WAV is uncompressed lossless audio — pristine but large (~10 MB per minute at CD quality). Convert to WAV when your destination is audio production (DAWs like Logic, Ableton, Pro Tools all use WAV natively), voice-over delivery, or when a broadcaster / stock-audio marketplace specifies uncompressed. Never for casual listening — file sizes make no sense.
AIFF vs WAV: Side-by-side
Technical comparison of the two formats — useful for deciding which to use, or for confirming what changes during conversion.
Property
AIFF
WAV
Full name
Audio Interchange File Format
Waveform Audio File Format
Year introduced
1988
1991
Developer / standard body
Apple
IBM / Microsoft
MIME type
audio/aiff
audio/wav
File extension
.aiff / .aif
.wav
Compression
Uncompressed PCM (typically)
Uncompressed PCM (typically)
Color / data depth
N/A
N/A (audio)
Max dimensions / size
4 GB file size limit
4 GB file size limit (RIFF)
Transparency
No
No
Animation
No
No
Standard / specification
Apple AIFF
Microsoft RIFF
Best for
Apple-ecosystem professional audio, Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro
Studio recording, raw audio, professional editing
AIFF to WAV FAQ
Quick answers about compatibility, quality, metadata handling, and the most common reasons to convert AIFF files to WAV.
How do I convert AIFF to WAV online?
Upload your AIFF audio to iFormat and click Convert. The track is decoded and re-encoded to WAV with metadata preserved. It's free, needs no account, and supports batch conversion of albums or playlists.
How to convert AIFF to WAV without losing sound quality
WAV is an uncompressed lossless audio format. Converting to a lossless target (WAV, FLAC, AIFF) preserves every detail of the original. Converting between lossy formats involves a small, usually inaudible re-encoding step. For the best result, always start from the highest-quality source file you have.
Can I convert multiple AIFF files to WAV at once?
Yes — upload an entire album or playlist of AIFF files and iFormat batch-converts them all to WAV. Metadata (title, artist, album, cover art) carries over for each track, so your library stays organised after conversion.
Can I convert AIFF to WAV without downloading software?
Yes. iFormat works entirely in your browser — no desktop software, no app install, and no sign-up. Upload your AIFF, click Convert, and download the WAV. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices.
Why convert AIFF to WAV instead of keeping AIFF?
AIFF is Apple's uncompressed audio format used for professional audio on Mac. WAV is better for editing and mastering at full quality. Convert when the destination device, app, or platform handles WAV more reliably than AIFF.
Does AIFF to WAV conversion keep track info like artist and album?
Yes — ID3 metadata such as title, artist, album, and cover art carries over automatically wherever the WAV format supports it, so your library stays organised after conversion.
Is there a file size limit for AIFF to WAV conversion?
The free plan supports files up to 50 MB, which covers the large majority of AIFF files. For longer or higher-resolution files, Starter raises the limit to 100 MB, Plus to 1 GB, and Pro to 5 GB.