dBpoweramp Music Converter        { Help Index   >   m4a FDK (AAC) Encoder } This m4a Encoder creates m4a files encoded with AAC, which unlike Apple Lossless is a lossy encoder. Supported by this Codec

• Encoding: Yes  [.m4a (AAC)] Requires dBpoweramp reference
• Multi-processor Encoding: Yes  (with dBpoweramp reference)
• Decoding: Yes
• Gapless Encoding & Decoding: Yes
• Tagging: iTunes Comments
• Supports Album Art: Yes

Compression Options

Encoding can either be constant bitrate (CBR), or quality based Variable bitrate. If choosing VBR, then only standard sample rates, LC encoding and channels are supported. For bitrates below 48kbps HE v2 profile is used, below 96kbps HE is used. LC profile for all other birates. On the advanced page, the profile can be chosen, and gapless signalled specified, unless have a specific reason leave as iTunSMPB for maximum compatibility with Apple products..

Command Line [Windows] dBpoweramp Reference allows compressions from the command-line, commands specific to this codec:

-bitrate [level]       set encoding bitrate

Example:   "c:\program files\illustrate\dBpoweramp\coreconverter.exe" -infile="c:\afile.wav" -outfile="c:\outfile.m4a" -convert_to="m4a FDK (aac)" -bitrate 128

Terminology Encoding:  compress and write audio track,
Decoding:  uncompress and read the track,
ID Tags:  meta data such as artist & album are embedded inside the audio file,
Lossless:  compression without audio quality loss,
Lossy:  audio quality is sacrificed (how much depends on bitrate and codec used) to achieve smaller files,
Gapless:  allows the decoder to decode audio stream without gaps (silence).

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