Free online AIF to CAFF converter

Source format: AIF

AIF usually refers to Audio Interchange File Format, an older uncompressed audio container developed by Apple. It is widely associated with Macintosh systems and professional audio workflows, especially in music production, sound design, and archival storage. AIF files often contain high-quality PCM audio, which makes them useful when preserving original sound quality, editing audio, or exchanging files between audio applications.

Target format: CAFF

CAFF stands for Core Audio Format, Apple’s modern audio container designed for macOS and iOS ecosystems. It supports high-quality audio, large files, metadata, and flexible encoding options. Compared with older formats, CAFF is better suited for modern Apple software and can store audio in a way that is more extensible for professional use. It is commonly used in audio production, system sounds, and applications that rely on Apple’s Core Audio framework.

How to perform the conversion

The most reliable way to convert AIF to CAFF is with a desktop audio tool that supports both formats, such as FFmpeg or Apple-compatible audio software. If you want to convert the file on 101convert.com, you can do it for free without installing any software.

Using FFmpeg

1. Install FFmpeg on your computer.
2. Open a terminal or command prompt.
3. Run a command like ffmpeg -i input.aif output.caf.
4. Check the output file in your audio player or editor.

This command copies or re-encodes the audio into a CAFF container, depending on the source encoding and FFmpeg’s default behavior. If you need to preserve the original audio quality, make sure the conversion uses a compatible lossless codec.

Using Apple software

1. Open the AIF file in an audio editor that supports export to Core Audio Format.
2. Choose File → Export or File → Save As.
3. Select Core Audio Format or .caf as the output type.
4. Save the converted file.

Using 101convert.com

1. Open the AIF file on the website.
2. Select CAFF as the output format.
3. Start the conversion and download the resulting file.

Notes on quality and compatibility

AIF and CAFF are both lossless containers when used with PCM audio, so conversion often preserves sound quality. However, the exact result depends on the codec inside the file. If the source AIF contains uncompressed PCM, the CAFF output should remain high quality. If the file uses a less common encoding, compatibility may vary between players and editors.

CAFF is more Apple-centric than AIF, so some non-Apple software may open AIF more easily than CAFF, while modern macOS tools usually handle both well. Metadata support can also differ between applications. For best results, verify the converted file in the software where you plan to use it.