Convert WAV to AAC
We turn WAV into AAC right in your browser — the file never goes to a server.
What you will lose
- Compression becomes lossy: the original quality cannot be restored
How they differ
| WAV | AAC | |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | yes | no |
| Lossy | no | yes |
| Multichannel | yes | yes |
| Tags | no | yes |
| Released | 1991 | 1997 |
| Author | Microsoft, IBM | MPEG |
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
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 10 files at a time, 200 MB each. No sign-up, no watermarks.