Free online AIF to WAV converter

A sampler, digital audio workstation, or Windows application may require WAV instead of AIF/AIFF, especially when importing samples or exchanging recordings. Converting also helps when the receiving software does not recognize Apple’s Audio Interchange File Format.

What the AIF format is

AIF, commonly identified by .aif or .aiff, is Apple’s Audio Interchange File Format. Standard AIF stores uncompressed PCM audio along with properties such as sample rate, bit depth, channel count, and sometimes metadata.

Older Macintosh audio tools, digital audio workstations, samplers, sample libraries, and Apple-oriented recording applications commonly create AIF files. Some files use compressed AIFF-C encoding, so the source codec should be checked before conversion.

What the WAV format is

WAV, or Waveform Audio File Format, is a RIFF-based format supported by Windows applications, game engines, audio editors, media players, hardware samplers, and many broadcast workflows. The most compatible WAV files contain linear PCM audio.

WAV is useful when software rejects AIF, requires a .wav file, or specifies a particular PCM setting. An uncompressed WAV made from uncompressed AIF is not automatically smaller; with the same sample rate, bit depth, and channel count, both usually require approximately the same storage.

How to convert the file

Using 101convert.com

1. Open the AIF-to-WAV converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the .aif or .aiff file.
3. Start the conversion and download the resulting .wav file when it is ready.

This option requires no software installation. Do not upload confidential or restricted recordings unless the service’s handling and retention terms are acceptable.

Using FFmpeg

FFmpeg provides a command-line conversion without opening an audio editor. Open a terminal in the folder containing the source file and run:

ffmpeg -i input.aif output.wav

To create a broadly compatible 16-bit PCM WAV explicitly, run:

ffmpeg -i input.aif -c:a pcm_s16le output.wav

For a 24-bit PCM WAV, use:

ffmpeg -i input.aif -c:a pcm_s24le output.wav

Quote filenames containing spaces, for example ffmpeg -i "Concert take.aif" "Concert take.wav". FFmpeg does not overwrite an existing output by default; add -y only when replacement is intended.

Using Audacity

1. Open Audacity and select File → Import → Audio, then choose the AIF file.
2. Check that the project sample rate matches the source if no resampling is wanted.
3. Select File → Export Audio.
4. Choose WAV (Microsoft) signed 16-bit PCM for broad compatibility, or a 24-bit PCM option when the receiving software requires it.
5. Enter a filename ending in .wav and select Export.

Quality and compatibility limits

Converting uncompressed PCM AIF to PCM WAV does not reduce audio quality when the sample rate, bit depth, channel count, and samples remain unchanged. Converting compressed AIFF-C to WAV cannot restore information already lost during compression.

Keep the original sample rate for editing and archiving unless the destination specifies another rate. Resampling, reducing bit depth, or changing stereo to mono modifies the audio and can introduce resampling or quantization artifacts.

Some applications accept only 16-bit PCM WAV, while others support 24-bit PCM or 32-bit floating-point WAV. If the output is rejected, export as pcm_s16le or select 16-bit PCM. Metadata and application-specific chunks may not transfer between containers, so retain the original AIF when that information matters.

WAV files larger than 4 GB may require RF64 support; older applications may reject such files even when the audio data is valid. Renaming .aif to .wav does not convert the container and will not reliably make the file compatible.