Free online ALAC to WAV converter

Some audio editors, hardware players, and production systems require uncompressed PCM audio in WAV instead of ALAC. Converting also creates a larger working copy for editing or makes a track readable by software that does not decode Apple’s lossless codec.

What the ALAC format is

ALAC means Apple Lossless Audio Codec. It compresses audio without discarding the source samples, so decoding it reproduces the encoded audio exactly. ALAC is usually stored in an .m4a container and is common in Apple Music or iTunes libraries, macOS media workflows, and lossless CD-ripping applications.

ALAC reduces storage requirements compared with uncompressed PCM while retaining the source sample rate, bit depth, channel count, and audio data when decoded. It is suitable for music libraries and archival copies, but support is less consistent in older hardware, specialist audio software, and some non-Apple workflows.

What the WAV format is

WAV is a RIFF-based container most often used for uncompressed linear PCM audio. Recording applications, digital audio workstations, samplers, broadcast tools, and media players commonly support PCM WAV without an additional codec.

WAV is convenient for editing, mixing, analysis, and delivery to systems that specify PCM. It is much larger than ALAC: stereo 44.1 kHz, 16-bit PCM uses approximately 10 MB per minute. WAV metadata support is also less consistent than metadata in an ALAC-containing M4A file, so titles, artwork, album information, and other tags may not transfer reliably.

How to convert ALAC to WAV

Using 101convert.com

1. Open the ALAC-to-WAV converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the ALAC file, usually an .m4a file.
3. Select WAV as the output format and start the conversion.
4. Download the resulting .wav file, then check its duration, channel configuration, and playback before removing the original.

This option is free and requires no software installation. Upload only files whose privacy and retention requirements are acceptable; use a desktop converter for confidential recordings.

Using FFmpeg

FFmpeg is suitable for repeatable or batch conversions. The following command decodes the ALAC stream and writes 16-bit little-endian PCM WAV:

ffmpeg -i input.m4a -c:a pcm_s16le output.wav

For 24-bit PCM, use:

ffmpeg -i input.m4a -c:a pcm_s24le output.wav

For 32-bit floating-point PCM, use:

ffmpeg -i input.m4a -c:a pcm_f32le output.wav

Without explicit resampling or channel options, FFmpeg normally retains the input sample rate and channel layout while changing the output encoding. Add -map_metadata 0 to request copying available metadata:

ffmpeg -i input.m4a -map_metadata 0 -c:a pcm_s16le output.wav

Metadata copying is limited by the WAV container and the destination software; embedded artwork and some tags may still be omitted.

Quality and compatibility considerations

Decoding ALAC to PCM WAV does not itself reduce audio quality. Choose an output bit depth that is at least appropriate for the source and required by the destination: converting a 24-bit source to pcm_s16le reduces its bit depth, while converting a 16-bit source to 24-bit or 32-bit float cannot restore detail that was never present.

Changing the sample rate or channel layout is a separate operation. Do not add resampling, downmixing, or bit-depth conversion unless the receiving application requires it. WAV also consumes substantially more storage and very large files can encounter the size limits of ordinary RIFF WAV; long recordings may require RF64 or another extended WAV variant.

Keep the original ALAC file as the archival master. The WAV copy cannot restore information lost before the ALAC file was created, and its metadata may not match the source after conversion.