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FormatDrop
Audio Format

MKA

Matroska Audio

MKA is Matroska's audio-only container — the same flexible container as MKV without the video tracks. It can hold virtually any audio codec (FLAC, AAC, Opus, AC-3, DTS, Vorbis, MP3) and supports multiple audio tracks, chapter markers, embedded subtitles for audiobooks, and rich metadata. MKA is popular for audiobook distributions, multi-language audio, and audiophile multi-track releases.

What is MKA?

MKA uses the Matroska container structure based on EBML (Extensible Binary Meta Language). Audio tracks are stored as separate streams; the container can include subtitle tracks (lyrics or audiobook chapters), attachments (cover art, fonts), and metadata tags. Unlike .m4a or .mp3, MKA files are not single-codec: a single MKA can contain a FLAC track, an MP3 backup track, and chapter markers all in one file.

MKA pros and cons

Advantages

  • Supports virtually every audio codec — FLAC, AAC, Opus, AC-3, DTS, Vorbis, MP3
  • Multiple audio tracks in one file (different languages, commentary)
  • Chapter markers and subtitle/lyric tracks supported
  • Extensive metadata tagging including custom tags
  • Free, open-source format

Limitations

  • Limited mobile and consumer device support
  • iOS does not support MKA natively
  • Most music players prefer M4A or FLAC over MKA
  • Less common than MKV for most users
  • Browser support is essentially zero

When should you convert MKA files?

Convert MKA to FLAC or M4A for general use — `ffmpeg -i input.mka -c:a flac output.flac` (lossless if source is lossless) or `ffmpeg -i input.mka -c:a aac -b:a 256k output.m4a`. For audiobook MKAs with chapters, M4B is a more compatible target.

MKA compared with other formats

MKA vs M4A

All FormatDrop conversions run entirely in your browser — no file upload, no server processing. Your files stay on your device.

MKA FAQ

What's inside an MKA file?
Use FFprobe to inspect: `ffprobe input.mka 2>&1 | grep -E 'Audio|Subtitle'`. Common contents: a single FLAC track (audiophile use), multiple language tracks (international films), or chapters + audio (audiobooks).
Why use MKA instead of FLAC for music?
MKA is rare for plain music — FLAC is more compatible. MKA's value is when you need multiple tracks, chapters, or non-standard codecs in a single container. For typical lossless music, just use FLAC.
What players support MKA?
VLC, MPV, foobar2000 (with Matroska component), Plex/Jellyfin/Kodi (media servers). Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and most consumer apps don't support MKA. Convert to M4A or FLAC for broad compatibility.

More audio formats

OpusMP3WAVM4AFLACAACWMAAIFFOGGMIDIAC3ALACDTSAPEM3UM4BAMRCAFDSFWVEAC-3TTAAUM4RAAXMP2SPXXSPFM3U8All formats →