Free online CAF to AIFF converter

A DAW, sampler, legacy Apple workflow, or hardware device may require AIFF when it cannot open a CAF recording. Converting also provides a broadly supported editing or interchange file, but standard AIFF is usually much larger than compressed audio.

What the CAF format is

CAF (Core Audio Format) is Apple’s audio container for macOS and its Core Audio ecosystem. It supports very long recordings, extensive metadata, and codecs including linear PCM, AAC, ALAC, and Apple IMA4.

GarageBand, Logic Pro, QuickTime-based applications, and some iPhone or iPad recording workflows can create CAF files. CAF is useful inside Apple production workflows, but older audio applications, samplers, and hardware may support AIFF without supporting CAF.

What the AIFF format is

AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) was developed by Apple and Electronic Arts. Standard AIFF normally stores uncompressed PCM with big-endian sample data, and is supported by many DAWs, editors, samplers, broadcast tools, and older devices.

PCM AIFF can be edited and copied without adding lossy compression. It does not improve a compressed source, however, and its file size is much higher than AAC or other compressed formats.

How to convert CAF to AIFF

Using the 101convert.com converter

1. Open the CAF-to-AIFF converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the CAF file.
3. Start the conversion and download the resulting AIFF file.

This option runs without installing desktop software. Review the downloaded file in the target application and retain the original CAF file.

Using macOS afconvert

macOS includes afconvert, which converts audio from Terminal. First, you can inspect the source with afinfo input.caf, then run:

afconvert -f AIFF -d BEI16 input.caf output.aiff

BEI16 creates 16-bit big-endian integer PCM. Use BEI24 for 24-bit PCM or BEF32 for 32-bit floating-point output when the receiving application supports those formats. Match the source bit depth where practical; forcing a lower bit depth can discard detail. The command preserves the source sample rate and channel count unless you specify other settings.

Using FFmpeg

FFmpeg provides a command-line option on macOS, Windows, and Linux:

ffmpeg -i input.caf -c:a pcm_s16be output.aiff

For other PCM depths, use pcm_s24be or pcm_s32be. Set a different sample rate or channel count only when required, for example -ar 48000 or -ac 2. FFmpeg’s ability to read a particular CAF file depends on the codec and build; unsupported or DRM-protected source data cannot be converted by changing the filename extension.

Using desktop audio software

Logic Pro and GarageBand on macOS can open compatible CAF files and export AIFF through their export or share dialog. In GarageBand, use Share → Export Song to Disk and select AIFF; the exact menu wording can vary by version. Audacity can also import and export AIFF when its installed audio libraries support the source CAF codec, but command-line tools are more predictable for batch or technically controlled conversion.

Quality and compatibility limits

PCM CAF converted to PCM AIFF normally retains the audio without lossy recompression when the sample rate, channel count, and bit depth remain unchanged. If the CAF contains AAC, IMA4, or another lossy codec, conversion first decodes that codec; AIFF cannot restore information already discarded.

Uncompressed size is approximately sample rate × channels × bytes per sample × duration, plus the file header. Standard AIFF can also have size limitations that matter for very large recordings, while CAF is designed for much larger files. Confirm that the receiving software accepts standard AIFF rather than AIFF-C, and check markers, album art, timestamps, and other metadata afterward because CAF-specific metadata and application project information may not transfer.