M4A and MP3 are two popular audio formats used for storing music and other audio files. M4A, which stands for MPEG 4 Audio, is a file extension used to represent audio files, especially those downloaded from iTunes. MP3, on the other hand, is a universal audio format that's widely supported by almost all audio-playing devices and software.

While M4A offers better sound quality, MP3 is widely compatible and more commonly used across different devices and platforms. You might want to convert M4A to MP3 for various reasons, such as compatibility issues or file size considerations. MP3 files are generally smaller and compatible with more devices compared to M4A files.

In this guide, we'll discuss three simple methods to convert an M4A file to MP3 format. Let’s see how can do that.

Part 1. Convert M4A to MP3 with an All-in-One Audio Converter

You'll definitely appreciate this audio converter - Kingshiper Audio Editor - if you're looking for a simple, reliable program with a few advanced options that some online converters lack. The program lets you convert audio files one at a time or multiple files at once. There are different formats supported, such as M4A, FLAC, MP3, OGG, WAV, and more. More importantly, from basic audio adjustments to advanced editing techniques, KingShiper provides an extensive set of features to ensure that every detail of your audio is perfectly polished.

Step 1. Launch Kingshiper Audio Editor, and drag an audio file with .m4a file format.

Step 2. Click “Export” at the top right corner. Choose MP3 in the Output Format and then click “Export”.

Step 3. Press “Go to the output folder” to check it fast.

Part 2. Convert M4A to MP3 with Audacity

Another option is to use Audacity, a free and open-source digital audio editor, that has been a favorite among audio enthusiasts, musicians, and podcasters for years. Its user-friendly interface and robust feature set make it an ideal choice for editing, recording, and converting audio files. Among its numerous functionalities, Audacity can also be employed to convert M4A files to the widely compatible MP3 format.

Step 1. Click “File” > “Open” to import the .m4a audio file.

Step 2. Click “File” > “Save as”, and find the “MP3” option in the “Save as type” in the pop-up window. Then, click “Save”.

Step 3. After finishing, you can go to the destination folder to verify it.

Part 3. Convert M4A to MP3 with an Online Audio Converter

If you want to convert your audio files online without the need to download or install any software, you can try to use this online audio converter. It is a web-based audio conversion platform that provides a simple and efficient way to convert M4A files to the popular MP3 format. This online tool supports a wide range of audio formats, making it a versatile tool for all your audio conversion needs.

Step 1. Open online-audio-convert.com on your browser.

Step 2. Click “Open Files” to import an M4A audio file.

Step 3. Choose the original file format and the wanted audio format on the box.

Step 4. Press the “CONVERT” button to start the conversion.

Part 4. Convert M4A to MP3 with iTunes

iTunes is a well-known media player, media library, and online store software application that offers the function to convert M4A to MP3. Available for both Windows and macOS, iTunes provides users with a seamless way to manage their digital media content. One of its convenient features is the ability to convert M4A files, commonly used for Apple's lossless audio format, to the widely compatible MP3 format.

Step 1. Open iTunes on your computer.

Step 2. Click "Edit" and then "Preference." 

Step 3. Under the "General" section, click "Import Settings."  

Step 4. Next to "Import Using," choose "AAC Encoder."

Step 5. Click "File" > "Add File to Library," and add the WAV file you want to convert.

Step 6. Choose the WAV files you import, and click "File" > "Convert" > "Create AAC Version."

Step 7. Then, iTunes will help you convert WAV files to AAC format.

Part 5. Convert M4A to MP3 with FFmpeg

FFmpeg is a powerful, free, open-source software project that includes a collection of tools and libraries for handling multimedia data. It is essentially a command-line interface (CLI) tool, meaning it is operated via text-based commands rather than a graphical user interface (GUI). Being a multi-platform solution, FFmpeg can run on various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Step 1. Install FFmpeg. Open the location of your .m4a file.

Step 2. Open Terminal, type in CMD in the address bar, and press Enter.

Step 3. In the pop-up window, you can type the command: ffmpeg -i input.m4a output.mp3.

Step 4. Press Enter to begin the conversion. Then you’ll find the exported MP3 audio file has been saved as an M4A file.

The Bottom Line

Converting M4A to MP3 on a Mac is a simple process, and you can convert other audio files with the above tools. But if you need to edit audio files regularly, I strongly recommend you use KingShiper Audio Editor, which not only can help you convert different audio files but also makes you produce better audio. So why not download it and give it a try now?

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