Does converting WMA to WAV lose quality?

If the source is WMA Standard (lossy), the audio data already has some compression artifacts. Converting to WAV will not add new artifacts, but it cannot recover lost data. The resulting WAV will sound identical to the WMA source. If your source is WMA Lossless, the WAV output is a perfect, bit-for-bit copy of the original PCM audio.

What bit depth should I choose for WAV output?

16-bit PCM matches CD quality and is the most widely compatible WAV variant. 24-bit is recommended for professional audio editing and mastering. 32-bit float is ideal when you plan further processing in a DAW, as it preserves headroom and avoids clipping during editing. For archival from a lossy WMA source, 16-bit is sufficient.

What is the FFmpeg command for WMA to WAV?

The basic command is: ffmpeg -i input.wma -c:a pcm_s16le -ar 44100 output.wav. Replace pcm_s16le with pcm_s24le for 24-bit or pcm_f32le for 32-bit float. The -ar flag sets the sample rate; omit it to keep the source rate. Add -map_metadata 0 to copy tags where supported.

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

WAV files are significantly larger than WMA because they are uncompressed. A 4-minute stereo track at 16-bit/44.1 kHz is about 40 MB in WAV format, compared to roughly 3–4 MB in WMA at 128 kbps. Use the formula: size (MB) = sample rate (Hz) x bit depth (bits) x channels x duration (s) / 8 / 1,000,000.

Is my WMA file uploaded anywhere?

No. The metadata inspector uses the Web Audio API entirely in your browser. Your file is read into browser memory only and is never transmitted to any server. Refreshing the page clears all data.

Can I convert multiple WMA files at once?

Yes, using a shell loop. On Linux/macOS: for f in *.wma; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -c:a pcm_s16le "${f%.wma}.wav"; done. On Windows PowerShell: Get-ChildItem *.wma | ForEach-Object { ffmpeg -i $_.FullName -c:a pcm_s16le ($_.BaseName + ".wav") }

Does FFmpeg support WMA decoding?

Yes. FFmpeg includes built-in WMA decoders (wmav1, wmav2, wmalossless, wmapro) and does not require any additional codec installation. Simply install FFmpeg from ffmpeg.org and run the command — WMA input is supported out of the box on all platforms.

What is the difference between WAV PCM formats?

pcm_s16le is signed 16-bit PCM, little-endian — the standard CD and most-compatible WAV. pcm_s24le is signed 24-bit PCM, offering more dynamic range and preferred for professional audio. pcm_f32le is 32-bit floating-point PCM, which is lossless during mathematical processing inside a DAW but may not be supported by all playback software.

WMA to WAV Converter

Inspect your WMA file metadata in the browser and generate the perfect FFmpeg command to convert it to uncompressed WAV — no upload required.

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, OGG accepted

FFmpeg Command Generator

WAV Bit Depth

Output Sample Rate

Copy metadata tags from source (-map_metadata 0)

ffmpeg -i input.wma -c:a pcm_s16le -ar 44100 -map_metadata 0 output.wav

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

Batch convert (Linux / macOS)

for f in *.wma; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -c:a pcm_s16le -ar 44100 -map_metadata 0 "${f%.wma}.wav"; done

Batch convert (Windows PowerShell)

Get-ChildItem *.wma | ForEach-Object { ffmpeg -i $_.FullName -c:a pcm_s16le -ar 44100 -map_metadata 0 ($_.BaseName + ".wav") }

GUI alternatives

VLC Media Player — free, cross-platform; use Media > Convert/Save, select WAV as output format
Audacity — free, open-source; import WMA (requires FFmpeg library), then File > Export as WAV
fre:ac — free, open-source, Windows / macOS / Linux, supports WMA input and WAV output
dBpoweramp — paid, Windows / macOS, batch WMA-to-WAV with DSP processing options

Drop a WMA file on the left to inspect its metadata

No file is uploaded — everything runs in your browser

WAV Bit Depth Reference

Codec Flag	Bit Depth	Size / min (stereo)	Best For
pcm_s16le	16-bit	~10 MB	CD, playback, general use
pcm_s24le	24-bit	~15 MB	Professional recording, DAW
pcm_f32le	32-bit float	~20 MB	Mixing, DSP, avoid clipping

Sizes assume 44,100 Hz stereo. WAV files are uncompressed — always larger than the WMA source.

WMA vs. WAV — At a Glance

WMA (Windows Media Audio)

Small file size — good compression at low bitrates
WMA Lossless variant preserves every audio sample
Proprietary Microsoft format — poor cross-platform support
Not accepted by most DAWs without a plugin or FFmpeg bridge

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)

Uncompressed PCM — zero quality loss during editing
Universally supported by every DAW, video editor, and OS
Ideal for professional workflows, mastering, and archival
Large file sizes — 10–20x larger than equivalent WMA
No metadata container standard — tags may be stripped by some players

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Summary

WMA (Windows Media Audio) is a proprietary Microsoft codec that delivers good quality at low bitrates but is not universally supported across devices, apps, and editing platforms. WAV is an uncompressed PCM format that preserves every sample of the original audio, making it the preferred format for audio editing, archival, and professional workflows. This tool lets you drop any WMA file to inspect its sample rate, duration, and channels in your browser, choose a bit depth that matches your quality needs, then copy a ready-to-run FFmpeg command to do the actual conversion. Everything runs in your browser; no file is ever uploaded.

How it works

Drop a WMA file onto the inspector panel (or click to browse).
The Web Audio API reads the file's sample rate, duration, and channel count locally.
Choose a WAV bit depth — 16-bit for CD quality, 24-bit for professional audio, 32-bit float for editing.
Copy the generated FFmpeg command and run it in your terminal.
Verify the output WAV in a player or DAW before deleting your original WMA.

Use cases

Convert a WMA recording to WAV for editing in Audacity, Adobe Audition, or any DAW.
Prepare WMA files for import into video editors such as DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro.
Archive WMA music as uncompressed WAV to preserve audio quality without re-encoding.
Convert WMA speech recordings to WAV for transcription services or voice recognition tools.
Batch-convert an entire WMA library by adapting the single-file command into a shell loop.
Check a WMA file's sample rate and channel count before deciding on a conversion target.
Estimate the WAV output file size before committing to a bit depth.
Generate a ready-to-paste FFmpeg command without memorizing its flags.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-11 · Reviewed by Nham Vu