AAC or MP3 Audio Files? The Difference.
There is some confusion over AAC and MP3 audio files. AAC is the newer format (popularized by Apple’s adoption of it in its music store) and has many advantages over the older MP3 format, including higher sound quality and smaller file size. The iTunes Music Store supports both AAC and MP3 formats. If you read up on the two, you will see that AAC is slated to replace MP3 as the most widely used format. (FYI: the MP3 extension ends in .mp3 while the AAC extension ends in .m4a)
If you have an older MP3 media player that doesn’t play AAC files but plays MP3 files, no problem! See the post below which shows how you can use iTunes to change the format of an audio file from AAC to MP3 very easily. Many newer players other than iPods can play AAC files, including many mobile phones. It’s sort of a hidden secret that iTunes can convert many types of audio files into other types of audio files. [Please note that although iTunes has this extended functionality, it does not work with protected music purchased through the store -- which also won't play on devices outside of iPods.]
Many are confused in thinking that the AAC format is a protected format, locked with DRM. This is simply not true. While Apple does have a DRM version of AAC called FairPlay for copyright-protected music sold through the iTunes Music Store, it should be understood that this is not the same thing as regular AAC files, which are open and not locked or protected. If you create an AAC audio podcast, rest assured that you are not creating a locked DRM file, as many believe. The open AAC format plays on many players while Apple’s FairPlay only plays on computers with iTunes and with iPods. Only Apple can create AAC files with FairPlay, so no need to worry!
(Apple has created a PDF about creating content for iTunes which has a handy chart explaining the different formats iTunes supports).
Any experiences with the different formats on different players? Questions? Feel free to post in the comments.
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