What is Apple Lossless?
Apple Lossless is an audio codec developed by Apple Inc. that enables lossless data compression of digital music. The codec stores audio data within an MP4 container, using the .m4a file extension. Unlike the AAC audio format, which is a lossy compression method, Apple Lossless employs a lossless approach akin to other codecs such as FLAC and Shorten, utilizing linear prediction techniques. All current iPod and iPhone devices support playback of Apple Lossless-encoded files, and the format does not inherently incorporate any digital rights management (DRM) mechanisms
Highlights
- Lossless data compression of digital music
- Stores audio data in an MP4 container with .m4a file extension
- Distinct from the lossy AAC format, using lossless compression similar to FLAC and Shorten
- Supported on all current iPod and iPhone devices
- Does not use digital rights management (DRM) by default
Platforms
- Mac
- Windows
Languages
- English
Features
Lossless Compression