WAV and AIFF: two containers for the same kind of audio
WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) was introduced by Microsoft and IBM in 1991. It is built on the RIFF container and nearly always holds linear PCM audio, the raw sample values a sound card plays. Common versions are 16-bit at 44.1 kHz for CD audio and 24-bit at 48 kHz for video and recording work.
AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) came from Apple in 1988 and is based on the IFF format created by Electronic Arts. It also stores uncompressed PCM. The main technical difference is byte order: AIFF stores samples big-endian, WAV stores them little-endian. There is a compressed variant called AIFF-C, but a standard .aiff file is uncompressed.
Because the audio inside is the same kind of data, a WAV to AIFF converter does not need to squeeze or approximate anything. It reads the samples and writes them out in the other layout.
WAV vs AIFF compared
At the same bit depth and sample rate, the two formats are almost identical in size and sound.
| WAV | AIFF | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | None (PCM) | None (PCM) |
| Quality | Lossless | Lossless |
| 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 |
| Origin | Microsoft and IBM, 1991 | Apple, 1988 |
| Best supported on | Windows, most DAWs, broadcast | macOS, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Apple Music |
| Best for | General editing and exchange | Apple-based studios and libraries |
Why change WAV to AIFF?
Most modern software reads both formats, so the reasons are usually about workflow rather than sound.
- A studio, label or sample library asks for AIFF deliveries.
- You keep an Apple Music or iTunes library and want files that sit neatly alongside AIFF imports.
- Older Mac software or hardware samplers expect AIFF.
- You want one consistent format across a project that was recorded on different machines.
Will converting WAV to AIFF lose quality?
For a 16-bit WAV, no. The samples are copied exactly, so the AIFF is a bit-for-bit match of the audio. You can convert WAV to AIFF and back again as many times as you like without any change.
There is one honest caveat. AudioDrop writes 16-bit AIFF. If your WAV is 24-bit or 32-bit float, the output is reduced to 16-bit. For finished masters and listening this is inaudible, since 16-bit already gives about 96 dB of dynamic range. If you are archiving 24-bit multitrack sessions, keep your original WAVs as well.
The sample rate is kept. A 48 kHz WAV becomes a 48 kHz AIFF, and a 96 kHz WAV stays at 96 kHz.
Settings to know about
There is nothing to tune. AIFF is uncompressed, so there is no bitrate or quality slider, and the file size is fixed by the length, channel count, sample rate and bit depth.
Tags and embedded markers may not all be carried across. WAV and AIFF store metadata in different chunks, so check artist, title and loop points after conversion if your workflow relies on them.
Using the AIFF files in Apple software
Once you change WAV to AIFF, the files open directly in Logic Pro, GarageBand, Final Cut Pro, QuickTime Player and Finder's Quick Look. Apple Music can import them too, although AIFF takes the same space as WAV, so it is not a way to save storage.
If space matters more than editing, compare the other options before converting a whole library.
- For lossless audio at roughly half the size, convert WAV to FLAC instead.
- For small listening copies on an iPhone, convert WAV to M4A.
- For a copy anyone can play, convert WAV to MP3 at 256 or 320 kbps.
Private by design: how the conversion runs
This WAV to AIFF converter runs entirely in your browser. Your files are read from your device, processed in memory with WebCodecs and WebAssembly, and saved back to your device. Nothing is uploaded, so unreleased mixes and client work stay with you.
Once the page has loaded it keeps working offline. Drop a whole folder and the files convert in parallel, each one downloading individually. There is no fixed file size cap. Very long recordings are limited only by how much memory your device has.