Audacity presents a globally-wide variety of hot features for all users. Available for several globally-used OS, this free digital audio editor and recording software application can be downloaded by users all around the world. Audacity lets users convert, import, export, and edit audio files from a different type of file extension to another. Up until the present, Audacity is still widely used for school, work and other special tasks.
Part 1: Why You Need M4A format?
M4A, which stands for MPEG 4 Audio, is also commonly referred to as AAC (Advanced Audio Coding). M4A is basically a file extension intended for an audio file that is encoded with a lossy compression like that of the M4A. Originally, M4A was proposed to be the successor to MP3. Both MP3 and M4A format are used as audio-only files. Audio-only format usually has M4A file extension. M4A file format is unprotected as it doesn't have M4P file extensions which are present in protected files. M4A, being the latest innovation made, has new and better quality compared to MP3. M4A has got many useful and effective features which make people go after it. Aside from a better quality, M4A files also sizes smaller, producing better sound performance especially when programmed at equal bit rate. It also functions even better when added with enhancement format. M4A can be opened with several programs such as Windows Media Player, Roxio Popcorn, iTunes, Quicktime and more.
Part 2: How to Import M4A to Audacity for Editing
Step1. Go to the web and visit Audacity's official website, audacity.sourceforge.net. From there, you will be able to download, install, and run Audacity to your computer.
Step2. Once installed, open Audacity.
Step3. On its main window, click Edit located on the menu bar. Select Preferences.
Step4. A dialog box will appear. Go to the Library section. You will need to download LAME and FFmpeg to play the files. Download both to your PC. Click Download on LAME MP3 Library first to start the process.
Step5. Once clicked, a window will pop up. Click Download Page and then select Download for Windows. Then, click Save File and wait for it to download.
Step6. Run the downloaded file. Then, install the Setup wizard, browse the Audacity, and then click Finish.
Step7. Once you go back to Audacity, you shall see the LAME successfully downloaded. (If you didn't see any changes, close the Audacity you've used a while ago. Try opening a new one, go to Edit, and select Preferences again.) Now it's time to download FFmpeg. It has basically the same steps as LAME. Click Download on FFmpeg Library.
Step8. A window will pop up again. Click FFmpeg 0.6.2 installer. Save the file, run, and install the Setup wizard for FFmpeg.
Part 3: How to Export Audio to M4A Format
Step1. Go to web and then download Audacity. Once done, run and install it to your PC.
Step2. Open Audacity. On the menu bar, go to Edit and select Preferences.
Step3. FFmpeg Library is needed to export audio to several audio formats such as M4A. Go to the Library section of the Preferences to know if you have FFmpeg already.
Step4. If you don't have FFmpeg on Audacity yet, download it by clicking Download on FFmpeg Library.
Step5. A window will pop up again. Click FFmpeg 0.6.2 installer. Save the file, run, and install the Setup wizard for FFmpeg.
Step6. Now you have FFmpeg on Audacity. On the dropdown option, select the export format and check the additional settings of the format.
Step7. Next, select the export location. You can either type the location in the text box or browse the location of the folder you're going to place your export.
Step8. Select the numbering scheme you prefer using radio buttons.
Part 4: How to Convert M4A to MP3 with Audacity
Step1. First off, you will need to go to Audacity's main website to download, install and run Audacity on your PC.
Step2. You will also need to install LAME and FFmpeg to convert M4A to MP3. Download, install, and run both third-party encoders to your computer.
Step3. Once done, browse the location of both lame and FFmpeg. On the menu bar, go to Edit and select Preferences. On the preferences, select the Library panel and then browse the location of lame and FFmpeg.
Step4. Now, drag and drop your M4A file to Audacity.
Step5. To convert M4A to MP3, go to the menu bar's File and select Export…
Part 5: Best Software to Download Music from Over 300 Sites
Audacity is a great tool to convert, export, import, and edit audio file. It also offers to record audio. However, if you want to download and record music from music sites or radio stations, i'd like to recommend you try iMusic.
Being a professional tool, iMusic allows you to download and record music from over 300 music sites and unlimited radio stations. If you can play it, then you can keep it either by downloading or recording. It fully supports Yahoo Music, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Grooveshark, iTunes Radio, Google Play, The Sixty One, AOL Music, Slacker Radio, LAST.FM, and more.
- Support Multiple music sites and radio stations.
- Download music by copying and pasting the URL of the song.
- Record music filtering the Ads automatically and add ID3 tags.
- Download and record music directly to iTunes Library for management.
- Transfer music from iTunes Library/computer to iPhone/iPad/iPod/Android devices.
Any Product-related questions? Tweet us @iMusic_Studio to Get Support Directly