG-4 Audiobook file. This format is being used by the iTunes application to store and keep audiobooks. It is widely used for digital bookmarking giving the user or listener the ability to play, stop, and resume any type of audiobook or podcasts anytime they want. This is somehow one of the reasons why most people prefer M4B format over MP3.
M4A format, on the other hand, is one format that is being utilized for music or songs instead of audiobooks. This somehow is quite the same with M4B except for the mentioned reason.
Both formats mentioned support metadata which includes markers, images, hyperlinks, and more. The only difference is that M4B (as initially stated) supports bookmarking whereas M4A does not.
Both M4A and M4B are very much used in the industry especially by Apple Inc. These formats were actually introduced by Apple Inc. for distributing their audio files in iTunes application.
If you have been fond of amazing gadgets or you got a vast knowledge about the technology, then you are surely aware of what they call “FairPlay DRM (Digital Rights Management) Protection”. This is being used by creators to protect their files from unauthorized copying or distribution and even playing on unauthorized devices or media players. Luckily, those files in M4A format not DRM protected while those in M4B format could be either DRM-ed or DRM free. This only means that you can still listen to non DRM audiobooks (which you can just freely see on the web).
In terms of encoding method, those audio files with M4A file extension is encoded with AAC or known as well as Advanced Audio Coding or Apple Lossless Audio Codec. On the other hand, audio files with M4B file extension is only encoded with AAC encoding. The difference between the two when it comes to the encoding method brings about a quite difference between the two.
If we are to talk about those devices or gadgets wherein you can play your audio files in M4A and M4B format, those M4B files which are DRM protected can be played on a more limited number of media players. You can have the files played on iOS devices including Mac computers, iPads, iPhones, iPods, and a bit more. Those files which are non-DRM protected on the other hand, can be streamed and played in many other platforms or media players as long as those support the file format.
Both M4A and M4B file formats have their own advantages and disadvantages over the other or over other formats such as MP3. We will begin with M4A first.
Upon knowing the similarities and differences between M4A and M4B, we are about to present one amazing tip in the next part of this post – which is Apple Music or iTunes music conversion (in case you feel like having files in M4A and M4B formats is disadvantageous for you). Check out the next portion.
Are you looking for some way to convert and transform your M4A or M4B audio files in other formats? Do you want to remove the DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection of each audio file? What about sharing those with your friends and have those played in all media players? Well, the solution to that is this amazing software application – the DumpMedia Apple Music Converter. Do you have any idea about this application? If you don’t, then you are lucky because we are to explain more about this tool in the next texts.
DumpMedia Apple Music Converter is a great tool that has the capability to remove the DRM (Digital Rights Management) protections of the Apple Music songs, podcasts, and even iTunes audiobooks. Because Apple Music songs and iTunes audiobooks are DRM protected, it is impossible for users to download the songs directly and have those played in any other unauthorized devices. But, no need to worry about that. In addition, with this DumpMedia Apple Music Converter, you can have as many Apple Music songs or any audiobook you wanted to be converted and downloaded for offline streaming! Plus, you got to have a way to share those files with friends not worrying about file formats since this converter can also perform the conversion of files!
Now, if you are asking how you can simply make use of this, the procedures to follow are too easy. In addition, the software is very easy as well to download and install on your personal computer. The interface it has is very easy to navigate and control allowing the user to experience not much difficulty all throughout the process.
In just a few minutes, all audio files you wanted to be transformed will be converted into a new format depending on your preference. You can even have those shared with others as well since the mentioned DRM protection will also be removed along the process of conversion. You can now have the files streamed even on unauthorized devices.
If you are avoiding the hassle of downloading and installation of software applications on your personal computer, then you could try using some online tools which also have the ability to do the conversion. One example is this “Zamzar.com”. It is an online and free website that can convert both your M4A and M4B files in just an instant. You just need to have a stable internet connection for successful conversion. Since this is free and can easily be accessed on the web, there could be some issues with quality and any other factor. But if you are not that meticulous, then I guess using this would not be an issue at all.
If you had finished reading this post, then you are now aware of the similarities and differences between M4A and M4B file formats in terms of encoding method, usage and application, devices supported, developer, and FairPlay protection. You are also lucky enough to get some information about the tool you are to use in order to transform all those audio files you have.
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