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Topic: .m4a sounds different on iTunes (Read 4677 times) previous topic - next topic
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.m4a sounds different on iTunes

I have recently found - trying to convert my music to sell on iTunes - that in .mp4 extention, the song sounds fine, but the moment I change the file extention (of the very same file) to .m4a, it sounds 'spacey' or as if their is a reverb filter. Changing the same file's extention back to .mp4, and voila: it sounds well again. The very same .m4a also sounds fine in real player. I have tried various .m4a converters, and they all do exactly the same. Somehow, iTunes reads the .m4a differently, adding a reverb like effect.

This frustrates the hell out of me - any help?


(Thing is - I need to send it as .m4a, and not .mp4, as .mp4 is supposed to be for video on ipod only).

Thanks

.m4a sounds different on iTunes

Reply #1 –
Did you make sure Sound Enhancer isn't enabled in the iTunes preferences? It's on by default under Mac OS

.m4a sounds different on iTunes

Reply #2 –
Quote from: rudefyet on
Did you make sure Sound Enhancer isn't enabled in the iTunes preferences? It's on by default under Mac OS


You have made my month - thanks a lot. I thought it might be something to do with that , but somehow I kept missing what I was looking for (looked for EQ). Found the 'sound enhancer', switched it off, et voila!

Strange that it doesn't do it with mp4 files; only with .m4a's.

Thanks yet again

.m4a sounds different on iTunes

Reply #3 –
It sees the .mp4 extension as more a movie than an audio file from my experience with iTunes.
Zune 80, Tak -p4 audio library, Lossless=Choice

.m4a sounds different on iTunes

Reply #4 –
Quote from: rudefyet on
Did you make sure Sound Enhancer isn't enabled in the iTunes preferences? It's on by default under Mac OS

I haven't found that to be the case. I just checked four of my Macs, and none of them had Sound Enhancer turned on.

I agree that Sound Enhancer is anything but. Crap processing if you ask me.  the one time I checked it out years ago, they were basically increasing the level of the L-R component to increase stereo separation, and also tweaking the EQ a bit. Neither improves sound quality. It's essentially a higher-tech version of the old "loudness" control boost found in old stereo systems.

--Vidiot