M4A

Introduction

M4P files are iTunes protected media format in AAC audio codec. M4A files are the same but without the protection.

How to

If the M4P audio files in question are the purchased, DRM'd downloads from iTunes, check HOWTO Convert from iTunes.

If you want to play unprotected M4A files using xmms, just emerge the latest version of faad2 with xmms USE flag:

# echo "media-libs xmms" >> /etc/portage/package.use
# emerge --ask faad2

But if you want to play it in amarok, you must emerge the latest version of the backend you want to use with aac USE flag enabled, for example xine-lib.