Free online AIFF to CAFF converter

Source format: AIFF

AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is an uncompressed audio format developed by Apple and widely used on macOS and in professional audio workflows. It stores high-quality PCM audio, so it is common for music production, editing, archiving, and exchanging audio between DAWs and audio tools. Because AIFF is typically uncompressed, files are often large, but they preserve the original audio quality very well.

Target format: CAFF

CAFF (Core Audio Format) is Apple’s newer audio container format designed for macOS and iOS audio systems. It can store uncompressed PCM audio and also supports metadata and a wider range of audio data than older formats. CAFF is useful in Apple-centric development, audio testing, and workflows that need a modern Core Audio container with good compatibility in Apple software and APIs.

How to perform the conversion

The most reliable way to convert AIFF to CAFF is with FFmpeg, which can read AIFF and write CAFF directly. This is especially useful if you want a fast local conversion without changing the audio content.

1. Install FFmpeg on your computer if it is not already available.
2. Open a terminal or command prompt.
3. Run a command like ffmpeg -i input.aiff -c:a pcm_s16be output.caf.
4. If your AIFF uses a different sample format and you want to preserve it as closely as possible, you can also try ffmpeg -i input.aiff -c:a copy output.caf when the stream is compatible.
5. Open the resulting output.caf in a compatible audio player or editor to verify the file.

If you prefer a graphical workflow, some audio editors on macOS can export to Core Audio formats. In such software, open the AIFF file and use File → Export or File → Save As, then choose CAF or Core Audio Format if available.

You can also convert the file on 101convert.com for free, without installing any software.

Notes on quality, compatibility, and limitations

AIFF to CAFF is usually a lossless container conversion when the audio remains PCM, so the sound quality should not change. However, compatibility is the main consideration: AIFF is broadly recognized by many audio tools, while CAFF is more specialized and may not open in non-Apple software.

If your goal is maximum portability, AIFF is often the safer choice. If your goal is Apple Core Audio integration, CAFF can be a better fit. Also note that some tools may not preserve all metadata exactly during conversion, so if tags or markers matter, verify the output after conversion.