Save the audio of an iPhone or QuickTime MOV as an M4A for Apple's audio apps. Drop a .mov file below and the output is already set to M4A.
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Drag and drop your .mov file onto the box above, or click Choose Files. The request is already filled in: “Convert this to M4A”.
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The AI assistant uses sensible defaults. To choose the bitrate, codec or sample rate yourself, say so in the request, for example “Convert this to M4A at 320 kbps”.
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The assistant opens with your file and converts it on your own device; the file itself is never uploaded. When the M4A file is ready, click Save. Prefer to set everything by hand, or batch-convert several files into a ZIP? The classic converter is one click away on this page.
Recording an interview, rehearsal or lecture with the iPhone camera leaves you with a MOV that is mostly video data. Converting MOV to M4A keeps only the sound in Apple's own audio format, which imports straight into GarageBand, Logic Pro and the Music app at a fraction of the size.
The MOV's audio is decoded in your browser and encoded to AAC inside the M4A at a bitrate you set as a percentage of the original. If you plan to edit the audio heavily, choose the ALAC codec instead: Apple Lossless adds no further compression loss, at the cost of a larger file.
MOV (QuickTime File Format): MOV is Apple's QuickTime container. iPhones, iPads and Final Cut Pro record and export MOV natively, and it can hold high-quality H.264, HEVC or ProRes streams. It is best for Apple devices, iMovie and Final Cut Pro workflows.
M4A (MPEG-4 Audio): M4A is audio-only MP4, normally holding AAC (or lossless ALAC). It is the native format of iTunes, Apple Music and iPhone Voice Memos and sounds better than MP3 at the same bitrate. It is best for Apple devices, iTunes and voice memos.
In short: keep MOV when the priority is Apple devices, iMovie and Final Cut Pro workflows, and switch to M4A when the file is headed for Apple devices, iTunes and voice memos. Need a different target? The full Video Converter supports every format listed below.
No. The converter always decodes and re-encodes the track, so keep the bitrate at its default, the source's own (the classic converter's audio bitrate slider at 100%), or ask for ALAC to avoid a second lossy step altogether.
No. Only the audio track is decoded for an M4A, so the video codec setting on your iPhone makes no difference.
Yes. Converting MOV to M4A on Convertor.video is free, with no watermark and no sign-up. The AI assistant runs on a free daily allowance of assistant credits; the classic converter on this page has no daily limit at all.
No. The conversion runs inside your browser using FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, so your .mov file is read and converted on your own device and never uploaded, which keeps private recordings private and means there is no waiting in an upload queue. The AI assistant only sees what you type and basic facts about the file: its name, format, duration and size.
There is no plan or account limit, but the converter loads the whole MOV file into your browser's memory, so about 2 GB per file is the practical ceiling; larger files may fail to open. Long or high-resolution files also take longer, especially on phones.
Yes. Ask the AI assistant for a bitrate, codec or sample rate in your request. Audio track selection and every other setting are in the classic converter, one click away on this page.
M4A is a lossy format, so the MOV audio is decoded and re-encoded. Keep the bitrate at 100% (or pick 256 to 320 kbps) and the difference is inaudible for almost all listeners.
It is built and tested on current desktop Chrome and Edge. The conversion itself runs in WebAssembly, which every current desktop browser supports, so speed depends mostly on your computer's processor.