AIFF and WAV: two ways to store the same thing
AIFF, the Audio Interchange File Format, was introduced by Apple in 1988. It is built on the IFF container that Electronic Arts designed in 1985 and stores samples in big-endian byte order, the convention of the Motorola processors in early Macs. Files end in .aiff or .aif. Logic, GarageBand and many Mac sample libraries still use it.
WAV arrived in 1991 from Microsoft and IBM, based on RIFF, which is essentially IFF with little-endian byte order to suit Intel chips. In both cases the usual content is uncompressed PCM. The music data is the same. What differs is the wrapper and the byte order.
AIFF vs WAV comparison
| Feature | AIFF | WAV |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Apple, 1988 | Microsoft and IBM, 1991 |
| Container | IFF, big-endian | RIFF, little-endian |
| Compression | None (PCM) | None (PCM) |
| Size per minute, 16-bit/44.1 kHz stereo | ≈ 10.1 MB | ≈ 10.1 MB |
| Size per minute, 24-bit/48 kHz stereo | ≈ 16.5 MB | ≈ 16.5 MB |
| Compatibility | Strong on Mac, weaker elsewhere | Universal on Windows, Mac, Linux, hardware |
| Best for | Mac-centric studios | Cross-platform work, games, broadcast |
Reasons to convert AIFF to WAV
If both are uncompressed, why bother? Compatibility. WAV is the lingua franca of audio.
- Sending stems or bounces to a collaborator who works on Windows.
- Game engines, broadcast playout systems and some hardware samplers that expect WAV.
- Web and video tools that accept WAV but ignore AIFF.
- Keeping one format across a sample library so your DAW's browser shows everything.
Is AIFF to WAV lossless?
For 16-bit files, yes. Moving PCM from one container to another does not require any compression, so a 16-bit AIFF becomes a 16-bit WAV with identical samples at the same sample rate.
There is one limit to be clear about. AudioDrop writes 16-bit WAV. If your AIFF is 24-bit, which is common for studio recordings, the WAV is reduced to 16-bit. For finished masters and everyday listening you will not notice, since 16-bit is CD quality. For multitrack sessions you still plan to mix, keep the 24-bit AIFF originals as well. Compressed AIFF-C variants may also not open, so use standard AIFF where you can.
Converting AIFF to WAV on Mac and Windows
Most people start this job on a Mac, because that is where the AIFF files were made. Open AudioDrop in Safari, Chrome or Firefox, drag the files from Finder, and the WAVs download to your usual folder. Send them on, and they will open on the Windows side without extra codecs.
If you are the one on Windows and someone sent you AIFF files, the process is the same in Chrome, Edge or Firefox. You do not need iTunes, QuickTime or any other Apple software installed. On an iPhone or iPad, Safari can do it too, picking files from the Files app, though large sessions are easier on a computer.
Because the files are uncompressed on both sides, the WAV will be almost exactly the same size as the AIFF for 16-bit sources, and smaller for 24-bit sources since the bit depth drops to 16-bit.
Settings
There is nothing to choose. The WAV keeps the source sample rate, whether that is 44.1, 48 or 96 kHz, and keeps the channel count. Tags and markers stored in the AIFF, such as loop points or text chunks, may not be carried across, so check them if your workflow depends on them. Mono files stay mono and stereo files stay stereo, so a drum one-shot or a vocal take lands in your project exactly as it was recorded, just in a container that more software understands.
How it works, and why it stays private
The AIFF to WAV converter runs in your browser. AudioDrop parses the AIFF with its own reader, then writes the WAV in memory, using WebCodecs and WebAssembly where they help. No file is sent to a server.
That makes it safe for unreleased music and client work. It is free, needs no account, adds no watermark and works offline once the page has loaded. There is no fixed file size cap, only your device's memory. Drop a folder and several files convert in parallel.