What happens when you convert WAV to AIFF
- The audio is decoded and written as 16-bit big-endian PCM.
- Both formats are lossless, so every sample survives the conversion.
How to convert WAV to AIFF online
- Press "Choose WAV files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. You can add files of any size your device can hold in memory.
- Adjust the settings if you need to: the bitrate controls quality and size. The defaults suit most people.
- Press "Convert to AIFF". The first audio or video conversion downloads the converter engine, about 32 MB, which your browser then keeps for next time.
- Save each AIFF with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert WAV to AIFF?
WAV files usually come from recording, editing, sound effects and CD audio. People convert them to AIFF because AIFF is the uncompressed format Logic Pro, GarageBand and many Mac tools prefer.
In short, WAV is good at what it was made for, and AIFF is the more practical choice when the file has to play on another device or app. WAV plays in every browser and audio editor, while AIFF plays in Safari; Chrome and Firefox do not play it.
How to convert WAV to AIFF on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your WAV files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each AIFF is saved to your Downloads folder. If you prefer a desktop program, VLC can also convert WAV to AIFF: choose Media, then Convert / Save.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the WAV files from Finder onto the drop zone and the AIFF files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose WAV files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted AIFF appears in Files, in the Downloads folder.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose WAV files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The AIFF is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it. Keep the screen on while a long video converts, because Android may pause a tab in the background.
Best settings for WAV to AIFF
AIFF is lossless, so there is no quality setting: every sample of the decoded WAV is kept. What changes is size. CD-quality stereo, 44.1 kHz at 16 bits, takes about 10 MB per minute as uncompressed PCM.
The WAV is lossless too, so the conversion is exact in both directions.
WAV vs AIFF: the differences
| WAV | AIFF | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Waveform Audio File Format | Audio Interchange File Format |
| Type | audio | audio |
| Created by | Microsoft and IBM | Apple |
| First released | 1991 | 1988 |
| Compression | Lossless | Lossless |
| Usually contains | uncompressed PCM, usually 16-bit at 44.1 or 48 kHz | uncompressed PCM, big-endian |
| In a browser | plays in every browser and audio editor | plays in Safari; Chrome and Firefox do not play it |
| Common uses | recording, editing, sound effects and CD audio | Logic Pro, GarageBand and Mac audio production |
| MIME type | audio/wav | audio/aiff |
About WAV and AIFF files
What is a WAV file?
WAV normally stores raw, uncompressed samples: about 10 MB per minute of CD-quality stereo. Editors prefer it because nothing is lost between saves, and it is why a song is ten times larger than as MP3.
What is an AIFF file?
AIFF is Apple's uncompressed counterpart to WAV, holding the same audio with bytes stored in the opposite order. Unlike WAV it has a standard place for track names and artwork.
WAV to AIFF not working? Common problems
- The conversion is slow. Audio and container changes take seconds, but re-encoding video runs on your own processor. Lower the resolution to 720p, close other tabs, and keep the device plugged in.
- The tab stops or reloads on a very large file. Browsers limit how much memory one tab can use, around 2 GB and less on phones. Split long recordings or convert them on a computer.
- Song titles are missing. Tags such as title and artist are copied when AIFF can store them, but cover art is not carried over.
Convert WAV to AIFF with ffmpeg
This converter runs ffmpeg inside your browser. If you would rather use the ffmpeg command line on your own computer, this command produces an equivalent AIFF with the same kind of settings:
ffmpeg -i input.wav -vn -c:a pcm_s16be output.aiffReplace input.wav with the name of your file. For a whole folder of WAV files, run the command in a loop, or drop them all on the converter above, which processes them one after another.
WAV to AIFF converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting WAV to AIFF?
No. AIFF is written losslessly, so the result matches the WAV exactly.
Why is the AIFF a different size from the WAV?
It depends on the settings. At the defaults, the AIFF usually comes out close in size to the WAV; lower the bitrate for a smaller file.
Are my WAV files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, so your files stay on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page and converter engine have loaded and it still works.
Can I convert several WAV files to AIFF at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open an AIFF file?
AIFF plays in Safari; Chrome and Firefox do not play it. AIFF is common for Logic Pro, GarageBand and Mac audio production.
Is this WAV to AIFF converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The site is paid for by advertising, and because conversions run on your device there is no server cost per file.
Can I convert WAV to AIFF on my phone?
Yes. The converter works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Converted files are saved to the Downloads folder.