MOV and AAC explained
MOV is Apple's QuickTime container. Structurally it is very close to MP4 — the two share an ancestor — but MOV files often use codecs like ProRes that general-purpose players cannot decode.
AAC is the successor to MP3 and is the default audio codec for MP4 video, Apple Music and YouTube. At the same bitrate it generally sounds noticeably better than MP3.
- Where MOV files come from
- iPhone and Mac screen recordings, and professional video editing.
- Where AAC is used
- Streaming services, video soundtracks and Apple devices.