AIFF to Opus Converter
Get the exact FFmpeg command to convert AIFF to Opus at any bitrate, learn why Opus is an excellent format, and discover free alternative tools.
FFmpeg Command Generator
Enter your AIFF file name and pick a bitrate. The command updates instantly.
Also accepts .aif (older Apple extension for the same format).
Your FFmpeg Command
ffmpeg -i recording.aiff -c:a libopus -b:a 128k -map_metadata 0 recording.opus
Install FFmpeg free at ffmpeg.org. Paste this command in your terminal and press Enter.
Batch Convert (Linux / macOS)
for f in *.aiff; do
ffmpeg -i "$f" -c:a libopus -b:a 128k -map_metadata 0 "${f%.aiff}.opus"
done
Run in the folder containing your AIFF files. Bitrate updates with your selection above.
Why Convert AIFF to Opus?
Up to 90% smaller
A 50 MB AIFF track can become a 5 MB Opus file at 128 kbps with no audible difference.
Best codec at low bitrates
Opus outperforms MP3, AAC, and Vorbis at equivalent bitrates — especially below 128 kbps.
Royalty-free
Opus is an open standard (RFC 6716). No licensing fees for any use case.
Native browser support
Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari (v16.4+) all decode Opus natively — ideal for web delivery.
How to Convert AIFF to Opus
-
1
Install FFmpeg
Download from ffmpeg.org. On macOS use
brew install ffmpeg. On Ubuntu/Debian:sudo apt install ffmpeg. On Windows, download a static build and add it to your PATH. -
2
Enter your file name
Type your AIFF file name in the generator on the left. The output file name is set automatically (same base name, .opus extension).
-
3
Choose a bitrate
128 kbps is a solid default for music. Use 64 kbps for speech-only files. Use 160–192 kbps when source quality is high and output quality matters most.
-
4
Copy and run the command
Click Copy next to the generated command, paste it into your terminal, and press Enter. FFmpeg reads the AIFF, decodes it, and encodes to Opus using libopus.
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5
Verify the output
Open the .opus file in VLC or mpv to confirm it plays correctly before deleting the original AIFF.
Alternative Tools
FFmpeg (recommended)
Desktop — Free, open-source
The fastest and most reliable option. Supports batch conversion, metadata copy, and all Opus parameters. Command-line only.
Audacity + FFmpeg plugin
Desktop — Free, open-source
GUI audio editor. Install the FFmpeg library in Audacity to enable Opus export. Good for one-off conversions with visual waveform editing.
VLC media player
Desktop — Free, open-source
Use File > Convert/Save to convert AIFF to Opus via the GUI. Slower than FFmpeg for batches but zero command-line knowledge required.
Online-Convert / Convertio
Web — Free tier available
Browser-based converters that run the encoding on their servers. Convenient for one-off files but requires uploading your audio — avoid for private recordings.
AIFF vs Opus — Quick Comparison
| Property | AIFF | Opus |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | None (lossless) | Lossy |
| Typical size (3 min) | ~50 MB | ~3–7 MB |
| Quality | Perfect (studio) | Excellent at ≥96 kbps |
| Container | .aiff / .aif | .opus (Ogg) |
| License | Proprietary (Apple) | Royalty-free (IETF) |
| Browser support | Limited | All modern browsers |
| Best for | Studio / archival | Streaming / delivery |
Summary
Get the exact FFmpeg command to convert AIFF to Opus at any bitrate, learn why Opus is an excellent format, and discover free alternative tools.
How it works
- Enter your AIFF file name in the field below.
- Choose a target Opus bitrate — 64 kbps for speech, 96–128 kbps for music at normal listening quality, 160–192 kbps for high-fidelity output.
- Copy the generated FFmpeg command with one click.
- Open a terminal, paste the command, and run it. FFmpeg decodes the AIFF and encodes to Opus using libopus.
- Play the output .opus file in any modern player (VLC, mpv, Firefox, Chrome) to verify quality.
Use cases
- Shrink large AIFF recordings for podcast distribution or streaming without audible quality loss.
- Convert AIFF music libraries to Opus for storage-efficient archiving.
- Prepare audio for web delivery — Opus is natively supported in all modern browsers.
- Batch-convert multiple AIFF files to Opus using a shell loop with the FFmpeg command as a template.
- Archive spoken-word AIFF files at low Opus bitrates (32–64 kbps) to reduce disk usage dramatically.
- Convert raw studio AIFF recordings to Opus for mobile app or game asset delivery.