AAC facts for kids

AAC is a way to store digital music and sounds. It means Advanced Audio Coding. You might know it from Apple products like the iPod and iTunes. The group that created AAC, called MPEG, also invented the popular MP3 format.

Different Kinds of AAC

There are a few different types, or "flavors," of AAC. Each one is good for different things:

• AAC LC (Low Complexity): This version is often used by Apple for music on devices like iPods or stored on your computer. It uses more space but gives good sound quality.
• HE-AAC v1 (High-Efficiency): This version is better for sending music over the internet or to cell phones. It saves space, but the sound quality might not be quite as good. Some brand names for this type include aacPlus™ and AAC+.
• HE-AAC v2 (Even Higher-Efficiency): This is an even more efficient version for sending music over networks. It saves even more space. Brand names for this type include aacPlus™ v2 and eAAC+™.

What Do AAC File Names Mean?

AAC files often have different endings, called extensions. These endings tell you what kind of content is inside:

• `.aac` – This is for music only. It's not very common to see files with just this ending.
• `.m4a` – This is for music and other information, like the song title or artist.
• `.m4p` – This is for music and information that has DRM. DRM helps protect copyrighted content.
• `.m4b` – This is for audiobooks. Apple devices can remember where you stopped listening in an audiobook with this ending.
• `.m4r` – This is used by Apple for ringtones on iPhones.
• `.mp4` – This can be for music, video, or both, along with other information.

An AAC file that only has music and information might end with either `.m4a` or `.mp4`.

Adding Information to AAC Files

You can add extra information, called metadata, to AAC files. This metadata can include things like the song title, artist, album, and even the album cover art.

• A program for Linux/Unix called easytag can help you edit this information for files ending in `.m4a`.
• This cover art is used by programs like Apple's iTunes and other music players.
• Easytag cannot add chapter points to audiobooks (files ending in `.m4b`).

See also

In Spanish: AAC para niños