What is a .AAC file?
The .AAC file extension stands for Advanced Audio Coding File. This type of file is an audio file that works similarly to an .MP3 file. However, it uses a more modern compression method called Advanced Audio Coding (AAC). This method is a type of digital audio compression that is considered "lossy," meaning some original sound quality is lost in the compression process. Despite this, AAC files are designed to keep the audio quality almost as good as the original source, which makes them great for storing music.
AAC was developed by a group of companies including big names like Nokia, LG Electronics, Dolby, Sony, Panasonic, and NEC. It was first released in 1997 and later standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Compared to MP3, AAC files are better at handling higher frequencies (above 16 kHz) and offer more efficient compression, especially for both stationary and transient signals.
Many devices and platforms use AAC as their standard audio file format. For example, Apple devices like iPhones and services like Apple Music prefer AAC for audio encoding. Other platforms like the Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation 4 also use AAC.
To open an AAC file, you can use various media players and software. Some of the most popular ones include: - VideoLAN VLC Media Player: A versatile player that can handle numerous file types, including AAC. - Microsoft Media Player: Included with Windows operating systems, this player supports AAC files. - Apple Music: Available on Apple devices, this service uses AAC as its default format. - Audacity with FFmpeg library installed: This is a more advanced option for those who want to edit their AAC files. - Adobe Audition: A professional audio editing software that supports AAC files. - MPlayer and Clementine: Other media players that support a wide range of audio formats, including AAC. - Mobile apps like Videolabs VLC for Android and olimsoft OPlayer for iOS also support AAC files.
In some cases, AAC files might be saved with an .M4A file extension, but they still use the same AAC compression standard. This format is widely supported and can be a good choice for high-quality audio compression.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .AAC file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.