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Subject:File Conversion m4a -> MP3
Posted by: Fredv
Date:11/26/2008 12:30:28 PM

One of the fellows from the radio side of our facility handed me a Data CD with (4) m4u files on it, which he wants converted to data MP3 for his in dash player of his car.

First of all .... m4u? Is that an iTunes format? And if so, how to I convert them in Sound Forge so I can save them as MP3 files?

They are suppose to be off air recordings of the WLS DJ Reunion this past April. I'm kind of interested in hearing them myself, especially if some of the guys are on that I remember from my childhood!

Subject:RE: File Conversion m4a -> MP3
Reply by: musicvid10
Date:11/26/2008 1:16:07 PM

.m4a (I assume that is what you meant) is an audio-only .mp4 file. The extensions are interchangeable. You "should" be able to open it in SF9 or Vegas Pro 8 without issue.

An .m4u file is just a playlist file, and does not contain any music, just text.

You said .m4a in your title and .m4u in your post. Since they're not the same thing, which is it ??

Message last edited on11/26/2008 1:17:10 PM bymusicvid10.
Subject:RE: File Conversion m4a -> MP3
Reply by: Fredv
Date:11/26/2008 2:12:48 PM

Sorry. Typo got me. These are m4a files. They don't seem to open, so I wonder if they are a proprietary format?

Subject:RE: File Conversion m4a -> MP3
Reply by: musicvid10
Date:11/26/2008 3:53:39 PM

Is Quicktime 7 installed on your computer?

You can always use a utility like MediaInfo to see which encoding was used. .m4a/.mp4 is just a wrapper.

Good luck!

Subject:RE: File Conversion m4a -> MP3
Reply by: CClub
Date:11/26/2008 7:52:39 PM

M4u is one thing. But the m4a is a proprietary iTunes format that will only play if you have DRM rights via iTunes. ORRR, you can purchase Tunebites software (audials.com), which can copy m4a (audio) or m4v (video) files into a non-DRM file. I say CAN, as I purchased it (no, not to copy illegal files, but to change files I purchased into formats that work on all my systems and mp3 players), and it works on my laptop but it shut down my desktop and I had to reload many programs.

Subject:RE: File Conversion m4a -> MP3
Reply by: musicvid10
Date:11/26/2008 9:03:13 PM

"But the m4a is a proprietary iTunes format that will only play if you have DRM rights via iTunes."

What??


Software capable of audio/video playback should recognize files with either .m4a or .mp4 file extensions, as would be expected, as there are no file format differences between the two.

# MPEG-4 files with audio and video generally use the standard .mp4 extension.

# Audio-only MPEG-4 files generally have a .m4a extension. This is especially true of non-protected content.

* MPEG-4 files with audio streams encrypted by FairPlay Digital Rights Management as sold through the iTunes Store use the .m4p extension.


Source: [url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP4#.MP4_versus_.M4A_file_extensions

All of my DRM-encrypted audio files purchased from the iTunes Store have the extension .m4p

And, .m4a is certainly not "proprietary." I can make one at any time and play it on a variety of players . . .

Where did you get your information?

Message last edited on11/26/2008 10:17:36 PM bymusicvid10.
Subject:RE: File Conversion m4a -> MP3
Reply by: CClub
Date:11/27/2008 5:13:16 AM

You're exactly right, Musicvid. I was confusing the .m4a with the .m4p. Thanks for clarifying.

Subject:RE: File Conversion m4a -> MP3
Reply by: Fredv
Date:11/29/2008 1:42:48 PM

So to play this file I need to get Itunes to play it, and then record it on SF?

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