The difference between MP3 and MP4

MP4 newer and better than MP3? Oh, that's not it.

The first difference is the number, it usually points to this more or less than the other but that's not always true. They have their own uses, history and advantages. So, let me reaffirm once again that MP3 and MP4 are not two versions of the same product.

In this article, we will explain the differences of MP3 and MP4 that people need to know. At the same time, after reading, readers will know exactly what file types they need.

MPEG

Before going into the difference, you should know the origin of these two types of files.

MP3 stands for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3. In the early 90s, it was considered one of the two standard audio formats of MPEG. Philips electronics firm, CCETT France Research Institute, and the German Information Communication Institute can back up the format thanks to its simplicity, error and efficiency.

File MP3 was decided to be released in 1991 and used in republics in 1993.

And MP4 stands for MPEG-4 Part 14. This technology is based on the format of Apple's QuickTime MOV, but adds other diverse features of MPEG. This type of file was first released in 2001 but until 2003 it was reissued and widely used to this day.

Only Audio and Digital Media

The main difference between MP3 and MP4 is the data they store.

MP3 can only be used for audio, whereas MP4 can store audio, photos, text, even video. In technology terminology, MP3 is the "audio backup" format while MP4 is the "multimedia storage" format.

MP3: The king of audio

Because MP3 files back up very well, they become the standard for music, music players, and music websites.

No matter what operating system or device you own, believe that you don't need to do anything, it will still do its job.

The main reason MP3 is widely used is because of its way of operation. It will remove all data containing the sounds that a normal person cannot hear, then compress the remaining data to the maximum.

MP3 allows users to balance audio quality and file size. If you are an audiophile, you can adjust large file sizes to match higher bit rates and better audio quality. On the other hand, if you want to compress multiple songs into a portable device, you can reduce the file volume and audio quality accordingly.

In addition, MP3 files are usually smaller than MP4 files, if the music player or smartphone is full, you should convert audio files from MP4 to MP3.

MP4: Diversified and more flexible

MP4 files are like containers - instead of storing the encryption of files, they store data. Thus, we cannot handle the encoding of MP4 files in the usual way. To handle encryption and compression, they will have to migrate to special encryption.

Currently, there are hundreds of different encodings but only a few new encodings combine with many MP4 players. A model can read and run an MP4 file, it must contain the same encoding. Some common support encodings are:

1. Video - MPEG-4 Part 10 (H.264) and MPEG-4 Part 2.
2. Audio - AAC, ALS, SLS, TTSI, MP3, and ALAC.
3. Subtitles - MPEG-4 Timed Text.

These encodings make MP4 files more flexible than MP3. For example, M4A files - containing only MP4 audio can control Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) and Apple Lossless Audio Coding (ALAC).
Users can choose arbitrary quality. Or this flie will be like an MP4 file but the data will be relatively different.

In addition to audio output, MP4 can contain videos, photos and text. But you often find that its various variations. Eg:

1. MP4 - The only official extension.
2. M4A - Non-protected audio.
3. M4P - Audio encrypted by FairPlay Digital Rights Management.
4. M4B - Audiobooks and podcasts.
5. M4V - MPEG-4 Visual bitstreams.

Learn about Metadata

Both MP3 and MP4 formats support Metadata. Without this kind of data, we can't take full advantage of the features of music players (like Itunes) or media channel applications (like Plex).

Mp3 format uses ID3 information store, which allows us to save information such as song title, artist, album into the file. The above information is saved at the end of each file's code. The contents of the information can be read using code translators or listed as "non-MP3". Valid information like ReplayGain (music analysis) or DRM restrictions (book information) can also be saved in metadata.

Mp4 format can also interact with metadata as it is on an extended metadata platform (EXTENSIBLE METADATA PLATFORM - XMP). XMP metadata is suitable for MP4's information storage method because it can interact with a variety of formats such as PDF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, HTML, TIFF, Adobe Illustrator, PSD, WAV, and PostScript.

Conclude

So, I have brought to you the most general views about 2 MP3 and MP4 formats in the simplest way possible.

Hopefully you have a better understanding of these two types of formats.

If you intend to download music to a portable music player, MP3 is the ideal choice. Conversely, if you want to save videos or share videos online, MP4 is the format you need.