Supported Audio/Video Formats
Quick Answer
Audio Jam supports most common audio and video formats:
✅ Audio Formats:
- MP3, M4A, AAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, OGG
✅ Video Formats:
- MP4, MOV, M4V (audio extracted automatically)
❌ NOT Supported:
- DRM-protected files (Apple Music subscription, Spotify streaming, etc.)
- Proprietary formats
- Encrypted files
Supported Audio Formats
✅ MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3)
File extension: .mp3
Quality: Good to excellent (depends on bitrate)
Bitrate range: 128 kbps - 320 kbps
Best for:
- Most common format
- Universal compatibility
- Good balance of quality and size
- Widely available
Recommended bitrate: 256 kbps or 320 kbps for best results
Audio Jam performance:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent
- Fast processing
- Great chord detection
- High-quality stem separation
✅ M4A (MPEG-4 Audio)
File extension: .m4a
Quality: Excellent
Common sources:
- iTunes Store purchases
- Apple Music downloads (purchased, not subscription)
- iPhone recordings
- Modern audio files
Best for:
- Apple ecosystem
- High quality at smaller file size
- iTunes purchases
Audio Jam performance:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent
- Native iOS format
- Optimal processing
- Best compatibility
✅ AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
File extension: .aac or .m4a
Quality: Excellent
Common sources:
- Modern streaming (when downloaded)
- YouTube audio
- Professional audio
Best for:
- High quality
- Efficient compression
- Modern standard
Audio Jam performance:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent
- Modern codec
- Great results
✅ WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)
File extension: .wav
Quality: Lossless (uncompressed)
File size: Very large (10x larger than MP3)
Common sources:
- Professional audio
- CD rips
- Studio recordings
- High-quality exports
Best for:
- Maximum quality
- Professional use
- Critical listening
- Best stem separation results
Audio Jam performance:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent (best possible)
- Highest quality input
- Best chord detection
- Best stem separation
- Larger files, longer processing
✅ FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
File extension: .flac
Quality: Lossless (compressed)
File size: Medium (50% of WAV, 2-3x MP3)
Common sources:
- High-quality downloads
- Audiophile sources
- Bandcamp
- Music archives
Best for:
- Lossless quality
- Smaller than WAV
- Audiophile listening
- Best quality/size balance
Audio Jam performance:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent
- Lossless quality
- Best results for features
- Recommended for serious practice
✅ AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format)
File extension: .aiff or .aif
Quality: Lossless (uncompressed)
File size: Very large (similar to WAV)
Common sources:
- Mac/Apple systems
- Professional audio
- Logic Pro exports
Best for:
- Apple ecosystem
- Professional use
- Maximum quality
Audio Jam performance:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent
- Lossless quality
- Great results
✅ OGG (Ogg Vorbis)
File extension: .ogg
Quality: Good to excellent
Common sources:
- Open-source projects
- Game audio
- Some streaming services
Best for:
- Open-source preference
- Good quality
Audio Jam performance:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good
- Less common but supported
- Good results
Supported Video Formats
Audio Jam can extract audio from video files:
✅ MP4 (MPEG-4 Video)
File extension: .mp4
Common sources:
- Screen recordings
- YouTube downloads
- Video files
- Most common video format
How it works:
- Audio Jam extracts audio automatically
- Video is not displayed
- Audio processed normally
Audio Jam performance:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good
- Audio quality depends on source
- Automatic extraction
✅ MOV (QuickTime Movie)
File extension: .mov
Common sources:
- iPhone/iPad recordings
- Mac screen recordings
- QuickTime exports
How it works:
- Audio extracted automatically
- Apple native format
Audio Jam performance:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good
- Native iOS format
- Seamless extraction
✅ M4V (iTunes Video)
File extension: .m4v
Common sources:
- iTunes video purchases
- Apple video files
How it works:
- Audio extracted automatically
- Similar to MP4
Audio Jam performance:
- ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very good
- Apple format
- Good compatibility
NOT Supported Formats
❌ DRM-Protected Files
What they are:
- Apple Music subscription streaming
- Spotify streaming
- Amazon Music Unlimited streaming
- Other subscription services
Why not supported:
- Encrypted with DRM (Digital Rights Management)
- Can only play in official apps
- Technical limitation, not a choice
- Copyright protection
Solution:
- Purchase songs individually (removes DRM)
- Use free music sources
- See article "How to Get Importable Music Files"
❌ Proprietary Formats
Examples:
.wma(Windows Media Audio).ra(RealAudio).amr(Adaptive Multi-Rate)- Other uncommon formats
Solution:
- Convert to MP3 or M4A using audio converter
- Many free converters available online
- Recommended: Audacity, FFmpeg, online converters
❌ MIDI Files
File extension: .mid or .midi
Why not supported:
- MIDI is not audio, it's musical data
- No actual sound, just instructions
- Requires synthesizer to play
Solution:
- Render MIDI to audio (WAV, MP3) first
- Use DAW or MIDI player to export audio
Format Recommendations
For Best Quality
Recommended:
- FLAC - Lossless, reasonable size ⭐ Best choice
- WAV - Lossless, large files
- AIFF - Lossless, Apple format
Why:
- Maximum audio quality
- Best chord detection
- Best stem separation
- Clearest results
When to use:
- Serious practice
- Professional use
- Critical listening
- Important songs
For Balanced Quality/Size
Recommended:
- MP3 (320 kbps) - Great quality, small size ⭐ Most practical
- M4A (256+ kbps) - Excellent quality, efficient
- AAC (256+ kbps) - Modern, efficient
Why:
- Very good quality
- Reasonable file size
- Fast processing
- Practical for most users
When to use:
- Regular practice
- Building music library
- Most use cases
For Quick Practice
Acceptable:
- MP3 (192 kbps) - Good enough
- M4A (128+ kbps) - Acceptable
Why:
- Smaller files
- Faster downloads
- Quick practice sessions
When to use:
- Casual practice
- Testing songs
- Limited storage
Quality Comparison
| Format | Quality | File Size | Processing Speed | Recommended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLAC | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Large | Slower | ✅ Best quality |
| WAV | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Very Large | Slower | ✅ Maximum quality |
| MP3 320kbps | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Small | Fast | ✅ Best balance |
| M4A 256kbps | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Small | Fast | ✅ Great choice |
| AAC 256kbps | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Small | Fast | ✅ Modern standard |
| MP3 192kbps | ⭐⭐⭐ | Very Small | Very Fast | ⚠️ Acceptable |
| MP3 128kbps | ⭐⭐ | Tiny | Very Fast | ⚠️ Low quality |
How to Check Your File Format
On iOS/iPad:
Method 1: Files App
- Open Files app
- Find your audio file
- Long-press on file
- Select "Get Info"
- Check file extension and details
Method 2: File Name
- Look at file name
- Extension after the dot:
song.mp3= MP3 format
On Computer:
Windows:
- Right-click file
- Select "Properties"
- Check "Type of file"
Mac:
- Right-click file
- Select "Get Info"
- Check "Kind"
Converting File Formats
When to Convert
Convert when:
- File format not supported
- Want better quality
- Need smaller file size
- Preparing for import
Recommended Converters
Free Desktop Apps:
Audacity (Windows, Mac, Linux)
- Free and open-source
- High quality
- Many format options
FFmpeg (Command line)
- Professional tool
- Highest quality
- Advanced users
Online Converters:
- Search "audio converter online"
- Many free options
- Upload → Convert → Download
- Convenient but check privacy
Mobile Apps:
- Various converter apps on App Store
- Check reviews before using
- Some free, some paid
Conversion Tips
✅ Best Practices:
- Convert to MP3 (320 kbps) or M4A (256 kbps)
- Use high-quality source files
- Don't convert multiple times (quality loss)
- Keep original files as backup
❌ Avoid:
- Converting from low to high bitrate (doesn't improve quality)
- Multiple conversions (each loses quality)
- Untrusted online converters (privacy risk)
File Size Guidelines
Typical File Sizes (4-minute song)
| Format | Approximate Size |
|---|---|
| FLAC | 25-35 MB |
| WAV | 40-50 MB |
| MP3 320kbps | 9-10 MB |
| MP3 256kbps | 7-8 MB |
| MP3 192kbps | 5-6 MB |
| MP3 128kbps | 3-4 MB |
| M4A 256kbps | 7-8 MB |
Storage Planning
For 100 songs:
- FLAC: ~3 GB
- WAV: ~4.5 GB
- MP3 320kbps: ~1 GB
- MP3 192kbps: ~600 MB
Recommendation:
- Ensure 5-10 GB free space on device
- Use cloud storage for backup
- Delete unused songs regularly
Troubleshooting
File Won't Import
Check:
- File format supported? - See list above
- File DRM-protected? - Purchase instead of streaming
- File corrupted? - Try re-downloading
- File in iCloud only? - Download locally first
- Enough storage space? - Free up space
Poor Quality After Import
Possible causes:
- Low-quality source file (low bitrate)
- Multiple conversions
- Compressed format
Solution:
- Use higher quality source
- Download in better format
- Avoid multiple conversions
File Too Large
Solutions:
- Convert to MP3 (320 kbps)
- Use M4A instead of WAV
- Compress without losing much quality
- Delete after importing (Audio Jam keeps copy)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the best format for Audio Jam? A: FLAC for best quality, MP3 (320 kbps) for best balance of quality and size.
Q: Can I import Apple Music subscription songs? A: No, they're DRM-protected. Purchase songs individually instead.
Q: Can I import Spotify songs? A: Not directly. Use third-party download tools or see "How to Get Importable Music Files."
Q: Does Audio Jam support video files? A: Yes! MP4, MOV, M4V - audio is extracted automatically.
Q: What if my format isn't supported? A: Convert to MP3 or M4A using free converter tools.
Q: Does higher quality make a difference? A: Yes! Better source quality = better chord detection and stem separation.
Q: Can I import CD rips? A: Yes! WAV or FLAC from CDs work perfectly.
Q: What about YouTube downloads? A: If downloaded as MP3/M4A, they work fine. Quality depends on source.
Q: Do I need lossless formats? A: Not necessary, but recommended for best results. MP3 320kbps is excellent for most users.
Q: Can I import files from Dropbox/Google Drive? A: Yes! Download to device first, then import to Audio Jam.