Apart from the official iBooks (iOS), Google Play Books (Android), Audible (iOS and Android), or other audiobook services that provide DRM-protected content, certain apps available on both platforms also allow you to play M4B or MP3 formatted audiobooks locally from your device or stream them from the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud, etc.). How to convert M4A to MP3 online. 1 To get started, upload one or more M4A files. You can upload files from your computer, via a link or from the file storage. 2 Next, click the 'Convert' button and wait for the conversion to complete. 3 Now your MP3 file (s) is ready!
| Name | M4B | MP3 |
| Full name | MPEG-4 Audio Layer Bookmarkable File | MP3 - MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III |
| File extension | .m4b | .mp3 |
| MIME type | audio/m4b | audio/mpeg, audio/MPA, audio/mpa-robust |
| Developed by | Apple | Fraunhofer Institute |
| Type of format | Music File | Digital audio |
| Description | Audiobook and podcast files containing metadata including chapter markers, images, and hyperlinks can use the extension .m4a but more commonly use the .m4b extension. M4b files support metadata for chapters and bookmarking on supporting players and most commonly uses AAC (Advanced Audio Codec). | MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is an audio coding format for digital audio that uses lossy data compression. It is a common audio format for consumer audio streaming or storage and a de facto standard of digital audio compression for the transfer and playback of music on most digital audio players. |
| Technical details | The audio in a .m4b file is encoded with the AAC compression format and can therefore be protected with Apple's FairPlay DRM copy protection system. In addition, M4b files can contain metadata as defined by the format standard and, in addition, can contain Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP) metadata. | Lossy compression is designed to reduce significantly the amount of data required to represent the audio recording and still sound like a faithful reproduction of the original uncompressed audio. For example, an MP3 file created using the setting of 128 kbit/s will result in a file about 1/11 the size of the CD file created from the original audio source. |
| File conversion | M4B conversion | MP3 conversion |
| Associated programs | Apple QuickTime Player, Apple iTunes | VLC media player, MPlayer, Winamp, foobar2000. |
| Wiki | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_14 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3 |
By Sarah ConnorUpdated on May 28, 2021
Want to listen to iTunes M4B audiobooks on MP3 players? A guide for converting iTunes protected audiobooks files to MP3 format so as to enjoy M4B audiobooks on mobile or MP3 players. Or you can keep your iTunes Audiobooks by recording and saving in MP3.
“The audiobook I’ve downloaded from iTunes Store, which extension is M4B that is not compatible with my .mp3 player. Is there a way to put them on my mp3 player, even though it is iTunes protected?”
Enjoying audiobooks are really a great way of relaxing ourselves. M4B is a file format that commonly used by audiobooks files that you purchase from Apple iTunes store. However, no matter M4B audiobooks, M4A audiobooks, or .AA audiobooks, normally, they are DRM protected, so you can not play iTunes M4B audiobooks on Amazon Kindle Fire, MP3 players, Android devices (Samsung Galaxy, HTC, SONY, Window Phone) or other popular devices. To overcome this issue, you’d better convert iTunes M4B audiobooks to MP3 audios.
Why need to convert iTunes audiobooks to MP3 instead of other audio formats? Generally, MP3 is a more compatible audio format with nearly all portable audio players. If we can convert .AA audiobooks to MP3, or .M4B audiobooks to MP3, that would be perfect. To enjoy iTunes Audiobooks in MP3 format, you can seek help from Apple Music Converter and Screen Recorder programs. The following explains the features of the two methods for you. The final step of both is to save iTunes M4B audiobooks files into MP3 format. In addition, you have the opportunity to convert Audible AA and AX audiobooks to MP3 and other compatible formats for your device. Let’s see how they work:
Solution 1: Convert iTunes M4B Audiobooks to MP3 via Apple Music Converter
For the DRM protected M4B files, you should pick a program which is specially designed to remove DRM lock from iTunes M4B Audiobooks and convert them to MP3. It is recommend to use a M4B to MP3 Converter – Apple Music Converter. It is an ideal M4B to MP3 Audiobooks converter that not only convert Apple Music to MP3, but also convert DRM-ed M4B, AA, AAX audiobooks to MP3, M4A, FLAC, AIFF, MKA, etc. The conversion can be achieved within minutes, and the original audio quality will be preserved intact.
Now you can rely on Apple Music Converter to change your .m4b files into .mp3 format. First of all, get the program downloaded to your computer or Mac.
How to Convert iTunes Protected M4B to MP3 with Ease
Before you start, you should have iTunes protected audiobooks added to the iTunes Library.
Step 1. Launch Apple Music Converter
After installation, launch this Apple Music Converter on your PC. iTunes will be automatically opened to work with this program.
Step 2. Select the M4B Audiobooks
This program will detect all audiobooks in iTunes library, so you just need to click “Audiobooks” category in left sidebar, then all M4B audiobooks will be displayed. Choose the M4B Audiobooks you want to convert.
Step 3. Choose MP3 as Output Format
The “Output Settings” allows you to choose the output format as MP3 from the drop-down list. Other popular audio formats like WMA, WAV, AAC, etc. are also provided for your choice.
Step 4. Start Converting M4B Files to MP3
Mp3 To M4b Windows
After completing the above steps, click “Convert” button to start converting iTunes M4B Audiobooks to MP3 on Windows or Mac computer.
After the conversion finished, click “Find Target” to find the unprotected MP3 file. Now you can enjoy the iTunes M4B audiobooks everywhere you like!
Useful Tip: Do you want to know how to convert iTunes M4V movies/videos to MP4?
To convert iTunes protected videos to DRM-free MP4, you can choose to use freeware, online service or specific M4V to MP4 converter to change your .m4v files into .mp4 format. iTunes M4V to MP4 Converter is highly recommended for Windows users. It can performs as a professional M4V to MP4 converter and convert M4V to AVI, WMV, FLV, 3PG, MKV, AAVI formats with fast speed and high quality.
Solution 2: Save iTunes M4B Audiobooks as MP3 Files via Screen Recorder
Another way for you is to record favorite voice or song on the computer and then save them to MP3 format. Screen Recorder has the capability to only capture audio on your computer. This function enables you to record various music, radio or online audio instead of downloading them. You can save the recorded iTunes Audiobooks in MP3/WMA/AAC/M4A for easy playback. All the iTunes M4B Audiobooks keeps HD audio quality from the system audio. Besides, it can be used to record online videos and record the whole game playing processes while you playing games and share some skills with friends.
How to Record iTunes M4B Audiobooks in MP3 Format
Step 1 Lauch Screen Recorder on computer
To start with, install and launch the progarm on your comouter. You will see the main interface. Then choose “Audio Recorder”.
Step 2 Open System Sound Option
After that, you should open System Sound and turn off Microphone option to ensure you can capture the audio.
Step 3 Set MP3 as Audio Recording Output Format
In “Settings”, select MP3 as output format. You can also select other output format like WMA, M4A, AAC.
M4b To Mp3 Mac Free Converter
Step 4 Start Recording
Go to iTunes to play your audiobook, click on the “REC” button and you see the 3-2-1 icon in the middle of the screen, the program starts recording iTunes M4B audiobook.
When you’re done, you can click to Play to listen your recorded audiobooks. If you are satisfied, click “Save” to transfer the audiobook in MP3 format to your computer.
Great, you can now enjoy iTunes audiobooks without any restrictions.
Solution 3: Tips: Convert Audible AA/AAX Audiobooks to MP3 via Audible Converter
In addition to the iTunes store, we can also purchase and download audiobooks from Audible.com. If you have purchased a lot of Audible audiobooks, then you can’t miss the following section. As we all know, all downloaded Audible books are saved in .aa or .aax format locked by DRM and can only be accessed through Audible app or iTunes program. To play Audible AA/AAX audiobooks on any MP3 player, you need to convert Audible AA/AAX audiobooks to MP3, M4A or other common formats. Here you can rely on UkeySoft Audible Audiobook Converter.
UkeySoft Audible Converter is dedicated to cracking Audible DRM and converting Audible AA and AAX files to MP3, M4A, M4B, AAC, WAV, FLAC, OGG, AC3, AIFF format with chapter preserved. Even better, it can work alone, no iTunes and Audible account authorization are required. Amazingly, it not only can preserve the original audio quality, ID3 tags and metadata in the output audios, but also lets you customize the output quality and edit the ID3 tags of the audiobooks, including title, album, author, genre, comments, etc.
If your collected audiobook is too long, don’t worry, it allows you to split the entire audiobook into small clips by chapter or time. With an innovative encoding method, it works perfectly on Windows and Mac OS, with up to 700X super faster speed when converting Audible books to MP3, M4A files. By using this smart tool, you can freely listen to Audible books on any MP3 player, iPods, Sony Walkman, iRiver, Kindle, PSP, PS4, iPhone, Android devices, car player, smart speakers, etc.
Pros:
1. Easy to use with a simple interface.
2. Convert Audible files to popular formats with chapters kept.
3. Cut the entire audiobook into several chapters.
4. Not need to install iTunes nor authorize Audible account.
5. Customize the audio quality for the output audiobooks.
6. Batch Conversion, works at up to 700 faster speed.
7. Keep and edit ID3 tags and metadata information.
Cons:
Only supports to convert AA and AAX audiobooks.
Easy Steps to Convert Audible Audiobooks to MP3
Step 1. Install and launch this UkeySoft Audible Audiobook Converter on Mac/PC. Click “Add” to import the .aa/.aax files, or directly drag and drop the .aa/.aax files to the conversion area.
Step 2. Click “Options” to customize Output Settings, like Output Format, codec, Sample Rate, Bitrate, etc. Here you should select MP3 format.
Step 3. Hit on “Convert” button to start converting Audible books from .aa or .aax to MP3 format with lossless quality. After that, click “History” to view the well converted Audible files.
Download the UkeySoft Audible Converter and try to convert your Audible AA/AAX files.
To Sum Up:
You can easily and freely enjoy iTunes M4B audiobooks in MP3 format for playable with the previous 2 solutions. If you are not pursuing high sound quality, Solution 2 is absolutely perfect. But if you want to convert iTunes audiobooks to MP3 format without quality loss, then there is no substitute for Solution 1. In addition to convert iTunes M4B/M4A audibooks and Audible AA/AAX books, this Apple Music Converter also supports to convert Apple Music and iTunes purchased songs to MP3, M4A and more formats. Compare with Solution 1, Solution 2 takes a lot of time because you can only record audios one after the other. This is its biggest shortcoming. Therefore, the first method is the best in terms of time. By the way, to quickly and losslesly convert Audible AA or AAX audiobooks to MP3, M4A, M4B, etc., you can try the Audible Audiobook Converter!
Related Article
Comments
Prompt: you need to log in before you can comment.
No account yet. Please click here to register.