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Audio Conversion

Convert M4P to MOV — Free Online Converter

Convert iTunes Protected AAC (.m4p) to QuickTime Movie (.mov) online for free. Fast, secure audio conversion with no watermarks or registration....

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How to Convert

1

Upload your .m4p file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.

2

Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.

3

Click Convert and download your .mov file when it's ready.

About M4P to MOV Conversion

M4P is Apple's protected iTunes audio container, while MOV (QuickTime Movie) is Apple's flagship multimedia container format dating back to 1991. Both M4P and MOV share the same MPEG-4/QuickTime container heritage — they use identical atom/box structures internally. Converting audio-only M4P to MOV wraps the audio in a QuickTime container, which is the native format for Apple's professional video and audio tools.

This conversion is particularly relevant for professional Apple workflows. Final Cut Pro, Motion, and Compressor all handle MOV natively with full metadata and timecode support. If you need to bring old iTunes audio into a Final Cut Pro timeline or a Motion project, MOV provides the most seamless integration within Apple's professional software suite.

Why Convert M4P to MOV?

Final Cut Pro and other Apple professional tools handle MOV files with zero import overhead — they are the native project format. If you are building a video project and want to include audio from your iTunes library as source material, converting to MOV ensures the smoothest possible import with full timeline integration, including proper audio sample display and scrubbing.

QuickTime MOV also supports metadata that is useful for professional workflows — timecode, reel names, and camera metadata. While these are primarily video metadata, the container's professional pedigree means that Apple's entire tool chain is optimized for MOV handling, from Finder preview to Spotlight indexing to AirDrop.

Common Use Cases

  • Import old iTunes audio into Final Cut Pro timelines as native MOV source media
  • Prepare iTunes music for Apple Motion projects requiring QuickTime audio input
  • Create MOV audio files for Compressor batch processing in Apple professional workflows
  • Maintain QuickTime format consistency in an all-MOV post-production media library
  • Package iTunes audio in Apple's native container for optimal Finder and Spotlight integration

How It Works

FFmpeg remuxes the AAC audio from the unprotected M4P into a QuickTime MOV container using stream copy (-c:a copy). Since M4P and MOV share the same underlying MPEG-4/QuickTime atom structure, this is a near-trivial container rewrite — the audio data and most metadata transfer directly. The output file uses the QuickTime file type atom ('qt ') rather than the ISO BMFF type used by M4P/M4A. Conversion is instantaneous.

Quality & Performance

Lossless via stream copy. The AAC audio data is bit-identical in the MOV output. No decoding or re-encoding occurs. The only change is the container identification and file extension. File sizes are virtually identical between M4P and MOV for the same audio content.

FFMPEG EngineFastMinimal Quality Loss

Device Compatibility

DeviceM4PMOV
Windows PCPartialPartial
macOSPartialNative
iPhone/iPadPartialNative
AndroidPartialPartial
LinuxPartialPartial
Web BrowserNoNo

Recommended Settings by Platform

Spotify

Resolution: N/A

Bitrate: 320 kbps

OGG Vorbis preferred

Apple Music

Resolution: N/A

Bitrate: 256 kbps

AAC format required

SoundCloud

Resolution: N/A

Bitrate: 128 kbps

Lossless FLAC/WAV for best quality

Podcast

Resolution: N/A

Bitrate: 128 kbps

MP3 mono for spoken word

Tips for Best Results

  • 1Use stream copy for instant lossless conversion — the container structures are nearly identical
  • 2MOV is best for Final Cut Pro and Motion workflows; use M4A for general music playback
  • 3Verify DRM is removed first; the QuickTime/MPEG-4 container family shares the same DRM mechanisms
  • 4Metadata transfers cleanly between M4P and MOV due to their shared container heritage
  • 5Batch convert your iTunes library to MOV only if your production workflow specifically requires it

M4P to MOV is a lightweight container conversion ideal for Apple professional workflows. The audio transfers losslessly and integrates natively with Final Cut Pro, Motion, and the entire Apple media tool chain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not for general music playback. M4A is the standard Apple audio format. MOV is better when working in professional Apple video/audio tools (Final Cut Pro, Motion) where MOV is the native format.
Yes. iTunes and the Music app can play audio-only MOV files, though they may categorize them differently than M4A files in the library.
Negligible. MOV and M4P share the same container family. File size differences are typically under 1 KB for the container metadata alone.
Yes. Tools like FFmpeg, mkvmerge, or Final Cut Pro can combine the audio-only MOV with a video track to create a standard audio+video MOV file.
For general music use, M4A is correct. MOV is specifically useful when working in Apple's professional video tools where MOV is the expected container format.

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