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Supported Formats
Convert between all major file formats with high quality
Common Formats
MPEG-1 Audio Layer III - the most universal audio format worldwide, using lossy compression to reduce file sizes by 90% while maintaining excellent perceived quality. Perfect for music libraries, podcasts, portable devices, and any scenario requiring broad compatibility. Supports bitrates from 32-320kbps. Standard for digital music since 1993, playable on virtually every device and platform.
Waveform Audio File Format - uncompressed PCM audio providing perfect quality preservation. Standard Windows audio format with universal compatibility. Large file sizes (10MB per minute of stereo CD-quality). Perfect for audio production, professional recording, mastering, and situations requiring zero quality loss. Supports various bit depths (16, 24, 32-bit) and sample rates. Industry standard for professional audio work.
Ogg Vorbis - open-source lossy audio codec offering quality comparable to MP3/AAC at similar bitrates. Free from patents and licensing restrictions. Smaller file sizes than MP3 at equivalent quality. Used in gaming, open-source software, and streaming. Supports variable bitrate (VBR) for optimal quality. Perfect for applications requiring free codecs and good quality. Growing support in media players and platforms.
Advanced Audio Coding - successor to MP3 offering better quality at same bitrate (or same quality at lower bitrate). Standard audio codec for Apple devices, YouTube, and many streaming services. Supports up to 48 channels and 96kHz sample rate. Improved frequency response and handling of complex audio. Perfect for iTunes, iOS devices, video streaming, and modern audio applications. Part of MPEG-4 standard widely supported across platforms.
Free Lossless Audio Codec - compresses audio 40-60% without any quality loss. Perfect bit-for-bit preservation of original audio. Open-source format with no patents or licensing fees. Supports high-resolution audio (192kHz/24-bit). Perfect for archiving music collections, audiophile listening, and scenarios where quality is paramount. Widely supported by media players and streaming services. Ideal balance between quality and file size.
MPEG-4 Audio - AAC or ALAC audio in MP4 container. Standard audio format for Apple ecosystem (iTunes, iPhone, iPad). Supports both lossy (AAC) and lossless (ALAC) compression. Better quality than MP3 at same file size. Includes metadata support for artwork, lyrics, and rich tags. Perfect for iTunes library, iOS devices, and Apple software. Widely compatible across platforms despite Apple association. Common format for purchased music and audiobooks.
Windows Media Audio - Microsoft's proprietary audio codec with good compression and quality. Standard Windows audio format with native OS support. Supports DRM for protected content. Various profiles (WMA Standard, WMA Pro, WMA Lossless). Comparable quality to AAC at similar bitrates. Perfect for Windows ecosystem and legacy Windows Media Player. Being superseded by AAC and other formats. Still encountered in Windows-centric environments and older audio collections.
Lossless Formats
Apple Lossless Audio Codec - Apple's lossless compression reducing file size 40-60% with zero quality loss. Perfect preservation of original audio like FLAC but in Apple ecosystem. Standard lossless format for iTunes and iOS. Supports high-resolution audio up to 384kHz/32-bit. Smaller than uncompressed but larger than lossy formats. Perfect for iTunes library, audiophile iOS listening, and maintaining perfect quality in Apple ecosystem. Comparable to FLAC but with better Apple integration.
Monkey's Audio - high-efficiency lossless compression achieving better ratios than FLAC (typically 55-60% of original). Perfect quality preservation with zero loss. Free format with open specification. Slower compression/decompression than FLAC. Popular in audiophile communities. Limited player support compared to FLAC. Perfect for archiving when maximum space savings desired while maintaining perfect quality. Best for scenarios where storage space is critical and processing speed is not.
WavPack - hybrid lossless/lossy audio codec with unique correction file feature. Can create lossy file with separate correction file for lossless reconstruction. Excellent compression efficiency. Perfect for flexible audio archiving. Less common than FLAC. Supports high-resolution audio and DSD. Convert to FLAC for universal compatibility.
True Audio - lossless audio compression with fast encoding/decoding. Similar compression to FLAC with simpler algorithm. Open-source and free format. Perfect quality preservation. Less common than FLAC with limited player support. Perfect for audio archiving when FLAC compatibility not required. Convert to FLAC for broader compatibility.
Audio Interchange File Format - Apple's uncompressed audio format, equivalent to WAV but for Mac. Stores PCM audio with perfect quality. Standard audio format for macOS and professional Mac audio applications. Supports metadata tags better than WAV. Large file sizes like WAV (10MB per minute). Perfect for Mac-based audio production, professional recording, and scenarios requiring uncompressed audio on Apple platforms. Interchangeable with WAV for most purposes.
Modern Formats
Opus Audio Codec - modern open-source codec (2012) offering best quality at all bitrates from 6kbps to 510kbps. Excels at both speech and music. Lowest latency of modern codecs making it perfect for VoIP and real-time communication. Superior to MP3, AAC, and Vorbis at equivalent bitrates. Used by WhatsApp, Discord, and WebRTC. Ideal for streaming, voice calls, podcasts, and music. Becoming the universal audio codec for internet audio.
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Matroska Audio - audio-only Matroska container supporting any audio codec. Flexible format with metadata support. Can contain multiple audio tracks. Perfect for audio albums with chapters and metadata. Part of Matroska multimedia framework. Used for audiobooks and multi-track audio. Convert to FLAC or MP3 for universal compatibility.
Legacy Formats
MPEG-1 Audio Layer II - predecessor to MP3 used in broadcasting and DVDs. Better quality than MP3 at high bitrates. Standard audio codec for DVB (digital TV) and DVD-Video. Lower compression efficiency than MP3. Perfect for broadcast applications and DVD authoring. Legacy format being replaced by AAC in modern broadcasting. Still encountered in digital TV and video production workflows.
Dolby Digital (AC-3) - surround sound audio codec for DVD, Blu-ray, and digital broadcasting. Supports up to 5.1 channels. Standard audio format for DVDs and HDTV. Good compression with multichannel support. Perfect for home theater and video production. Used in cinema and broadcast. Requires Dolby license for encoding.
Adaptive Multi-Rate - speech codec optimized for mobile voice calls. Excellent voice quality at very low bitrates (4.75-12.2 kbps). Standard for GSM and 3G phone calls. Designed specifically for speech, not music. Perfect for voice recordings, voicemail, and speech applications. Used in WhatsApp voice messages and mobile voice recording. Efficient for voice but inadequate for music.
Sun/NeXT Audio - simple audio format from Sun Microsystems and NeXT Computer. Uncompressed or μ-law/A-law compressed audio. Common on Unix systems. Simple header with audio data. Perfect for Unix audio applications and legacy system compatibility. Found in system sounds and Unix audio files. Convert to WAV or MP3 for modern use.
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RealAudio - legacy streaming audio format from RealNetworks (1990s-2000s). Pioneered internet audio streaming with low-bitrate compression. Obsolete format replaced by modern streaming technologies. Poor quality by today's standards. Convert to MP3 or AAC for modern use. Historical importance in early internet audio streaming.
Specialized Formats
DTS Coherent Acoustics - surround sound codec competing with Dolby Digital. Higher bitrates than AC-3 with potentially better quality. Used in DVD, Blu-ray, and cinema. Supports up to 7.1 channels and object-based audio. Perfect for high-quality home theater. Premium audio format for video distribution. Convert to AC-3 or AAC for broader compatibility.
Core Audio Format - Apple's container for audio data on iOS and macOS. Supports any audio codec and unlimited file sizes. Modern replacement for AIFF on Apple platforms. Perfect for iOS app development and professional Mac audio. No size limitations (unlike WAV). Can store multiple audio streams. Convert to M4A or MP3 for broader compatibility outside Apple ecosystem.
VOC (Creative Voice File) - audio format from Creative Labs Sound Blaster cards. Popular in DOS era (1989-1995) for games and multimedia. Supports multiple compression formats and blocks. Legacy PC audio format. Common in retro gaming. Convert to WAV or MP3 for modern use. Important for DOS game audio preservation.
Speex - open-source speech codec designed for VoIP and internet audio streaming. Variable bitrate from 2-44 kbps. Optimized for speech with low latency. Better than MP3 for voice at low bitrates. Being superseded by Opus. Perfect for voice chat, VoIP, and speech podcasts. Legacy format replaced by Opus in modern applications.
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How to Convert Files
Upload your files, select output format, and download converted files instantly. Our converter supports batch conversion and maintains high quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WVE format and where did it come from?
WVE is an audio format used by Psion PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) in the 1990s and early 2000s. Psion made popular handheld devices (Series 3, Series 5, Revo) running EPOC operating system (precursor to Symbian). WVE was Psion's native audio recording format for voice memos and system sounds on these pocket computers.
Technical specs: WVE files contain ADPCM-compressed audio (4-bit compression) at low sample rates (typically 8kHz), optimized for speech recording. Like most PDA audio formats, quality was sacrificed for tiny file sizes - critical when devices had megabytes of storage, not gigabytes. WVE = voice quality, not music quality.
Should I convert WVE files to WAV or MP3?
Strong reasons to convert WVE:
Dead Format
WVE died with Psion PDAs circa 2001. No modern software creates WVE. Convert to standard formats.
No Software Support
Few modern players recognize WVE. Ancient format with no ecosystem. WAV/MP3 work everywhere.
Historical Archives
If preserving old Psion voice memos, convert to accessible format. Don't let obsolete format trap memories.
Future-Proofing
WVE support will vanish completely. Converting now ensures long-term accessibility. Don't wait.
Convert WVE to WAV (archival) or MP3 (compressed). Quality is already poor - conversion won't make it worse.
Does converting WVE to WAV lose quality?
WVE to WAV conversion quality:
Already Lossy
WVE uses ADPCM compression. Already degraded audio. Converting to WAV doesn't add lost quality.
Low Sample Rate
WVE typically 8kHz (telephone quality). Muffled sound is inherent to format. Conversion can't improve it.
No Further Degradation
WVE to WAV decodes ADPCM to PCM. No additional compression. Quality stays same (low).
Voice Optimized
WVE was for voice memos on PDAs. Speech quality acceptable, music quality terrible. That's by design.
Transcoding Loss
If converting to MP3, you're compressing already-compressed audio. Use high MP3 bitrate (128-192kbps) to minimize loss.
Historical Content
WVE files are historical artifacts. Quality matters less than preservation and accessibility. Convert for practicality.
Source Limited
WVE quality was constrained by 1990s PDA hardware. Conversion can't add fidelity that never existed.
Conversion preserves WVE's limited quality. You gain compatibility without making audio worse. Worth doing.
What was Psion and why did it use WVE?
Psion was British company making pioneering PDAs in 1990s. Psion Series 3, Series 5, and Revo were sophisticated handheld computers running EPOC OS (later evolved into Symbian for phones). These devices had keyboards, touchscreens, productivity apps - like proto-smartphones before smartphones existed.
Why WVE format: PDAs had tiny storage (2-8MB typical) and weak CPUs. WVE's ADPCM compression gave 4:1 compression over uncompressed audio, making voice memo recordings practical. Quality was 'good enough' for spoken notes, and tiny files fit on memory-constrained devices. Custom format optimized for hardware limitations.
Psion's end: Company stopped making PDAs around 2001 as Palm Pilots dominated, then smartphones killed PDA market entirely. EPOC became Symbian (Nokia phones), but Psion PDAs became obsolete. WVE format died with the devices. Now only exists in vintage tech collections and old backups.
Can modern software play WVE files?
Rarely! VLC *might* play WVE files but support is unreliable. Audacity can't import WVE natively. FFmpeg has limited WVE support depending on version. Most modern audio software has never heard of WVE - it's too obscure even for comprehensive players.
Specialized tools: Some vintage Psion enthusiast tools can convert WVE. Psion-specific software (if you can find it) handles WVE natively. But this requires hunting for 20-year-old software that might not run on modern systems. Not practical approach.
Recommendation: Don't try to play WVE files directly. Convert to WAV or MP3 immediately. Trying to use WVE in 2025 is exercise in frustration. One-time conversion eliminates the compatibility nightmare forever.
How do I convert WVE to WAV or MP3?
FFmpeg (if supported): Try `ffmpeg -i input.wve output.wav`. FFmpeg support for WVE is hit-or-miss depending on version and compilation. If it works, great. If not, you'll get 'Unknown format' error.
Online converters: Our converter and specialized vintage format converters may support WVE. Upload, convert, download. Easiest approach if you have internet and files aren't confidential. Worth trying before hunting for ancient software.
Specialized software: PsiWave (old Psion utility), WaveConvert (vintage converter), or other retro PDA tools. These require finding abandonware/vintage software archives. Last resort if modern tools fail. Check Psion enthusiast forums for current recommendations.
What are WVE technical specifications?
WVE uses ADPCM (Adaptive Differential PCM) compression at 4-bit, compressing 8-bit or 16-bit audio to quarter size. Sample rates are typically 8kHz (telephone quality) for voice memos, occasionally 11.025kHz or 22.05kHz for better quality recordings (rare due to storage constraints).
Audio characteristics: Mono only (stereo unnecessary for voice memos and halves file size), low bitrate (typical WVE file is tiny - 10-20KB per minute of recording), voice-optimized compression (intelligible speech, terrible music), minimal file structure (simple format for simple hardware).
Limitations: No metadata support (basic format), no multi-channel audio, no high sample rates, and proprietary structure (Psion-specific, not standardized). WVE was designed for one purpose - voice notes on resource-constrained PDAs. It succeeded at that narrow goal but nothing else.
Why do WVE files sound so bad?
WVE quality limitations:
8kHz Sample Rate
Telephone quality. Frequencies above 4kHz cut off. Muffled, tinny sound. By design for voice.
4-bit ADPCM
Aggressive compression adds artifacts. Quantization noise, distortion. Acceptable for voice, awful for music.
PDA Hardware Constraints
1990s PDAs had weak CPUs, tiny storage. Quality sacrificed for practicality. Technical necessity.
Mono Audio
Single channel. No stereo width. Flat, narrow sound. Saves storage, loses dimensionality.
Voice Optimization
Designed for speech intelligibility, not fidelity. Voice frequencies preserved, everything else sacrificed.
WVE sounds bad by modern standards because it was optimized for 1990s PDA constraints. Voice notes were goal, not hi-fi.
Can I recover old Psion voice memos?
Maybe! If you have Psion PDA backup or files transferred to PC years ago, WVE files might still be readable. Locate .wve files in old backups, archives, or floppy disks. Convert to modern format immediately to preserve content before media degrades further.
Recovery challenges: Old storage media (floppy disks, CF cards, proprietary memory) may be corrupted or unreadable. Psion proprietary connections require vintage hardware or adapters. Files might be fragmented or incomplete. But attempt recovery - those voice memos could be only copies of important memories.
Preservation workflow: Extract all WVE files from old storage. Convert to WAV (archival) or MP3 (compressed) immediately. Store backups in multiple locations (cloud, external drives). Add dates/descriptions to filenames. Don't let obsolete format trap irreplaceable recordings.
Is WVE still used anywhere?
WVE current status:
Completely Dead
No modern devices create WVE. Psion PDAs gone since ~2001. Format has zero active users.
Vintage Collections
Retro computing enthusiasts with working Psion PDAs might encounter WVE. Hobbyist niche only.
Archives Only
WVE exists in old backups, historical archives, forgotten storage media. Not actively used anywhere.
Never Widespread
Even in 1990s, WVE was niche (Psion users only). Never mainstream. Now completely obsolete.
Format Death
When hardware dies, proprietary formats die. WVE has no future. Convert and abandon.
Modern Alternative
For voice memos today: use smartphone (MP3/AAC/M4A), voice recorder (WAV/MP3), or any modern device. Never WVE.
Historical Interest
WVE has value as computing history artifact. But practical use? Zero. Convert to modern formats.
Zero Reason
No scenario where WVE is correct choice in 2025. Dead format from dead devices. RIP.
Conversion Essential
If you have WVE files, convert ASAP. Software support diminishing. Future unplayability guaranteed.
Nostalgia Only
WVE might evoke nostalgia for Psion PDAs. But sentiment doesn't justify keeping obsolete format. Convert.
How do I batch convert WVE files?
FFmpeg batch (if WVE supported): Windows: `Get-ChildItem -Filter *.wve | ForEach-Object { ffmpeg -i $_.Name "$($_.BaseName).wav" }`. Linux/Mac: `for f in *.wve; do ffmpeg -i "$f" "${f%.wve}.wav"; done`. Converts all WVE in folder.
However: FFmpeg WVE support is unreliable. You may need specialized vintage conversion tools. Check Psion enthusiast communities for current conversion tool recommendations. Batch conversion might require old software that processes files individually.
Practical approach: Test one WVE file first with various tools (FFmpeg, online converters, vintage software). Find what works, then apply to entire collection. WVE rarity means no standard solution - experimentation required.
What other formats did Psion PDAs use?
Psion formats: PRC (Psion Resource), SIS (Symbian Installation), MBM (Psion bitmap images), SKA (Psion Sketch), APP (Psion applications). Like WVE, all these formats are obsolete and require specialized conversion tools or emulators.
Audio specifically: WVE was primary audio format. Some Psion software could record in other formats but WVE was default for voice memos. Later Symbian devices (post-Psion) used AMR, WAV, and eventually AAC/MP3.
Legacy data recovery: If you have old Psion data, convert everything to modern formats. Check PsiWin (old Psion PC connectivity software) or current Psion emulators for file recovery and conversion capabilities. Preserve content before it becomes permanently inaccessible.
Can I edit WVE files before converting?
Unlikely! You'd need to convert to WAV first, then edit in audio editor (Audacity, etc.), then export to desired format. WVE files aren't editable directly - format is too obscure for modern audio editing software.
If editing needed: WVE to WAV, import WAV to Audacity, trim/normalize/clean audio, export as WAV or MP3. Two-step process. Direct WVE editing isn't practical with current tools.
Editing value questionable: WVE quality is so low (8kHz, 4-bit ADPCM) that sophisticated editing has limited impact. Basic trimming or volume adjustment is all that makes sense. Don't expect dramatic quality improvements - source is fundamentally limited.
Why convert WVE if quality is already poor?
Preservation: If WVE files contain important voice memos (family recordings, work notes, historical content), preserving them in playable format matters regardless of quality. Low-quality audio is better than no audio when content is irreplaceable.
Accessibility: WVE files are unplayable on modern devices. Converting makes content accessible. Even if audio sounds poor, being able to hear it at all requires conversion to standard format.
Future-proofing: WVE support will vanish entirely. Converting now ensures content remains playable decades from now. Don't wait until conversion becomes impossible. Act while tools still exist.
Should I keep WVE files or convert everything?
Convert everything! WVE format has zero future. No software will add WVE support. Existing support will disappear as vintage format converters become unavailable. Converting to WAV or MP3 ensures long-term accessibility.
Archival approach: If WVE files have historical value (personal memories, vintage tech documentation), keep original WVE files as artifacts PLUS create modern conversions for actual use. Dual preservation - historical authenticity and practical accessibility.
Recommended workflow: Convert all WVE to WAV (archival quality) or MP3 (compressed). Organize by date if possible. Add descriptive filenames. Back up to cloud and external storage. Delete original WVE files unless they have specific archival value. Don't let dead format trap your content.