The Difference between MP3 & MP4
What is MP3?
MP3 is the acronym for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 format. Audio files are stored in a computer or a CD in a digital form. The MP3 format reduces the file size to 1/10th of the actual size. It is a digital audio codec, which means that, it compresses and decompresses digital sound, and is based on the method of perpetual coding. It uses the perpetual noise shaping algorithm that uses the hearing characteristics of the human ear. These characteristics include the ability of the human ear to hear the louder sounds when two sounds are played simultaneously. Also, the human ear cannot hear some sounds. Using this basic information, on the basis of the psychoacoustics model, the algorithm for MP3 format has been designed. Unwanted sounds are eliminated from the music for compressing files to this format. Altogether, it utilizes the lossy compression technique for music.
What is MP4?
MP4 is an acronym for MPEG-4 Part-14 (Moving Picture Experts Group). It is a container used to store digital audio and digital video, alongside subtitles and images. MP4 is a file format used to compress files, losslessly. MP4 uses AVC technology, i.e. advanced video coding. Video files consume a lot of space. By converting them to an MP4 format, unnecessary data which is not recognizable to the viewer, is deleted. Thus, the size of the file reduces. MP4 using the compression techniques that are more complex than those of the MP3 format.
The MP4 formats enables us to watching DVD quality videos on the Internet even at a speed less than 1 Mbps. These files are streamed on the Internet and can be downloaded as well as saved on a hard drive. The standard file extension is .mp4, but the audio file extension is .mp4a, and that for a video file is .mp4v.
That single-digit difference might give the impression that they are more-or-less the same thing, but nothing could be farther from the truth. Each and every have their own distinct uses, histories, and advantages — so allow me to repeat, MP3 and MP4 are not two editions of the same thing.
In this article, we’ll explain some of the key differences that everyone should know about. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll know exactly which file type is right for your needs.
Understanding MPEG
But before I dive into the differences, it’s important to understand from where the two file types originated.
MP3 is short for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3. It was one of two formats that were considered for the MPEG audio standard back in the early-1990s. Electronics firm Philips, French research institute CCETT, and Germany’s Institute for Broadcast Technology backed the format thanks to its simplicity, lack of errors, and computational efficiency.The decision was reached in 1991 and MP3 files entered the public domain in 1993.
MP4 stands for MPEG-4 Part 14. This technology is based on Apple’s QuickTime MOV format, but adds support for various other MPEG features. The file type was first released in 2001, but it’s the 2003 re-release that’s now commonly used when you see MP4 files.
Audio-Only vs. Digital Multimedia
The mostly fundamentals difference between MP3 and MP4 is the type of data they store.
MP3 files may be used for only audio, whereas MP4 files can store audio, video, still images, subtitles, and text. In the technicals terms, MP3 is an “audio coding” format while MP4 is a “digital multimedia container” format.
MP3: The King of Audio
Because they are so good at storing audio, MP3 files have become the de facto standard for music software, digital audio players, and music streaming sites. No matter which operating system or device you own, you can be confident MP3s will work right out of the box without a hitch.
The main reason they’re so popular is the way the file type works. MP3s use lossy compression, which vastly reduces the size of an audio file while barely affecting its quality. The process works by stripping out all the data that’s beyond the hearing range of the average person, then compressing the rest as efficiently as possible.
MP3s also allow users to balance the trade-off between audio quality and file size. If you’re an audiophile, you can opt for larger file sizes with higher bitrates and better audio quality. On the other hand, if you want to squeeze as much music as possible onto your portable device, you can reduce the file size and audio quality accordingly.
Furthermore, MP3s will always be smaller than equivalent MP4 files. If your audio play or smartphone is getting full, you should convert any audio saved as MP4 into the MP3 format. Note that you may take a hit to audio quality in the process!
MP4: More Uses, More Flexibility
MP4 files are “containers” — instead of storing the code for the file, they store the data. As such, MP4 files do not have a native ways of handle the coding of the file. To determines how the coding and compression will be handled, they rely on specific codecs.
There are hundreds of codecs out there today, but not many will work with mainstream MP4 players. In order for a player to be able to read and play an MP4 file, it must have the same codec itself. The most widely-supported codecs are:
Videos — MPEG-4 Parts 10 (H.264) and MPEG-4 Parts 2.
Audio— AAC, ALS, SLS, TTSI, MP3, and more also this ALAC
Subtitles — MPEG-4 Timed Text.
These codecs give MP4s a lot more flexibility than MP3. For example, M4A files (which are MP4 files that only contain audio) can handle both Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) and Apple Lossless Audio Coding (ALAC). The choice on quality resides with the user. Either way the file will appear as an MP4 file, but the data within the file will differ vastly.
Beside audio, MP4 files can also contains video, images, and text. You will often see various file extensions that give an indication of the type of data within the container. Here are some of the most common:
MP4 — The only official extension.
M4A — Non-protected audio.
M4P — Audio encrypted by FairPlay Digital Rights Management.
M4B — Audiobooks and podcasts.
M4V — MPEG-4 Visual bitstreams.
Understanding File Metadata
Both MP3 and MP4 files support metadata. Without it, it would be impossible to effectively use music player apps (like iTunes) or home media servers (like Plex).
MP3 files use ID3 tags. They allow informations such as : song title, artist, album, tracks numbers, and even album artwork to be stored within the file itself. The tags are saving at the ending of the file’s code — their contents are either extracted by decoders or ignored as junk non-MP3 data. You can edit these tags using the popular Mp3tag.
Other pertinent information, such as ReplayGain data or DRM restrictions, can also be saved within the metadata.
MP4 files can implement metadata in the same way as MP3s, but they also introduce the Extensible Metadata Platform (XMP). XMP metadata is well-suited for MP4’s container format thanks to its compatibility with a vast number of file types, including PDF, JPEG, GIF, PNG, HTML, TIFF, Adobe Illustrator, PSD, WAV, and PostScript.
MP3 and MP4 in a Nutshell
I’ve tried to give you a balanced insight into the two file types without being too technical, and I hope you’ve now got a clearer understanding of the two formats.
In the summary, if you’re saving audio for using on portable players, you should look to the MP3. If you want to save video, or you want to stream your content over the internet, you should use MP4.
MP3 MP4
Incoding format using lossy' compression technique Multimedia container used for storage
Introduced in 1999 Introduced in 2003
Extension of MP2 Extension of Apple's Quicktime Technology
Developed by CCETT, Fraunhofer Society, Philips & IRT Developed by International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
File extension .mp3 File extension .mp4
Also known as MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 Format and you may be also known as MPEG-4 Part 14 Format
Only audio files can be compressed and stored Audio, video, text and picture files can be stored
ISO Standards are ISO/IEC 11172-3, ISO/IEC 13818-3 ISO Standard is ISO/IEC 14496-14
Compatible with most music players Compatible with few players including iPad and iPhone
Uses lossy compression algorithm Uses AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) and AVC (Advanced Video Coding) technology.
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