The video part is compressed with MPEG-4, a standard that was developed by Moving Picture Expert Group (MPEG), while the audio is typically compressed using AAC compression. Video and audio compression are usually handled by different codecs (audiovisual encoders). MP4 files are typically smaller in size than other audio or video file types because MP4 files use a mix of compression technologies.

By comparison, an MP3 file is universally supported.Īn MP4, sometimes known as an MPEG4, is a multimedia file that is used to store video or audio data. One downside of an M4A file, especially when compared to an MP3 format, is that it can only be opened by iTunes or Windows Media Player version 12 and later. As more and more music was consumed on the go via devices such as iPods and smartphones, the need for small file sizes became greater, which is why an M4A file has grown in popularity and importance. M4A files tend to be encoded using an AAC codec and are small in size because they have been compressed - often providing a smaller file-size footprint than an MP3 file format, while mirroring, if not improving, the quality of an MP3 file. An M4A file is the go-to audio format for compressed audio, due to the creation and popularity of iTunes. It was developed by Apple, largely as a result of the popularity of the MP3 file.

An M4A file format is also called an MPEG-4 audio file, and is an audio file saved in the MPEG-4 standard.

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