I recently downloaded an M4A music file, but my mediaplayer will not play it. I was wondering if a simple MP4 player codec would work with the M4A files, or if there is a conversion software (preferably freeware ) so I can use these files elsewhere. My car stereo plays MP3, as well as most formats, and my HT will play most any format as well. I read somewhere that there is a differance between MP4 and M4A formats, but everytime I search M4A I wind up at an MP4 location... so are they really one and the same?
There isn't really a big difference between M4A and MP4. They are both containers for AAC files that add tagging capabilities. Since the MP4 extension can apply to both audio and video, Apple uses M4A (MPEG-4 Audio) to make that distinction. One curious thing I discoverd recently is that if I remane a M4A file to MP4, it will play on my iPod, but it won't display the Album art. If I rename it back to M4A it will display it again. Weird huh? Now to your main question. I have various players (WMP, FOOBAR2000, WinAmp 5.xx, iTunes) and they all play M4A. Probably your file is protected. That's the only explanation I can come up with. PS What player are you using?
