WAV to M4A
Convert big WAV recordings to compact M4A - right in your browser, nothing uploaded.
Drag & drop your WAV files here, or click to choose. Everything runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
WAV is uncompressed PCM audio: flawless quality, but roughly 10 MB per minute for CD-quality stereo, so a handful of recordings can fill a phone fast. M4A is AAC audio inside an MP4 container - the standard for iTunes, Apple Music and the iPhone - so converting WAV to M4A shrinks those files dramatically while keeping them native to Apple devices. This converter runs entirely inside your browser on a WebAssembly build of FFmpeg, which means your audio is never uploaded, there is no queue, and no size limit beyond your device's own memory. Drop in a batch of WAV files at once, choose a bitrate from 96 to 320 kbps (192 by default), then preview and download each result. Free, no signup, nothing to install.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert WAV to M4A?
To convert WAV to M4A, set the Bitrate dropdown first (96k, 128k, 192k recommended, 256k, or 320k), then drag and drop your WAV files onto the drop area - or click it to choose them - and conversion to M4A starts automatically, with each finished file appearing as a row with a Download button. You can add several WAV files at once; they are converted one after another, and every row shows the new filename, its size, and an inline player so you can listen before you download. The whole job runs in your browser through a WebAssembly build of FFmpeg, so nothing is uploaded to a server.
Does converting WAV to M4A lose quality?
Yes, some quality is lost. WAV is uncompressed PCM audio, while M4A holds AAC, which is a lossy format - the encoder throws away data it judges you will not hear in order to make the file far smaller. At 192 kbps or higher the difference is very hard to notice on normal listening gear, but it is a one-way trip: converting the M4A back to WAV will not bring the discarded data back. Keep your original WAV if you may need to edit or master it later.
Which bitrate should I choose for WAV to M4A?
Use 192 kbps for general music listening - it is the default here and a good balance of size and fidelity for AAC. Choose 256 or 320 kbps if the source is a high-quality studio recording or you listen on good headphones and want the smallest audible difference from the WAV. Drop to 96 or 128 kbps for spoken word, podcasts, voice memos or audiobooks, where the extra bits buy you very little.
Why convert WAV to M4A instead of MP3?
M4A carries AAC audio, the successor to MP3, and AAC generally sounds better than MP3 at the same bitrate - so you get a smaller or better-sounding file for the same setting. M4A is also the native format of iTunes, Apple Music and the iPhone, so tags, artwork and library imports behave the way Apple expects. MP3 is still the more universally compatible format, so pick it instead if you need an old car stereo or an obscure device to play the file.
Is this WAV to M4A converter free and private?
It is completely free and fully private. There is no signup, no account, no watermark and nothing to install, and your audio never leaves your computer - the conversion runs inside your own browser through a WebAssembly build of FFmpeg, so no file is ever uploaded to a server. That makes it safe for confidential interviews, unreleased music, client recordings and anything else you would not want sitting on someone else's machine.
Is there a file size limit for WAV files?
There is no limit imposed by this site, because nothing is uploaded - the only real ceiling is your own device's memory. That matters with WAV in particular, since uncompressed audio runs about 10 MB per minute for CD-quality stereo, so an hour-long recording can already be several hundred megabytes. Files past roughly a few hundred MB can get slow or run out of memory on a phone, so use a desktop browser for long sessions, live sets or full albums.
Does this work on iPhone, Mac and Android?
Yes - it runs in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and Android, with no app to install. Since M4A is Apple's standard audio format, converted files drop straight into the Music app, iTunes or a Mac library. For big WAV recordings a desktop or laptop browser is the safer choice, as phones have far less memory to work with.