Part 1. MP3 vs M4A, Which One Do You Prefer?

As one of the earliest audio format, MP3, or MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, was originally created with the intention of sharing and distributing audio files over Internet, and almost three decades after its invention, MP3 still remains to be the most popular audio format as of today, thanks to its universal compatibility. While as a file extension generally intended to succeed MP3, M4A was created nearly ten years after MP3 and it is encoded with advanced audio coding (AAC) which is also lossy compression similar to MP3. However, it is Apple that make the M4A popular on its ecosystem, like Mac computers running macOS, iPhones running iOS, iPads running iPadOS and even iWatches running WacthOS.

Convert MP3 to M4A

Technically speaking, both M4A and MP3 are lossy audio files that both can be played without any problem on all the Apple devices. However, the trump card about M4A over MP3 is that when encoded at the same bitrate, M4A can deliver better sound quality than MP3 thanks to its advanced audio codec (ACC) which is less compressed than that of MP3, and moreover, at the same duration, an M4A file size is also much smaller than an MP3 file. This is probably why so many music lovers are now prefer M4A files, especially among Apple fans.  So, which one do you prefer? MP3, or M4A? If you prefer M4A to MP3, and feel necessary to convert MP3 to M4A, then read on to find out how to convert MP3 to M4A, either on macOS, Windows or online with a proper MP3 to M4A converter.

Part 2. Convert MP3 to M4A with an MP3 to M4A Converter

How to convert MP3 to M4A? Just so you know converting MP3 to M4A on computers can be a very easy task if you’re with the correct MP3 to M4A converter at hand. There are many such converter tools flooding on the internet. Today we’re going to introduce to you the DVDFab Video Converter Pro, which is a 3-in-1 audio/video/image conversion and editing package. Two products inside this package can help you convert MP3 to M4A with ease, namely, the video converter software from the DVDFab 12, and the audio converter software from the DVDFab Toolkit. Next let’s walk take a tour to see how these two MP3 to M4A converter tools can assist you with the MP3 to M4A conversion.

Convert MP3 to M4A

2.1 How to Convert MP3 to M4A With DVDFab Video Converter (Windows & MacOS)

Despite named as a video converter software, DVDFab Video Converter also can be used to convert audio files from one format to another, including MP3 to M4A. Actually, it might be the best audio converter software you probably have ever seen, not only does it allow you to convert MP3 to M4A, it also lets you customize the detailed audio settings as you wish.

Key features of this MP3 to M4A converter:

  1. Convert audios from one format to another, such as from MP3 to M4A
  2. Allow you to customize the detailed audio parameters per your need
  3. Support batch conversion and GPU acceleration to fasten the conversion
  4. Compatible both on Windows and macOS platform

For how this MP3 to M4A converter handles the MP3 to M4A conversion, refer to the illustrated guides below:

Step 1 — Download and install this MP3 to M4A converter

In order to convert MP3 to M4A, you need to first download and install this audio converter software on your computer. For Windows, use the left Download button, for macOS, click the right one.

                                 i  Free Download        i  Free Download  

Step 2 — Load the MP3 file(s) for the M4A conversion

Once the installation completes, launch the program using its desktop icon. When it’s up, click the Video Converter from the welcome screen that shall take you to the Video Converter module of DVDFab 12. 

Convert MP3 to M4A

Then add your MP3 file(s) in, using the giant plus button, the Add from Local button, the Add from Mobile button, or simply drag & drop the MP3 file(s) here.

Convert MP3 to M4A

As a sidenote: One of the amazing things about this MP3 to M4A converter is that it can save you great trouble by allowing you to import media files directly from your mobile devices, regardless iOS or Android, without having to use your data cable, if you don’t mind installing an APP called DVDFab Remote which can wirelessly transfer the media files from your mobile device to the desktop software via Wi-Fi.

Convert MP3 to M4A

Step 3 Select the M4A conversion profile

After importing the source MP3 file(s), you can then choose the output format, in our case, the M4A format. To do that, click the output profile dropdown menu, hit the “Choose Other Profile” option that shall take you to the built-in profile library, where you can find a giant bank of preconfigured conversion profiles designed for all the popular audio & video formats and the devices you probably can name of. Navigate to the Format section, then the Audio tab, and there, find the M4A from the crowd to ready the MP3 to M4A conversion.

Convert MP3 to M4A

As a sidenote: Notice that “Use for All Sources” option at the top right corner of the profile library? That is another bonus feature of this MP3 to M4A converter. Checking that option will apply your selected conversion profile (M4A) to all the source MP3 files you’ve imported. This can save you a lot of time manually repeat the same procedure again and again. What a sweet and resourceful idea it is!

Step 4 Customize the output M4A audio settings (optional)

The next thing you may want to do is to adjust the detailed audio parameters to meet your specific requirement, such as changing the audio channel among the four available choices of Mono, Stereo, Dolby Surround/ProLogic and Dolby ProLogic II, switching to another sample rate, choosing a higher or lower bitrate and increasing or decreasing the volume as you want. To do that, just click the Wrench icon to enter the Advanced Settings panel.

Convert MP3 to M4A

As a sidenote: All these settings here will affect the output audio quality in one way or another, and they are totally optional. It’s absolutely for you to leave them alone and the converted M4A files will definitely play back no problem at all on your device. That being said, if you’re a little bit of adventurous, and don’t mind experimenting with various settings, feel free to go. 

Step 5 Proceed with the MP3 to M4A conversion

When all are ready, take your pleasure to hit the Start button at the main interface, so that the MP3 to M4A conversion procedure shall be initiated immediately. The entire conversion won’t take too long, usually one song shall only cost you 1 minute. Even if you have imported a large pile of MP3 files to convert, with GPU hardware acceleration enabled, you won’t have any pressure neither, because that feature will make the MP3 to M4A conversion lightning fast.

Convert MP3 to M4A

Alright, the guides above show you exactly how to convert MP3 to M4A with the video converter software from DVDFab 12 and which is packed inside the Video Converter Pro bundle. The product also works on macOS platform that can convert MP3 to M4A on Mac computer with the same operations.

Next, we will continue to show the second product of the Video Converter Pro bundle, which is DVDFab Toolkit. This product also features an independently working audio converter module that is able to convert MP3 to M4A, and to several other audio formats, too. Continue reading if you’re interested.

2.2 How to Convert MP3 to M4A With DVDFab Toolkit (Windows)

DVDFab Toolkit, although being packed into the Video Converter Pro bundle, contains 28 separately working small utility tools of its own. Those tools can be categorized into Video Tools, Audio Tools, Image Tools, Watermark Tools and Subtitle Tools. You can count on this mp3 to m4a converter with no hesitation. As for how do we convert MP3 to M4A with this toolkit, the answer goes to the Converter module of the Audio Tools.

Key features of this MP3 to M4A converter:

  1. Convert audios from MP3 to M4A, AAC, AC3, FLAC and vice versa
  2. Customize the specific audio settings as you hope
  3. Support batch-convert mode and GPU acceleration

Following are the step-by-step guide on the MP3 to M4A conversion with this audio converter:

Step 1 — Download and install DVDFab Toolkit

To download and install DVDFab Toolkit on your computer, click the Download button below. As of now, only the Windows version is available, the macOS counterpart is still in the works.

                                                  i  Free Download  

Step 2 Load the MP3 file(s) for the conversion

When the installation is over, double-click the Video Converter Pro shortcut icon to launch it up, and choose the DVDFab Toolkit product in the middle of the welcome screen that will take you to the Toolkit interface, where you are about to click the Converter module from the Audio Tools section to convert MP3 to M4A.

Convert MP3 to M4A

Convert MP3 to M4A

Then use the big plus button to add your MP3 file(s), or you can also drag & drop them directly to the interface.

Convert MP3 to M4A

Step 3 Choose the M4A output format

Once the source MP3 file(s) are imported, you’re okay to select the output format, which is our case, is the M4A. To achieve that, click the dropdown menu of the output box, and choose M4A that is sitting in line with some other popular audio formats, including AAC, AC3, FLAC and MP3.

Convert MP3 to M4A

As a sidenote: as you may have noticed, this converter module is not merely an MP3 to M4A converter, it is a full-featured audio converter that allows you to convert from and to other popular audio formats. And if you want to batch-convert MP3 to M4A at one go, it is also possible, just import as many MP3 files as you want, but you will have to manually apply the M4A output format one after another for the imported MP3 files.

Step 4 Customize other relevant settings (optional)

It’s time to make some extra tweaks. When we say extra, it means you can choose not to do these things instead you can jump to step 5 to start the MP3 to M4A conversion process. However, if you have specific demand on certain parameters, such as sample rate, bitrate and audio channels, then go help yourself.

Convert MP3 to M4A

Step 5 Process the MP3 to M4A conversion

When all things are ready, the last to do is to proceed with the actual MP3 to M4A conversion. For that purpose, just hit the Start button at the bottom right corner of the interface, then your MP3 file(s) will start to convert right away.

Convert MP3 to M4A

As a sidenote: this MP3 to M4A converter tool is also capable of GPU hardware acceleration, which means you can accelerate the conversion speed significantly to save yourself much time, especially when you have large piles of MP3 files waiting for you to concert to M4A. Yeah, batch-conversion meets hardware acceleration, what a perfect match.

So far, we’ve learnt the tricks to convert MP3 to M4A both on Windows computers with a Windows MP3 to M4A converter software, and on macOS with a Mac MP3 to M4A converter app. This should be quite enough to solve your problem of converting MP3 to M4A. However, if you still interested in an online MP3 to M4A conversion solution, then feel free to continue the exploration.

Part 3. Convert MP3 to M4A Online With an Online MP3 to M4A Converter

To those who prefer converting MP3 to M4A online directly from a web browser, this section is here for you. The biggest advantage of an online MP3 to M4A converter is that you don’t need to install anything on your computer. But this comes at a price, you will have bear with the processing speed and the time it takes to upload your source MP3 (especially if there are many).

So, everything has its two sides, an online MP3 to M4A converter might save your trouble installing, but it will cost you something from another front, like your time and patience. Anyway, the online MP3 to M4A conversion solution we’re about to introduce to you is offered by zamzar.com which is one of the most popular online file conversion service provider. Now let’s begin the journey of MP3 to M4A conversion with this online MP3 to M4A converter:

Step 1 — Visit the website and add your MP3 files from your local hard drive using the green Add Files button, or drag & drop them there, or you can also paste a video URL to convert MP3 to M4A, using the select link function.

Convert MP3 to M4A

As a sidenote: the MP3 files you add cannot exceed 50MB, otherwise, you will be asked to create an account which of course is not free.

Step 2 — Hit the Convert Now button to trigger the MP3 to M4A conversion procedure.

Convert MP3 to M4A

Step 3 — Wait for the conversion to complete, which might take some period of time, depending on your network speed and also your file size added. When it finishes, you still need to download the converted M4A file back to your local drive, or as it shows, you can let the platform email you the result by submitting your email address.

Convert MP3 to M4A

Okay, this is pretty much everything you should pay attention to when converting MP3 to M4A with an online MP3 to M4A conversion service. Hope your process was smooth!

Final Thought

Although MP3 and M4A audio formats are both lossy audios that employ compressed algorithms, M4A does deliver comparatively better audio quality when the two are encoded at the same bit rate level, and at the same time, with the same duration of music, M4A also requires smaller file size. Hence, despite the long established reputation that MP3 has been enjoying over the past three decades, as the intended successor, M4A is certainly gaining its own prevalence day by day, especially among Apple fans.

So if you belong to those who prefer M4A to MP3 in terms of overall sound quality and file size and feel necessary to convert MP3 to M4A, then we’ve shown you in this article several ways to convert MP3 to M4A. Each of those solutions, whether online or offline, can help you convert mp3 to w4a with pros and cons. MP3 to M4A converters intended for PCs will always ask you to install the software tool, but they work fast and efficiently in terms of performance, like the video converter software from DVDFab 12 and the audio converter tool from the Toolkit that are both bundled in the Video Converter Pro suite.

Online MP3 to M4A conversion solution may not ask you to install anything, however, you still have to upload and download back your files, and the online conversion process takes time too, your patience might wear thin especially when your network speed is not blazing fast. Thus, from the perspective of efficiency, we personally recommend that you go with the PC approach to convert MP3 to M4A. That being said, the final decision is still up to you. One more last thing, aside from converting MP3 to M4A, you sometimes may also run into the need to convert OGG files to MP3, and for that purpose, you can check our article centered on how to convert OGG to MP3 with ease.

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