YouTube to M4A Converter – Download High-Quality Audio
Convert YouTube videos to M4A with our free, user-friendly tool at y2wav.com. M4A supports AAC for compact, high-quality audio and ALAC for lossless, CD-quality sound, making it perfect for music lovers and professionals. Start Converting Now
What is M4A?
M4A (MPEG-4 Audio) is a versatile audio format that supports two codecs:
- AAC (Advanced Audio Coding): A lossy format offering high-quality audio at low bitrates (128–320 kbps). Ideal for streaming and mobile devices, with small file sizes (5–10 MB for a 3-minute song).
- ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec): A lossless format preserving all original audio data, delivering CD-quality (44.1 kHz, 16-bit) or higher. Perfect for archiving and Apple Music, with medium file sizes (15–25 MB for a 3-minute song).
M4A also supports rich metadata (e.g., song title, artist, album art) and is compatible with Apple devices and players like VLC.
M4A vs. WAV vs. MP3
Here's how M4A compares to WAV and MP3 for a 3-minute song:
| Format | Compression | File Size | Audio Quality | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAV | Uncompressed | 30–50 MB | Lossless, CD-quality (1411 kbps+) | Professional audio editing, mastering |
| MP3 | Lossy | 3–5 MB (256 kbps) | Up to 320 kbps | Casual listening, sharing |
| M4A (AAC/ALAC) | Lossy (AAC) or lossless (ALAC) | 5–10 MB (AAC), 15–25 MB (ALAC) | Up to 320 kbps (AAC) or lossless (ALAC) | Streaming (AAC), archiving (ALAC) |
- M4A (AAC): Compact and high-quality, ideal for streaming and mobile devices.
- M4A (ALAC): Lossless quality like WAV but with smaller files, perfect for audiophiles and Apple Music users.
- WAV: Best for professional editing but bulky for storage.
- MP3: Widely compatible but lower quality than M4A at similar bitrates.
Why Convert YouTube to M4A?
- Flexible Codecs: AAC for compact streaming, ALAC for lossless archiving.
- Apple Ecosystem: Seamless playback on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Music, with ALAC supporting high-resolution audio.
- Metadata Support: Organizes music with rich tags (artist, album, etc.).
- Balanced Size and Quality: AAC saves space, while ALAC offers smaller files than WAV without quality loss.