Free online CAFF to WV converter

Source format: CAFF

CAFF usually refers to the Core Audio File Format, an Apple audio container used on macOS and iOS systems. It is designed to store audio data with high fidelity and can hold uncompressed or compressed audio, along with metadata such as markers and channel information. CAFF is most often encountered in professional audio workflows, Apple development environments, and applications that need a flexible, high-quality audio container.

Because CAFF is a container rather than a single codec, the actual audio inside may be PCM, AAC, or another supported format. That means compatibility can vary depending on the player or editor.

Target format: WV

WV is the file extension for WavPack, a lossless audio compression format. WavPack is valued for its high compression efficiency, lossless quality, and support for optional hybrid lossy/lossless modes. It is commonly used by audio enthusiasts, archivists, and anyone who wants to reduce file size without sacrificing original audio quality.

WV files are well suited for long-term storage, music archiving, and playback in software or hardware that supports WavPack. Compared with uncompressed audio, WV can significantly reduce file size while preserving the original signal exactly in lossless mode.

How to perform the conversion

The most reliable way to convert CAFF to WV is to use a desktop audio tool that can read CAFF and encode to WavPack. A practical option is FFmpeg, which supports many audio containers and codecs. If your CAFF file contains a supported audio stream, FFmpeg can decode it and write a WV file.

1. Install FFmpeg on your computer.
2. Open a terminal or command prompt in the folder containing your CAFF file.
3. Run a command such as ffmpeg -i input.caff -c:a wavpack output.wv.
4. Check the resulting output.wv file in a player or editor that supports WavPack.

If your CAFF file is not recognized directly, first inspect it with ffprobe input.caff or convert it to a standard PCM WAV file, then encode that WAV file to WV. For example: ffmpeg -i input.caff output.wav, followed by ffmpeg -i output.wav -c:a wavpack output.wv.

You can also convert the file on 101convert.com for free, without installing any software, if the site supports this specific conversion.

Notes on quality and compatibility

CAFF to WV is a lossless-to-lossless workflow only if the source audio is already uncompressed or lossless. If the CAFF file contains compressed audio, the conversion to WV will preserve that compressed stream only as decoded audio, not the original codec structure. In other words, the resulting WV file will be lossless from the decoded audio onward, but it cannot restore information lost before conversion.

Compatibility is the main limitation. CAFF is relatively niche outside Apple and pro-audio environments, while WV requires WavPack support in the destination player or editor. Also, metadata may not transfer perfectly between formats, so verify tags, artwork, and markers after conversion if they matter to your workflow.

For best results, use the highest-quality source CAFF file available, keep the conversion lossless, and test playback in your target software before deleting the original.