Last updated on 2013-07-25, by David Brooks

What is AAC format?

About AAC Format

AAC, or Advanced Audio Coding, is a lossy compression and encoding algorithm for digital audio. Designed by the MPEG group that includes Dolby, Sony, Nokia, FhG, and AT&T, it is believed to be the successor to MP3. AAC was officially declared an international standard in 1997. AAC is often referred to as “MP4 audio” as it is usually packaged inside an MP4 container.

AAC is also the default or standard audio format for iPhone, iPod, iPad, Nintendo DSi, iTunes, DivX Plus Web Player, PlayStation 3, HDTV, DVB, PDA and Apple TV. It is supported on PlayStation Portable, Wii (with the Photo Channel 1.1 update installed), Sony Walkman MP3 series and later, Sony Ericsson; Nokia, Android, BlackBerry, and webOS-based mobile phones. AAC has also seen moderate adoption on in-dash car audio especially on high-end units such as the Pioneer AVIC series. You can play AAC on ffdshow, The KM Player, Winamp, VLC, iTunes, Windows Media Player, XBMC, etc.

Advantages of AAC:

● Greater range of sample frequencies (from 8 kHz to 96 kHz)
● Better handling of audio frequencies above 16 kHz
● Up to 48 channels
● Variable frame length and random bitrates
● Simpler and more efficient filter bank
● Transient (block size: 192 > 128 samples) and stationary (block size: 576 > 1024 samples) signals and elimination spectral leakage

AAC provides several other advantages over MP3. It is capable of handling much higher and lower frequencies of sound, provides up to 48 channels of audio, and allows the creation of low-latency audio necessary for two-way communication. For example, AAC can be used for compressing telephone conversations on the fly, whereas using MP3 would introduce delays in the audio. AAC also allows for Digital Rights Management, or DRM, which can be used to control how the audio file is used. Unlike MP3, there is no public, free version of the encoding/decoding algorithms of AAC. All AAC users must license the technology from the VIA Licensing Corporation. AAC is most widely used in Apple Computer’s line of iPod portable music players and is part of the next-generation DVD specifications.

Related Software

Leawo Video Converter (AAC Converter): an easy video and audio solution for any format conversions, with fast speed and excellent output guaranteed. You can merely convert audio or can extract audio from video and then carry out audio conversion. AAC Converter not only converts common audios to audio with AAC encoder, but also converts AAC audio to other audio formats.

Leawo DVD Ripper (DVD to AAC Ripper): a useful DVD ripping program for users to rip DVD to video and audio in various formats. So with it you can enjoy great convenience to convert DVD to AAC audio for appreciation. This DVD to AAC Ripper enables you to convert DVD to AAC with fast speed and excellent output quality.

Related Source

ASF, WMV, AC-3, FFDShow, K-lite

External links

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AAC
http://www.videohelp.com/glossary?A#AAC
How to play AAC files