Hi,

I don't know when this stopped working or if it is related to a recent update, but I can no longer convert .m4a files to mp3.
I have tried opening new files and old ones that I have previously converted and all I get is:
"One or more files could not be opened"

I also get an error if I try to load an .m4a into Audio Editor, however, AVS Media Player plays the .m4a file OK

Hope someone can help...

PS Have emailed AVS support twice now, with not even an automated response..

To: Bushi

Hello,

First of all, please make sure that your m4a file is not copy-protected, otherwise such files will not be opened by our software.

Also, please attach your m4a file to your message.

Best regards.

I have converted lots of lossless audio files to 512 kbps .m4a and can't help wonder why the high bitrate profiles are seemingly no different from the each other... to ellaborate, I provide this example:

I chose a random lossless .flac file from my collection and convert it to various .m4a bitrates using AVS Audio Converter, these are the results I get:

converter set to 320 kbps:
Size of converted file = 7,41 MB ; Actual bitrate* = 263.516 kbps

converter set to 384 kbps:
Size of converted file = 7,41 MB ; Actual bitrate* = 263.516 kbps

converter set to 448 kbps:
Size of converted file = 7,41 MB ; Actual bitrate* = 263.516 kbps

converter set to 512 kbps:
Size of converted file = 7,41 MB ; Actual bitrate* = 263.516 kbps

*according to AVS Media Player and AVS Audio Editior.

Take any lossless audio file and convert it to .m4a 320 kbps or higher, the outcome will be the exact same every time (and seemingly never exceed 270 kbps).
What's the use of AVS Audio Converter offering conversion to bitrates that it can't reach?

Try for yourself...

To: ksvane

It depends on the source size, but I can assure you the quality you get is highest available for the aac codec.
While selecting 512 kbps the Audio Converter encodes the source file with the maximum available bitrate, but the result doesn't have to be 512 kbps.

To: Al

Then how come if I set the quality meter to 500 the average bitrate of the outcome is around 300 kbps (sometimes even above 320) but if I choose 512 kbps it's never above 270?
I'm just trying to understand how to get the best results.
It seems most .m4a aac compressors with the 0-500 quality meter have output files that are very inferior to the results I get with AVS both in bitrate and filesize of the output file... I just don't understand why using the bitrate option at 512 kbps gives results with lover bitrate than setting the quality meter to 500.

To: ksvane

The quality meter doesn't set up the bitrate for output, so 50-500 isn't bitrate value, it is... low quality<<>>hight quality switch

ksvane:

I just don't understand why using the bitrate option at 512 kbps gives results with lover bitrate than setting the quality meter to 500.

There are currently 2 modes available in Audio Converter for the output quality set-up (m4a)
-quality meter (doesn't lock the bitrate- the encoder will set it basing on a situation)
-bitrate locking/while choosing a preset (the bitrate is locked as highest available but isn't variable)
The encoder has been set up in a different way while working in these two modes, you can also work using quality control, there will be no appreciable difference in the output files quality.

Why cant the Audio Converter convert files in .m4a in bitrates 320 and above? it stays somewhere between 250-270 kbps. Itunes and Winamp has no problem with it...

Winamp converts files in 448kbps without a problem, while Audio Converter still stays at 250-270 kbps with the same setting (448).

iTunes has a limit at 320 but with the same settings as Audio Converter the file is almost 2 mb smaller. that is quite alot when its only one song, and you probably get lower quality that you want or expect.

Why have the option to convert in bitrates between 320-512 kbps when it can't reach these convertions?

Do you have any solutions to this problem or dilemma?

To: Mathias

I've check conversion to M4A and iTunes and Winamp shows 448kbps for created m4a file. Please make sure you have the latest version AVS Audio Converter 7.0 which can be downloaded from this link.