AAC to WMA: Convert Audio from AAC(Advanced Audio Coding) to WMA(Windows Media Audio) with River Past Audio Converter, AAC2WMA converter, conversion

What is AAC?

AAC, Advanced Audio Coding, is a technique for compressing digital audio files. Officially part of the MPEG-4 standard, it is most widely used to create small digital audio files.

AAC is conceptually similar to the ubiquitous MP3 format. AAC is a lossy algorithm, meaning the original digital audio cannot be recreated from the compressed bits alone. In terms of audio fidelity, however, there is no loss of data if the compressed audio is properly encoded. AAC claims an advantage over MP3 in this regard: while MP3 requires a bit rate of approximately 256 kilobits per second (kbps) to achieve transparency, AAC can achieve the same quality at 128 kbps. This allows AAC files to be roughly half the size of MP3 files of the same quality, and one-tenth the size of CD digital data.

AAC provides several other advantages over MP3. It is capable of handling much higher and lower frequencies of sound, provides up to 48 channels of audio, and allows the creation of low-latency audio necessary for two-way communication.

There are two types of AAC files. The most common one is embedded in MPEG-4 container. Its file extension is usually m4a. The popular iTunes encode AAC audio in this format. You only need to have Apple QuickTime installed to decode these files.

A less common one is the plain AAC file, usually with .aac file extension. To convert from this type, you need to have DC-Bass Decoder installed.

What is WMA?

Short for Windows Media Audio, a Microsoft file format for encoding digital audio files similar to MP3 though can compress files at a higher rate than MP3. WMA files, which use the “.wma” file extension, can be of any size compressed to match many different connection speeds, or bandwidths.

Additional information is available on Microsoft Windows Media page.

Launch River Past Audio Converter

Once River Past Audio Converter is installed properly, launch Audio Converter.

Add File

Click on the "Add File" button on the tool bar. The standard file open dialog appears. Select "AAC - Advaned Audio Coding" in its "Files of type" combo box.

Note: To convert from AAC files, you must have DC-Bass Decoder installed.

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Select output format

Use the setting panel on the bottom of the window to control the output format. Click on the toggle to the left of the "Format" label to expand the panel. Select "WMA - Windows Media Audio" as the "Audio Type".

Note: To convert to WMA files, you must have Windows Media Format 9 runtime installed.

You can change the compressor, and depending on the compressor, you can change the sample rate, channel (stereo or mono), bits/sample, and bitrate.

Select output directory

Expand the "Output Directory" panel. Use the "Browse" button to select an output directory.

Convert

Click the "Convert" button on the tool bar.

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