Does converting WMA to AIFF improve audio quality?

No — WMA Standard is a lossy format, so any audio data discarded during WMA encoding is permanently lost. Converting to AIFF stops further degradation by storing the decoded PCM audio without additional compression, but cannot restore what was already removed. If the source is WMA Lossless, the AIFF output will be a true lossless copy.

What is the FFmpeg command for WMA to AIFF?

The basic command is: ffmpeg -i input.wma -c:a pcm_s16be -ar 44100 output.aiff. Use -c:a pcm_s24be and -ar 48000 for 24-bit/48 kHz professional quality. The -c:a flag selects the PCM encoder (pcm_s16be = 16-bit big-endian, the AIFF standard; pcm_s24be = 24-bit big-endian for high-resolution audio).

Why is 16-bit big-endian used for AIFF instead of little-endian?

AIFF is an Apple/Motorola-originated format that stores multi-byte integers in big-endian (most significant byte first) order, which is why FFmpeg uses pcm_s16be and pcm_s24be rather than their little-endian counterparts. Using the wrong byte order would produce corrupted audio. AIFF-C (aiff-c) can store little-endian PCM but is less universally supported.

What bit depth should I choose for WMA to AIFF?

16-bit (pcm_s16be) at 44.1 kHz is sufficient for music and matches the CD-quality source most WMA files were mastered from. Use 24-bit (pcm_s24be) at 48 kHz when the target application (DAW, broadcast) requires professional-grade depth, or when the source WMA was encoded at a higher bitrate (192 kbps+) from a high-resolution original.

How large will the AIFF file be compared to the WMA?

AIFF stores uncompressed PCM, so it is much larger. A 4-minute stereo 16-bit/44.1 kHz AIFF is about 40 MB, whereas the same track as a 128 kbps WMA is about 3.7 MB. Use the formula: size (MB) = sample rate x bit depth x channels x duration (s) / 8 / 1,000,000.

Can I use Audacity to convert WMA to AIFF?

Yes. Install Audacity (free) and the FFmpeg library for Audacity (required for WMA support). Then: File > Import > Audio, select your WMA file, then File > Export > Export as AIFF. Choose 16-bit or 32-bit PCM in the export dialog. This is a good option for one-off conversions or if you want to edit the audio before exporting.

Is my WMA file uploaded to any server?

No. The metadata inspector uses the Web Audio API entirely in your browser — your file is read into browser memory only and never transmitted anywhere. The FFmpeg command runs locally on your machine. Refreshing the page clears all data.

Does FFmpeg support WMA decoding without extra codecs?

Yes. FFmpeg ships with built-in WMA decoders (wmav1, wmav2, wmalossless, wmapro) and requires no extra codec installation. Simply install FFmpeg from ffmpeg.org and run the command.

WMA to AIFF Converter

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

Drop a WMA file to inspect its metadata in your browser, pick your AIFF bit depth, and copy a ready-to-run FFmpeg command — nothing is uploaded.

Inspect WMA Metadata

Drop a WMA (or any audio) file to read its properties. Nothing is uploaded.

Drop WMA file here or click to browse WMA, MP3, FLAC, WAV, AIFF accepted

FFmpeg Command Generator

AIFF Bit Depth

Sample Rate

Copy metadata tags from source (-map_metadata 0)

ffmpeg -i input.wma -c:a pcm_s16be -ar 44100 -map_metadata 0 output.aiff

Install FFmpeg free at ffmpeg.org. Replace input.wma with your actual filename.

Batch convert (Linux / macOS)

for f in *.wma; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -c:a pcm_s16be -ar 44100 -map_metadata 0 "${f%.wma}.aiff"; done

Batch convert (Windows PowerShell)

Get-ChildItem *.wma | ForEach-Object { ffmpeg -i $_.FullName -c:a pcm_s16be -ar 44100 -map_metadata 0 ($_.BaseName + ".aiff") }

GUI alternatives

Audacity — free, open-source; install the FFmpeg library for WMA support, then export as AIFF
fre:ac — free, open-source, Windows / macOS / Linux, supports WMA input and AIFF output
XLD (X Lossless Decoder) — macOS only; excellent lossless conversion with WMA decode support
dBpoweramp — paid, Windows / macOS, batch WMA-to-AIFF with tag preservation

Drop a WMA file on the left to inspect its metadata

No file is uploaded — everything runs in your browser

AIFF Bit Depth Reference

Setting	FFmpeg Codec	Size / min stereo	Best For
16-bit / 44.1 kHz	pcm_s16be	~10.1 MB	Music, iTunes, CD archival
16-bit / 48 kHz	pcm_s16be -ar 48000	~11.0 MB	Video production, Final Cut Pro
24-bit / 48 kHz	pcm_s24be -ar 48000	~16.5 MB	DAW projects, Pro Tools, broadcast
24-bit / 96 kHz	pcm_s24be -ar 96000	~33.0 MB	High-resolution mastering

Note: Upsampling a WMA file (e.g., to 96 kHz) does not add high-frequency content that was not in the source; it only increases file size.

WMA vs. AIFF — At a Glance

WMA (Windows Media Audio)

Small file size (lossy compression)
Native support on Windows, Xbox
WMA Lossless variant for archival
Proprietary; limited macOS / iOS support
Not accepted by most DAWs natively

AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format)

Lossless uncompressed PCM — no quality loss
Native support on macOS, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Pro Tools
Supports 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit PCM
Large file size (uncompressed PCM)
Not supported by some Windows-only audio tools

Copied!

Summary

Drop a WMA file to inspect its metadata in your browser, pick your AIFF bit depth, and copy a ready-to-run FFmpeg command — nothing is uploaded.

How it works

Drop any WMA (or other audio) file to read its sample rate, duration, and channel count in your browser.
Choose your target AIFF bit depth — 16-bit PCM for CD quality, 24-bit for professional use.
Optionally select the output sample rate (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, or 96 kHz).
Copy the generated FFmpeg command and run it in your terminal.
Verify the output AIFF file in your audio editor before archiving or deleting the original WMA.

Use cases

Import WMA recordings into Logic Pro, GarageBand, or Pro Tools for editing.
Archive WMA music files as lossless AIFF before deleting the originals.
Prepare WMA audio tracks for use in Final Cut Pro video projects on macOS.
Convert Windows Media Player music exports to AIFF for iTunes or Apple Music library.
Transfer WMA recordings to an iPhone or iPad via AIFF for uncompressed playback.
Produce broadcast-quality audio deliverables by converting WMA source files to 24-bit AIFF.
Check WMA metadata (sample rate, duration, channels) before selecting conversion settings.
Generate batch FFmpeg commands for converting an entire WMA library to AIFF.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-07-01 · Reviewed by Nham Vu