# Should I convert my M4A files back to MP3? **URL:** \ **Category:** Off-Topic\ **Created:** [May 18, 2023, 6:27am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018 "2023-05-18T06:27:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dec](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/dec/32/13699_2.png) [@dec](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dec)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 6:27am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018/1 "2023-05-18T06:27:47Z")
FLAC and WAV are just too big for my needs. my audio libray is not massive, but 5,000+ FLAC files would take a LOT! earlier, i thought that i would move all my MP3 files to M4A - which is meant to be both better quality, and slightly smaller problem i am finding is that most of the tools availablke , such as this one, ONLY deal with MP3 files. so am i better changing all my M4A files back to MP3? ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 6:37am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018/2 "2023-05-18T06:37:49Z")
See here for supported audio formats: > **[Mp3tag - der universelle Tag Editor (ID3v2, MP4, OGG, FLAC, ...)](https://www.mp3tag.de/)** > > Mp3tag ist ein einfach zu benutzendes Programm zum komfortablen Bearbeiten von Tags in Audio-Dateien or here: > **[Supported File Formats – Mp3tag Documentation](https://docs.mp3tag.de/file-formats/)** > > Overview of supported file formats and their respective tag formats. Mp3tag is the universal Tag Editor. ---
**Author:** ![dec](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/dec/32/13699_2.png) [@dec](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dec)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 6:46am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018/3 "2023-05-18T06:46:18Z")
noted thank you. good to know; butt i am alos referrig to MP3Gain, MP3 Diags, and others also this info does not necessarily address the actual question of whether i am better off sticking to MP3 or M4A (or some other format, eg AAC, which i also have) kindest ---
**Author:** ![ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/ohrenkino/32/4843_2.png) [@ohrenkino](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/ohrenkino)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 6:50am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018/4 "2023-05-18T06:50:52Z")
> [@dec](#): > > tools availablke , such as this one, ONLY deal with MP3 files I was referring to this statement of yours which is inaccurate at least in respect to > [@dec](#): > > such as this one At least if the alleged absence of M4A support in MP3tag was a major reason for your qualms then I can now soothe your troubled mind: M4a is supported. What other programs do is beyond the scope of MP3tag. ---
**Author:** ![dec](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/dec/32/13699_2.png) [@dec](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dec)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 6:55am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018/5 "2023-05-18T06:55:37Z")
this WAS an 'Off-topic' question ... ---
**Author:** ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 6:58am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018/6 "2023-05-18T06:58:10Z")
> [@dec](#): > > earlier, i thought that i would move all my MP3 files to M4A - which is meant to be both better quality, and slightly smaller > [@dec](#): > > so am i better changing all my M4A files back to MP3? This is called _transcoding_ and is most likely a lossy process. Only converting between lossless formats preserves the original quality. > [@dec](#): > > which is meant to be both better quality Please also refrain from posting quality statements about lossy audio codecs, when you don't have the experience, processes, and tools to tell the difference. Or be more specific. Because you can have shitty M4As, too. Personally, I would stick with MP3 in your case and keep a copy of FLAC on an external drive if the original quality of your ripped CDs is important for you. If you buy your music from, e.g., Bandcamp, you can always download a FLAC version of your purchases (but some artists might have, due to lack of understanding, also transcoded those from MP3). And if you don't know the source of your files, it really doesn't matter at all. ---
**Author:** ![dec](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/dec/32/13699_2.png) [@dec](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dec)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018/7 "2023-05-18T12:12:48Z")
"Please also refrain from posting quality statements about lossy audio codecs, when you don't have the experience, processes, and tools to tell the difference. Or be more specific. Because you can have shitty M4As, too." just what does this mean? expletive deleted. i quote other EXPERT reference/opinions, that i carefully previously researched, that all state that M4A generally have a better quality (and a somewhat smaller file size) what is your problem with that? ---
**Author:** ![dec](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/dec/32/13699_2.png) [@dec](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/dec)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 12:14pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018/8 "2023-05-18T12:14:06Z")
apart from that, thanks for your other advice ---
**Author:** ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 12:21pm UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018/9 "2023-05-18T12:21:13Z")
> [@dec](#): > > i quote other EXPERT reference/opinions, that i carefully previously researched, that all state that M4A generally have a better quality (and a somewhat smaller file size) > > what is your problem with that? It usually leads to pointless discussions. If you have other expert references on that, just simply reference them in your statements. ---
**Author:** ![Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/user_avatar/community.mp3tag.de/florian/32/5759_2.png) [@Florian](https://community.mp3tag.de/u/Florian)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 9:36am UTC](https://community.mp3tag.de/t/should-i-convert-my-m4a-files-back-to-mp3/61018/10 "2023-06-23T09:36:30Z")