The M4A file format forms part of the MP4 specification, specifically the audio stream of the Mp4 format. .m4a files are essentially audio only bit streams encoded using the audio codecs from the MPEG-4 Part 14 specification. Audio encoding can be accomplished using algorithms from the lossy family or lossless family of codecs. One of the design goals of the M4A audio format was to achieve a high level compression ratio without sacrificing audio quality. In this regard, it was intended that the format would succeed the MP3 file format. Although it has done this from a technical standpoint, the MP3 format continues to be widely used.
Files with the .ac3 filename extension refer to the proprietary audio file format Dolby digital AC-3, developed by Dolby Laboratories. The AC-3 format is from the lossy family of audio compression formats. It supports a variety of audio channel configurations and was the first of its kind to support the full surround sound experience. Because of this, the format has been commonly used in the development of motion picture features designed for theaters and in consumer homes through DVDs and surround sound home theater systems. The AC-3 format is one of the supported audio codecs of the ATSC standard ' a set of standards developed for digital television transmission in several affiliated countries.
FreeFileConvert uses tuned encoding for M4A to AC3 conversions, preserving clarity while trimming file size. Finished audio streams instantly across phones, tablets, desktops, and modern browsers without extra tweaks.
Upload M4A files from desktop, tablet, or cloud storage, queue multiple jobs, and let the converter finish autonomously. Return whenever convenient to download synchronized AC3 results on any device you rely on.
Process up to 5 files sized 1000 MB per batch without splitting queues manually. Mixed-format uploads convert together, producing consistent AC3 audio with dependable progress tracking.
Typically an m4a audio stream is encoded using the lossy Advanced Audio Coding format or AAC compression format which has a minimal tradeoff of audio quality in favor for storage size. In situations where maximum quality is required, the Apple Lossless Audio Codec or ALAC can be used.
The AC-3 audio encoding format supports between one and six channels with frequency ranges from 20 hertz to 20 kilohertz. The format contains frame headers which detail information about the rate of sampling, encoded channels, bit-rate among other details. It also consists of six audio blocks.
Upload your audio file in the M4A format from your device, Dropbox, or Google Drive.
Select AC3 as the output format and click Convert. Adjust optional settings if needed.
Download the converted audio file. Each file stays available for up to 5 downloads.