Is converting WAV to AIFF lossless?

Yes. Both WAV and AIFF store uncompressed PCM audio data. Converting between them is a container swap — no audio samples are altered and no quality is lost in the process.

What is AIFF and why does macOS use it?

AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) was developed by Apple and Electronic Arts in 1988 as a lossless audio container for Macintosh systems. It stores uncompressed PCM audio and supports embedded metadata such as markers, loops, and instrument settings. macOS applications like Logic Pro and GarageBand treat AIFF as a first-class format.

What is the difference between WAV and AIFF?

Both formats hold identical PCM audio data but differ in byte order and metadata structure. WAV (from Microsoft/IBM) uses little-endian byte order and the RIFF container. AIFF (from Apple) uses big-endian byte order and the IFF container. At the same sample rate and bit depth, both files will be virtually the same size.

What is the fastest command-line way to convert WAV to AIFF?

Use FFmpeg: ffmpeg -i input.wav output.aiff — no codec flags needed since both are PCM. FFmpeg detects the format from the file extension and performs a lossless remux.

Can I convert WAV to AIFF on Windows without installing software?

The easiest option on Windows is VLC Media Player (free). Go to Media > Convert / Save, add your WAV file, choose an AIFF or PCM-AIFF output profile, and click Start. FFmpeg via the command line also works on Windows.

Is my file uploaded anywhere when I use this tool?

No. The browser's Web Audio API reads the file entirely from your local memory to display metadata and enable playback. No data is transmitted to any server.

Does AIFF support metadata tags like artist and album?

Yes. AIFF supports ID3 tags and its own native AIFF metadata chunks (NAME, AUTH, ANNO). Most DAWs and media players read these tags. When converting with FFmpeg, existing metadata is copied automatically unless you pass -map_metadata -1.

WAV to AIFF Converter

Name: WAV to AIFF Converter
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Drop a WAV file to inspect its metadata and preview playback, then follow the guide to convert it to AIFF using FFmpeg or a free desktop application.

Inspect Your WAV File

Drop WAV here or click to browse Supports .wav files

WAV to AIFF Is a Lossless Conversion

Both WAV and AIFF store uncompressed PCM audio. Converting between them is a lossless container swap — no audio quality is lost. AIFF is the native lossless format for macOS and is required by many Apple audio applications including Logic Pro and GarageBand. This tool lets you inspect your WAV metadata and preview playback, then guides you through the conversion using a free tool.

WAV vs. AIFF — Format Comparison

Feature	WAV	AIFF
Compression	None (lossless PCM)	None (lossless PCM)
File Size (1 min stereo, 44.1 kHz 16-bit)	~10 MB	~10 MB
Developed by	Microsoft / IBM	Apple / Electronic Arts
Byte Order	Little-endian (RIFF)	Big-endian (IFF)
Max File Size	4 GB (standard)	4 GB
Metadata / Markers	ID3, LIST chunks	ID3, marker & loop chunks
Best Use Case	Windows / cross-platform	macOS / Logic Pro / Pro Tools

Estimated AIFF Output Size

44,100 Hz / 16-bit

CD quality — approx. 10 MB per minute (stereo)

48,000 Hz / 24-bit

Studio standard — approx. 17 MB per minute (stereo)

96,000 Hz / 24-bit

High-resolution — approx. 34 MB per minute (stereo)

Because both formats use uncompressed PCM, the AIFF output file will be almost identical in size to the original WAV file at the same sample rate and bit depth.

How to Convert WAV to AIFF

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