Free online WMA to CAF converter

Source format: WMA

WMA stands for Windows Media Audio, a compressed audio format developed by Microsoft. It is commonly used on Windows systems, in older media libraries, and in some digital downloads and recordings. WMA files may use either lossy compression for smaller file sizes or, less commonly, lossless encoding. Because it is tied closely to the Microsoft ecosystem, WMA is less universally supported than formats such as MP3 or AAC.

Target format: CAF

CAF stands for Core Audio Format, an Apple audio container designed for macOS and iOS workflows. It supports very large files, high sample rates, multichannel audio, and a wide range of audio codecs. CAF is especially useful in professional audio production, sound design, and Apple-based applications where long recordings or high-quality audio need a flexible container.

How to perform the conversion

The most reliable way to convert WMA to CAF is with a desktop audio tool that can decode WMA and export to CAF, such as FFmpeg or Audacity with the right codec support.

Using FFmpeg

1. Install FFmpeg on your computer.
2. Open a terminal or command prompt in the folder containing your WMA file.
3. Run a command such as ffmpeg -i input.wma output.caf.
4. If you want to control the audio codec inside the CAF container, specify one explicitly, for example ffmpeg -i input.wma -c:a pcm_s16le output.caf for uncompressed PCM audio.

Using Audacity

1. Open the WMA file in Audacity if your system has the required import support.
2. Check that the audio plays correctly after import.
3. Choose File → Export → Export Audio.
4. Select CAF as the output format if available, then save the file.

Using Apple tools

On macOS, some Apple and pro-audio applications can export to CAF directly. Open the WMA file in a compatible app, then use File → Export or File → Save As and choose CAF as the destination format.

Notes on quality, compatibility, or limitations

WMA is usually lossy, so converting it to CAF does not restore lost audio detail; it only changes the container and/or codec used for the new file. If you export to uncompressed PCM in CAF, the file will be much larger than the original WMA, but it will be easier to edit and less likely to suffer from additional quality loss in future processing.

CAF support is not universal. It works best in Apple and professional audio software, but many general-purpose players and editors on Windows or Linux may not open it without extra support. If broad compatibility is important, consider whether a more widely supported output format would be better for your workflow.

Also note that some tools may create a CAF file with a codec that is not supported by every application. For maximum compatibility within CAF, PCM audio is usually the safest choice.