Convert AVI to WAV
We turn AVI into WAV right in your browser — the file never goes to a server.
What you will lose
Nothing to lose, and nothing to gain: {to} keeps exactly what {from} hands over, and the file grows several times over.
How they differ
| AVI | WAV | |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | yes | yes |
| Lossy | yes | no |
| Multichannel | yes | yes |
| Tags | no | no |
| Released | 1992 | 1991 |
| Author | Microsoft | Microsoft, IBM |
AVI
Good at
- Opens where nothing else does any more: nineties hardware, old players
- People put uncompressed video inside, so some archives are still masters
- Simple enough that a damaged file can often be read at least in part
Awkward about
- Several times heavier than modern containers at the same quality
- Neither browsers nor phones will play it
- Keeps no titles or cover art, and handles subtitles and extra tracks badly
Use it when
- The file came out of an old archive and just needs to open
- Some program insists on it and understands nothing newer
- In every other case it is worth turning into MP4
WAV
Good at
- Lossless and uncompressed: what was recorded is what is stored
- Opens instantly in any editor, nothing to unpack
- Works as a master for further processing
Awkward about
- Enormous: a minute of stereo is about 10 MB
- Tags exist on paper but not everything reads them
- Usually too big to send by email
Use it when
- Editing or processing is coming and quality must not drop
- A short fragment: an interface sound, a sample
- The file is for a program, not for a listener
Common questions
- Does the file get uploaded to a server?
- Yes, this pair needs the server: browsers cannot encode that format. The file and the result are deleted within a couple of hours and never shared.
- Will surround sound survive?
- Yes, WAV carries more than two channels — 5.1 stays 5.1.
- Can I get the original quality back afterwards?
- Nothing is lost, but nothing is gained either. WAV stores exactly what AVI hands over, including the gaps AVI left behind when it compressed. No tool can bring those back, and the file grows several times over. This conversion makes sense for editing, not for quality.
- How many files, and how large?
- Up to 5 files at a time, 500 MB each. No sign-up, no watermarks.