How do I copy audio files from my iphone directly to my computer?

What I'm trying to do is incredibly simple, something I've done on every other mobile device I've ever owned, and yet it seems impossible in this instance.

I have a third-party app that records audio files on my iPhone 12 mini. All I want to do is plug my phone into my Windows computer and transfer those files (.m4a format) directly onto my computer, so I can listen from the computer.

When I plug my phone into the computer, even if I allow file transfer permissions, the only folder I get is "DCIM" which contains photos and videos, not the files I want.

I downloaded iTunes, did a full backup of the phone, and saved it to my computer. Unfortunately, the backup it creates is not viewable as individual files. It's just a block of data meant to be restored if you lose your phone.

I even downloaded a Windows application called Touchcopy to try and see these files. At least it was able to get my notes and a few other things, but wouldn't you know it, still not the recordings that I'm looking for.

And so I find myself asking for community support in order to conduct a simple file transfer. Is the issue that customers don't have the right to access their own files these days? If it is, I get it, but I'd just like to know. Thanks.