CAVS to M4A Converter
Convert CAVS to M4A online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.
Maximum file size is 1GB
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Three steps to your converted file
Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.
Upload your file
Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.
Choose an output format
Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.
Convert & download
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What is a CAVS file?
The CAVS (Chinese Audio Video Standard) file format is a digital video compression standard developed by the Audio Video Coding Standard (AVS) Working Group of China to compete with H.264/AVC and MPEG-4. Officially known as GB/T 20090, this format utilizes 8x8 integer transformation and motion compensation similar to MPEG standards but with lower computational complexity, designed specifically for High-Definition (HD) digital broadcasting and IPTV services within China. It serves as the national standard for source coding, reducing reliance on foreign intellectual property licensing fees associated with international codecs.
How to open a CAVS file
Because CAVS is a regional standard specific to the Chinese broadcast ecosystem, native playback support on Western operating systems (Windows, macOS) is nonexistent. To view these files, users require a media player capable of utilizing the libavcodec library, such as VLC Media Player or FFmpeg-based tools, which include specific decoders for AVS1-P2 and AVS+ video streams.
CAVS Technical Info
- Full Name
- Chinese Audio Video Standard
- Developed By
- AVS Working Group
- Initial Release
- 2006
- MIME Type
- video/avs
What is an M4A file?
The M4A file extension denotes an audio-only MPEG-4 container, defined by ISO/IEC 14496-14 standards and typically encoded using Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) or Apple Lossless (ALAC). Originally popularized by Apple to differentiate audio content from standard .MP4 video files, the container utilizes an atom-based structure (e.g., ftyp, moov, mdat) to store audio streams and metadata. It serves as the successor to MP3, offering superior compression efficiency and fidelity at equivalent bitrates.
How to open an M4A file
M4A files are natively supported by the Apple ecosystem (iTunes, QuickTime, iOS Music) and Windows Media Player on modern Windows versions. Cross-platform compatibility is robust, with VLC Media Player, Audacity, and Winamp providing decoding capabilities. On Android devices, native players often handle M4A, though third-party apps like Poweramp ensure compatibility with ALAC-encoded variants.
M4A Technical Info
- Full Name
- MPEG-4 Audio
- Developed By
- Apple Inc. / MPEG
- Initial Release
- 2001
- MIME Type
- audio/mp4
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Every CAVS to M4A conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.
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Developer API
Convert CAVS to M4A via API
Automate CAVS to M4A conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.
# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"tag": "cavs-to-m4a",
"tasks": {
"upload-file": {
"operation": "import/upload"
},
"convert": {
"operation": "convert",
"input": "upload-file",
"output_format": "m4a"
},
"export-result": {
"operation": "export/url",
"input": "convert"
}
}
}'
# 2. Upload your file (use upload_url from the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" --upload-file input.cavs
# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.