Convert QuickTime to AAC
We turn QuickTime into AAC right in your browser — the file never goes to a server.
What you will lose
Nothing important: the target format does everything the source does.
How they differ
| QuickTime | AAC | |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | no | no |
| Lossy | yes | yes |
| Multichannel | yes | yes |
| Tags | yes | yes |
| Released | 1991 | 1997 |
| Author | Apple | MPEG |
QuickTime
Good at
- What an iPhone records and what Apple editing software prefers
- Holds professional codecs, ProRes among them
- Built like MP4 inside, so repacking costs nothing in quality
Awkward about
- Outside Apple hardware it opens reluctantly
- Recordings are markedly heavier than the same clip as MP4
- Awkward to send: messengers often turn it down
Use it when
- The footage came off an iPhone and goes into an edit
- The whole workflow stays inside Apple software
- You need the best-quality master before compressing
AAC
Good at
- Noticeably better than MP3 at the same size
- The native format for Apple gear and most phones
- Handles multichannel audio and tags
Awkward about
- Older devices and car stereos may refuse it
- Lossy — the original cannot be recovered from it
- Encumbered by patents, unlike Opus
Use it when
- Listening on a phone without wasting quality
- A voice memo, or a track pulled out of a video
- You want a balance between size and sound
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, AAC carries more than two channels — 5.1 stays 5.1.
- Can I get the original quality back afterwards?
- No. AAC is lossy, and the discarded detail cannot be recovered. Keep the original if you may still need it.
- How many files, and how large?
- Up to 5 files at a time, 500 MB each. No sign-up, no watermarks.