Opus to WAV Converter
Generate the exact FFmpeg command to convert Opus audio to lossless WAV at any bit depth, and estimate the output file size before you run it.
File Details
Enter your file name and duration to generate the FFmpeg command and estimate the output WAV size.
Accepts any file containing an Opus stream (.opus, .ogg with Opus codec, etc.).
hrs
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FFmpeg Command Generator
ffmpeg -i "input.opus" -c:a pcm_s16le -map_metadata 0 "input.wav"
Install FFmpeg free at ffmpeg.org. Run this command in your terminal after replacing the file name.
Batch convert Opus files (Linux / macOS)
for f in *.opus; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -c:a pcm_s16le -map_metadata 0 "${f%.opus}.wav"; done
GUI alternatives
- Audacity — free; open an Opus file and export as WAV (requires FFmpeg library)
- fre:ac — free, open-source batch converter; Windows / macOS / Linux
- VLC — free media player with built-in convert menu (Media → Convert)
- dBpoweramp — Windows GUI converter with Opus decoding support
Based on the duration you entered, assuming stereo 48 kHz (Opus native sample rate).
Formula: sample_rate × channels × (bit_depth / 8) × duration + 44.
16-bit PCM
—
24-bit PCM
—
32-bit float
—
Duration: 3 min 30 sec (210 s)
How FFmpeg Converts Opus to WAV
Opus files are typically stored in an Ogg container (.opus extension) and cannot be decoded natively in the browser to a downloadable multi-bit-depth WAV. FFmpeg handles the full pipeline natively:
- 1 FFmpeg opens the Ogg container and reads the Opus-encoded audio stream.
- 2 The built-in libopus decoder converts the stream to raw PCM samples at 48 kHz in memory.
- 3 FFmpeg re-quantizes the PCM to your chosen bit depth (16/24/32-bit).
- 4 The output WAV file is written to disk with a RIFF/WAV header — ready for any DAW, editor, or workflow.
Install FFmpeg at ffmpeg.org (free, open-source).
Linux: sudo apt install ffmpeg.
macOS: brew install ffmpeg.
WAV Bit Depth Reference
| Bit Depth | FFmpeg Codec | Size / min (stereo 48 kHz) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-bit PCM | pcm_s16le | ~11.0 MB | CD audio, DAW import, media players |
| 24-bit PCM | pcm_s24le | ~16.5 MB | Studio recording, mastering, broadcast |
| 32-bit float | pcm_f32le | ~22.0 MB | DAW internal processing, stems |
Opus vs. WAV — At a Glance
Opus
- Excellent compression at low bitrates (speech at 6 kbps, music at 64–128 kbps)
- Open, royalty-free IETF standard (RFC 6716)
- Lossy — audio data discarded permanently
- Not accepted by most DAWs or broadcast workflows
WAV (PCM)
- Uncompressed PCM — universal DAW and device support
- Required for CD burning and broadcast delivery
- Large file size (10x–50x compared to compressed Opus)
- No built-in metadata tagging support (ID3 not standard)
Summary
Generate the exact FFmpeg command to convert Opus audio to lossless WAV at any bit depth, and estimate the output file size before you run it.
How it works
- Enter your Opus file name and its duration in the form below.
- Choose a target WAV bit depth — 16-bit for maximum compatibility, 24-bit for studio use, or 32-bit float for DAW processing.
- Copy the generated FFmpeg command.
- Open a terminal, paste the command, and run it. FFmpeg decodes the Opus stream and writes uncompressed PCM to a WAV container.
- Play the output WAV to verify it before deleting your original Opus file.
Use cases
- Import Opus audio into DAWs or video editors that require uncompressed WAV input.
- Convert Discord or WebRTC voice recordings saved as Opus to WAV for editing.
- Prepare Opus audio tracks for CD mastering or broadcast delivery (which require PCM WAV).
- Extract audio from Opus streams and save as WAV for further editing.
- Batch-convert an entire Opus library to WAV using a shell loop.
- Estimate the WAV output file size before committing to a large batch conversion.
- Generate a ready-to-paste FFmpeg command without memorizing its flags.
- Convert spoken-word Opus files to WAV for compatibility with transcription software.