How to Use Audacity to Import and Convert M4A

Desire to use Audacity to import and convert M4A? No worry! Here are complete tips on how to use this useful software to import and export M4A.

Jul 09,2019 • Filed to: Record Audio • Proven solutions

Do you want to convert audacity music to M4A format?

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. How to Download Audacity Music to M4A

Audacity is known for its wide range of features which allows its users to export, import, edit or convert Audio/Music files from any file format into another. M4A is preferred by many music lovers as it provides better audio quality, smaller file size and better performance when tuned into equal bit-rate. It is a better choice to convert Audacity Music to M4A as you can play this file in any platform such as QuickTime, Windows Media Player, iTunes, Roxio Popcorn and many more. It is recommended to use a professional music manager like iMusic which can download and convert Audacity music to M4A format with original audio quality.

iMusic - Download and Convert Audacity Music to M4A with Ease

  • 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.
  • 1 click to transfer downloaded music and playlist to USB drive to enjoy in car.

Steps to Download Audacity Music to M4A using iMusic:

Step 1: Open iMusic and Record Audacity Music

Launch Music and select ‘Record’ by tapping the red button to record the audacity music.

audacity m4a

Step 2: Play Audacity Music file

Go to Audacity Music and play the target song. IMusic will automatically start the recording. Click the red button to step the recording.

m4a to wav audacity

Step 3: Save Recorded Audio in M4A format

With the help of iMusic, you can record any song on your PC. It automatically saves the recorded audacity music file in M4A or MP3 format as per your requirement. To check out the recorded Audacity Music file, simply go to Music Library and play them.

convert m4a to wav audacity

Part 2. How to Import M4A to Audacity for Editing

Step 1. 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.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 2. Once installed, open Audacity.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 3. On its main window, click Edit located on the menu bar. Select Preferences.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 4. 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.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 5. 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.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 6. Run the downloaded file. Then, install the Setup wizard, browse the Audacity, and then click Finish.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 7. 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.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 8. A window will pop up again. Click FFmpeg 0.6.2 installer. Save the file, run, and install the Setup wizard for FFmpeg.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 9. Go again to Audacity and you will see Lame and FFmpeg successfully downloaded to Audacity. Now, you can import M4A to Audacity for editing. Congratulations!

convert audacity to m4a format

Part 3. How to Export Audio to M4A Format

Step 1. Go to web and then download Audacity. Once done, run and install it to your PC.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 2. Open Audacity. On the menu bar, go to Edit and select Preferences.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 3. 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.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 4. If you don't have FFmpeg on Audacity yet, download it by clicking Download on FFmpeg Library.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 5. A window will pop up again. Click FFmpeg 0.6.2 installer. Save the file, run, and install the Setup wizard for FFmpeg.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 6. Now you have FFmpeg on Audacity. On the dropdown option, select the export format and check the additional settings of the format.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 7. 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.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 8. Select the numbering scheme you prefer using radio buttons.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 9. Lastly, click Export so you can start exporting the audio.

convert audacity to m4a format

Part 4. How to Convert M4A to MP3/WAV with Audacity

Step 1. First off, you will need to go to Audacity's main website to download, install and run Audacity on your PC.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 2. You will also need to install LAME and FFmpeg to convert M4A to MP3/WAV. Download, install, and run both third-party encoders to your computer.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 3. 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.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 4. Now, drag and drop your M4A file to Audacity.

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 5. To convert M4A to MP3, go to the menu bar's File and select Export…

convert audacity to m4a format

Step 6. On a dialog box, browse the location, put your File name and click the dropdown arrow of the Save as type. Select M4A (AAC) Files (FFmpeg). Then, click Save to save changes.

convert audacity to m4a format

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.

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