How to convert AIFF to WAV online
- 1
Drop your AIFF file
Drag your Audio Interchange File Format file onto the box above, or click it to pick a file.
- 2
Wait a few seconds
Conversion starts on its own and runs on your device, not on a server.
- 3
Download your WAV
Click Download to save the Waveform Audio File Format file.
AIFF vs WAV: format overview
Audio Interchange File Format
Apple Computer · 1988
- Compression
- none
- Transparency
- No
- ✓ Lossless — bit-perfect audio, no quality degradation at all
- ✓ Native macOS and iOS support — plays in iTunes, GarageBand, Logic, Finder Preview
- ✗ Enormous file sizes — equivalent to WAV for the same audio
Waveform Audio File Format
Microsoft and IBM · 1991
- Compression
- none
- Transparency
- No
- ✓ Lossless — no quality degradation
- ✓ Universal DAW compatibility for production
AIFF magic bytes: 46 4F 52 4D xx xx xx xx 41 49 46 46
WAV magic bytes: 52 49 46 46 xx xx xx xx 57 41 56 45
Why convert AIFF to WAV?
AIFF and WAV are technically equivalent — both are uncompressed lossless audio formats storing raw PCM data. The practical difference is platform origin: AIFF was invented by Apple in 1988 and is natively supported on macOS and iOS. WAV was invented by Microsoft and IBM in 1991 and is the universal standard on Windows and in professional audio globally.
The conversion is necessary in cross-platform workflows. A Pro Tools session on Windows may not recognise AIFF files from a Logic Pro session on Mac without a specific codec. Broadcast facilities, podcast distribution platforms, and game engine asset pipelines often mandate WAV. Video editors (Adobe Premiere Pro on Windows, DaVinci Resolve) handle WAV more reliably than AIFF in cross-platform projects. Splice, Looperman, and sample marketplace platforms typically require WAV for sound pack submissions.
Because both AIFF and WAV store identical audio data (uncompressed PCM), converting between them is mathematically lossless — not a single sample changes. The output WAV is bit-for-bit identical to the AIFF source in terms of actual audio information. Only the file container changes.
File size is essentially unchanged — a 30 MB AIFF becomes a 30–32 MB WAV. The slight difference comes from the container metadata structure, not the audio data.
Common reasons to convert AIFF to WAV:
- ›Submit sound files to a Windows-based production house or broadcast facility that requires WAV
- ›Upload samples to Splice, Looperman, or other sample marketplaces that mandate WAV
- ›Use Mac-produced audio assets in Windows-based game development projects
- ›Ensure compatibility when collaborating on music production across Mac and Windows
Quality & file size: AIFF to WAV
Typical sizes (3-minute song): AIFF 30–50 MB → WAV 30–50 MB.
WAV output is 16-bit PCM, so a 24-bit source is reduced to 16-bit (CD quality).
Frequently asked questions
Is AIFF to WAV conversion lossless?
What is the difference between AIFF and WAV?
Your AIFF file never leaves this tab — FormatDrop has no endpoint that receives file data. How it works