M4A to MP3
For the car stereo, the old MP3 player, or the software that only knows one format.
Your file
Drop a file here, or click to choose
It stays on this device. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Settings
A lossy to lossy hop
M4A holds AAC, which is already lossy, so converting to MP3 means a second round of discarding. In practice one hop at 192 kbps or higher is not something you will hear. Repeated round trips between lossy formats do accumulate, so keep the M4A as your original.
Voice memos on an iPhone save as M4A, which is the most common reason people end up here.
Common questions
Is M4A better than MP3?
At the same bitrate, yes, AAC is a newer codec and holds up better, especially below 128 kbps. MP3 wins purely on compatibility.
What bitrate should I convert at?
Match or slightly exceed the source. 192 kbps is a safe default.