What is MP4? Difference between MP3 and MP4
MP4 files are just a newer and better version of MP3 files, right?
Well, no.
This one-digit difference may give the impression that they are more or less the same, but nothing could be further from the truth. Each has its own uses, history, and benefits, so let me repeat, MP3 and MP4 are not the same.
In this article, we will explain some key differences that everyone should know about. When you finish reading, you will know exactly what type of file suits your needs.
Understanding MPEG
But before delving into the differences, it’s important to understand where the two types of files come from.
MP3 is the abbreviation for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3. It was one of two formats considered for the MPEG audio standard in the early 1990s. Electronics firm Philips, French research institute CCETT, and German Institute of Broadcast Technology supported the format because of its simplicity, without errors and computational efficiency.
The decision was made in 1991 and the MP3 files were made public in 1993.
MP4 means MPEG-4 part 14. This technology is based on Apple’s QuickTime MOV format, but adds support for other MPEG functions. The file type was first released in 2001, but it is a 2003 reissue that is now widely used when viewing MP4 files.
Audio only versus digital media
The most fundamental difference between MP3 and MP4 lies in the type of data they store.
MP3 files can only be used for audio, while MP4 files can store audio, video, still images, subtitles, and text. Technically speaking, MP3 is an “audio encoding” format and MP4 is a “digital media container.”
MP3: King of Audio
Because they store audio so well, MP3 files have become the de facto standard
for music software, digital audio players, and music streaming sites. No matter what operating system or device you have, you can be sure that MP3s will work without any problem.
, which significantly reduces the size of the audio file, practically without affecting its quality. The process works by removing any data that is outside of the average person’s hearing range, and then compressing the rest as efficiently as possible.
MP3 files also allow users to find a balance between sound quality and file size.
If you are a music lover, you can choose a larger file size with a higher bit rate and better sound quality. On the other hand, if you want to include as much music on your portable device as possible, you can reduce the file size and sound quality accordingly.
Also, MP3s will always be smaller than equivalent MP4 files. If your audio player or smartphone fills up, you should convert any audio saved in MP4 format to MP3 format. Please note that it may affect sound quality in the process!
MP4: more options, more flexibility
MP4 files are “containers”: instead of storing the file’s code, they store data. So MP4 files don’t have their own way of handling file encoding. They are based on specific codecs to determine how encoding and compression will be handled.
There are hundreds of codecs on the market today, but not many will work with normal MP4 players. For a player to be able to read and play an MP4 file, it must have the same codec. Most supported codecs:
video: MPEG-4 part 10 (H.264) and MPEG-4 part 2.
audio: AAC, ALS, SLS, TTSI, MP3 and ALAC.
Subtitles: MPEG-4 synchronized text.
These codecs give MP4 much more flexibility than MP3. For example, M4A files (which are MP4 files that only contain audio) can handle both Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) and Apple Lossless Audio Coding (ALAC). The choice of quality is up to the user. Either way, the file will appear as an MP4 file, but the data in that file will vary greatly.
Also read: How do browsers process web pages and why don’t they look the same?
Besides audio, MP4 files can also contain video, images, and text. You will often see multiple file extensions indicating the type of data in the container. Some of the most common are:
MP4 – the only official extension.
M4A – Unprotected sound.
M4P – Audio encrypted by FairPlay Digital Rights Management.
M4B: audiobooks and podcasts.
M4V: MPEG-4 visual bitstreams.
Understand file metadata
MP3 and MP4 files support metadata. Without it, it would be impossible to use music player applications effectively.
MP3 files use ID3 tags
, They allow information such as song title, artist, album, track number, and even album art to be stored in the file. Tags are stored at the end of the file code; its content is retrieved by decoders or ignored as unnecessary non-MP3 data.
Other relevant information, such as ReplayGain data or DRM restrictions
it can also be stored in metadata.
MP4 files can implement metadata in the same way as MP3 files, but they also represent the Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP). XMP metadata works well for the MP4 container format due to its support for a large number of file types, including PDF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, HTML, TIFF, Adobe Illustrator, PSD, WAV, and PostScript.
MP3 and MP4 in a nutshell
I have tried to give you a balanced view of the two file types without being too technical, and hope that you now have a clearer understanding of the two formats.
Therefore, if you are saving audio for use on portable players, you must use MP3. If you want to save videos or stream your content over the Internet, you must use MP4.
