Convert Audio to Any Format

Why would I need to convert audio formats?

Audio format conversion solves everyday problems. Your music collection is in FLAC (huge files) but your phone has limited storage and works best with MP3. You downloaded a podcast in OGG but your car stereo only plays MP3. You recorded voice notes in M4A but need WAV for editing. Maybe you're making a podcast and need to compress WAV recordings to MP3 for distribution, or you have lossless music you want to enjoy on portable devices without carrying around gigabytes of files.

Different formats serve different purposes. MP3 works everywhere – phones, computers, cars, old MP3 players. FLAC preserves perfect quality but creates large files. AAC is what iPhones and iTunes use. OPUS is the future of streaming audio with better quality at smaller sizes. WAV is uncompressed and perfect for editing. Converting between formats lets you use audio anywhere, save storage space, optimize for specific devices, and prepare files for platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.

How does your audio converter work?

Our converter uses a simple, secure process:

Upload Your Audio

Drag and drop your audio files or click to browse. Your files are encrypted during upload using SSL. We support files up to 50MB (that's about an hour of MP3 or 5-10 minutes of WAV).

Choose Output Format

Select the format you need (MP3, FLAC, WAV, AAC, etc.) and quality settings. Our interface shows compatible formats with recommendations based on your use case (portable music, podcasting, web streaming, etc.).

Server Processing

Your audio is converted on our servers using FFmpeg, the industry-standard tool used by Spotify, YouTube, and professional studios. Fast, high-quality conversions without draining your device's battery or CPU.

Download & Cleanup

Download your converted audio. We automatically delete all files from our servers within 1 hour for your privacy. No files are stored permanently – we only keep them long enough for you to download.

The entire process typically takes seconds to a few minutes, depending on file size and quality settings. Your original audio is never modified.

Which audio format should I choose?

The right format depends on what you're doing with your audio:

Use MP3 for maximum compatibility

MP3 works on everything – iPhones, Android, computers, car stereos, old MP3 players, smart speakers, and game consoles. It's the safest choice when you're not sure. Perfect for sharing music, portable music libraries, or sending to friends who might have different devices than you.

Use FLAC for archival quality

FLAC is lossless – it preserves every bit of audio quality from CDs or high-res downloads while compressing files by 40-60%. Perfect for your master music library. You can always convert FLAC to lossy formats later, but you can never recover quality lost from MP3.

Use AAC for Apple devices

AAC is the native format for iTunes, iPhones, iPads, and Apple Music. Better quality than MP3 at the same file size. If you're all-in on Apple ecosystem or making podcasts for Apple Podcasts, AAC is the way to go.

Use WAV for audio editing

WAV is uncompressed audio – no quality loss, instant playback, perfect for editing in Audacity, Adobe Audition, or any DAW. Files are huge (10MB per minute) but editing is smooth because there's no decompression needed. Always edit in WAV, then export to compressed formats.

Use OPUS for podcasts & web

OPUS is the modern codec that sounds better than MP3 at half the file size. A 64kbps OPUS podcast sounds as good as 96-128kbps MP3, saving storage and bandwidth. Perfect for web streaming, but not all older devices support it yet.

Still not sure?

When in doubt, use MP3 at 192kbps for music or 128kbps for podcasts. It works everywhere, sounds good, and has reasonable file sizes. You can always convert to other formats later if needed.

Quick comparison

MP3 = universal compatibility, FLAC = perfect quality archival, AAC = Apple ecosystem, WAV = editing workflows, OPUS = modern web streaming. Pick based on your primary use case.

Remember: You can always test different formats to see which works best for your specific needs. The converter makes it easy to try different options.

What's the difference between lossy and lossless audio?

Think of it like photo editing. Lossy formats (MP3, AAC, OGG, OPUS) are like JPEG – they permanently remove data to make files smaller. The removed audio frequencies are ones humans theoretically can't hear, like very high frequencies or quiet sounds masked by louder ones. At good bitrates (192-320kbps), most people can't tell the difference from lossless. Files are 5-10x smaller than lossless.

Lossless formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, APE) are like PNG – they keep every bit of the original audio perfectly. A lossless file sounds identical to the original CD or master recording. Files are 2-5x larger than lossy, but you can convert to lossy later without generational loss. Think of lossless as your master backup that you keep on your computer, and lossy as the portable copies you put on your phone.

Choosing between them: Use lossy for everyday listening on phones, Bluetooth speakers, car stereos, and anywhere storage or bandwidth matters. Use lossless for your master library at home, professional audio work, critical listening on high-end equipment, and when you might re-encode later (converting MP3→AAC loses more quality than FLAC→AAC). Most people use lossless at home, lossy on-the-go.

Can I convert multiple audio files at once?

Yes! Select multiple audio files at once (hold Ctrl or Cmd while clicking, or drag multiple files into the upload area). All files will be converted to the same output format you choose. This is perfect for converting an entire music album, podcast series, or voice recording collection. Convert 10 songs or 100 – the converter handles them all.

After conversion, you can download each file individually, or use the 'Download All as ZIP' button to get all converted files in one compressed archive. The ZIP option is super convenient when you've converted a whole album or podcast series – instead of clicking download 15 times, you get one file that extracts into all your converted audio with proper filenames and extensions.

There's no practical limit on batch size. Audio conversion is fast – a typical 3-minute MP3 song converts in 5-15 seconds. Even converting 50 songs takes just a few minutes. For huge batches (500+ files), consider doing them in groups of 100 to make management easier. The converter shows progress for each file so you know what's happening.

What bitrate should I use for MP3 or AAC?

Bitrate is like image resolution – higher = better quality + bigger files. For MP3: 96kbps is acceptable for podcasts and spoken word (sounds thin but intelligible). 128kbps is the old standard (okay for casual listening but you'll notice compression artifacts). 192kbps is the sweet spot for most music (good quality, reasonable size). 256kbps is very high quality (hard to tell from lossless for most people). 320kbps is maximum MP3 quality (near-transparent, but files are large). For AAC: You get equivalent quality at 20-30% lower bitrate, so 256kbps AAC ≈ 320kbps MP3.

Practical recommendations: Podcasts/audiobooks: Use 96kbps MP3 (mono saves even more space) or 64kbps AAC. Music for everyday listening: Use 192kbps MP3 or 128kbps AAC. High-quality music: Use 256-320kbps MP3 or 256kbps AAC. Streaming over mobile data: Use 128kbps to save bandwidth. Archival copies: Don't use lossy at all – use FLAC or WAV to keep perfect quality.

Honest truth: Most people can't hear the difference between 192kbps and 320kbps MP3 on consumer equipment (laptop speakers, Bluetooth earbuds, car stereos). The difference only becomes noticeable on high-end headphones or studio monitors. 192kbps MP3 is the practical sweet spot – good enough for 95% of listening situations while keeping file sizes reasonable. Use 320kbps only if you have lossless sources and really care about the last 1% of quality.

Can I convert lossless FLAC to MP3?

Yes! This is one of the most common audio conversions. FLAC preserves perfect CD-quality audio but creates large files (30-50MB per song), while MP3 compresses that down to 3-8MB per song at 192-256kbps with quality that's nearly indistinguishable for most listeners. Converting FLAC to MP3 is perfect for creating portable copies of your music library that fit on your phone, stream over mobile data, or share with friends without sending gigantic files.

Best practices: Always keep your original FLAC files as your master library backup. Convert to MP3 at 256kbps or 320kbps for excellent quality that 95% of people can't distinguish from lossless. Never delete your FLACs after converting – storage is cheap and you might want to convert to different formats later (converting MP3→AAC loses more quality than FLAC→AAC).

For Apple users: FLAC doesn't work natively on iPhones or iTunes. You have two options: Convert FLAC to ALAC (Apple Lossless) to keep perfect quality in iTunes – file sizes stay large but quality is preserved. Or convert FLAC to AAC at 256kbps for great quality with much smaller files. AAC at 256kbps sounds excellent on iPhones and AirPods and is what Apple Music uses for streaming.

How do I keep audio quality high during conversion?

Follow these tips to maintain quality:

Don't convert repeatedly

Each lossy conversion loses a bit more quality. Avoid MP3 → AAC → OGG chains. Always convert from your best source (FLAC, WAV, or high-bitrate original) directly to your target format.

Keep lossless masters

Store your music library in FLAC or WAV as master copies. Create lossy copies (MP3, AAC) from these masters whenever needed. You can always make new lossy copies, but you can never recover quality lost from lossy files.

Don't upsample bitrates

Converting 128kbps MP3 to 320kbps MP3 doesn't improve quality – it just makes files bigger with the same quality. You can't add detail that isn't there. Always match or slightly exceed your source quality.

Use appropriate formats

OPUS and AAC give better quality than MP3 at the same file size. If you're converting lossless to lossy, consider using 256kbps AAC or 128kbps OPUS instead of 320kbps MP3 – smaller files with better quality.

Know when quality matters

High-end headphones reveal differences between 192kbps and 320kbps. Bluetooth speakers and laptop speakers don't. Match your bitrate to your listening equipment and don't over-optimize for gear you don't have.

Summary: Keep lossless masters, convert directly from them to lossy formats, use appropriate bitrates, and avoid re-encoding lossy files. One good conversion beats multiple mediocre ones.

Is this really free? What's the catch?

Yes, completely free – no catch, no hidden fees, no premium tiers, no subscriptions. You can convert unlimited audio files with no watermarks added. We support ourselves through optional donations and non-intrusive ads (which you can block if you prefer). We built this because we were frustrated with other converters that limit file sizes, add watermarks, or constantly push premium upgrades.

The only real limitations: File size limit of 50MB per audio file (that's about 30-60 minutes of MP3 or 5-10 minutes of WAV), and conversion happens on our servers so you need an internet connection. If you need to convert massive files or want offline conversion, you'd need desktop software like foobar2000 or Audacity. But for 99% of people converting everyday audio, our free service works perfectly.

Use your converted audio however you want – personal projects, podcasts, YouTube, commercial music production, client work, whatever. No attribution required, no restrictions. The audio files are 100% yours. We delete them from our servers within an hour, so they're truly yours with no strings attached.

What audio formats do you support?

We support 55+ audio formats organized by category:

Common formats (7):

MP3, WAV, OGG, AAC, FLAC, M4A, WMA – These cover 95% of what most people need for music, podcasts, and general audio.

Lossless formats (5):

ALAC, APE, WV, TTA, AIFF – Perfect quality preservation for archival, mastering, and professional audio work.

Modern formats (3):

OPUS, WEBM, MKA – Next-generation codecs optimized for streaming and web applications with better efficiency than MP3.

Legacy formats (6):

MP2, AC3, AMR, AU, MID, RA – Older formats for backwards compatibility with vintage equipment and software.

Specialized formats (5):

DTS, CAF, VOC, SPX, DSS – Professional and specialized formats for specific industries like cinema, dictation, and gaming.

Portable/Netpbm Encodings (5):

PPM, PBM, PGM, PNM, PAM – Simple text-based encodings for cross-platform compatibility.

Legacy Encodings (7):

PCX, PICT, PCT, PCD, PDB, PALM, CUR – Older encodings for backwards compatibility with legacy systems.

Specialized Encodings (8):

VIPS, VIFF, MNG, MTV, WBMP, PGX, PAL, MAP – Technical encodings for specific industries and applications.

Fax & Print Encodings (5):

FAX, G3, G4, JBG, JBIG – Monochrome compression encodings for fax machines and document scanning.

Retro Encodings (6):

SIXEL, SIX, HRZ, IPL, PICON, OTB – Vintage computer graphics encodings from 1970s-1990s systems.

How long does audio conversion take?

It depends on file size, format complexity, and quality settings. As a rough guide: A 3-minute song typically takes 5-20 seconds. A 60-minute podcast takes 30-90 seconds. Simple conversions (WAV to FLAC, both lossless) are faster than complex codec changes (MP3 to AAC with quality adjustment). Larger files and higher quality settings take proportionally longer.

Format changes without re-encoding are nearly instant – like changing a container (M4A to MP3 if they use same codec). Full conversions that change codecs require processing every audio sample, which takes longer. Batch conversions process files one at a time, so 10 songs take about 10x longer than one song. You'll see a progress bar showing estimated time remaining for each file.

If conversion is taking forever: Check your internet connection (slow uploads make it seem stuck). Try lower quality settings for faster processing. Make sure your audio file isn't corrupted (try playing it first). For huge files (100MB+ lossless albums), just be patient – they genuinely take a few minutes even on fast servers. Most everyday conversions finish in under a minute.

Can I use this on my phone or tablet?

Yes! Our converter works on iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and tablets. The interface adapts to touch screens and smaller displays. However, there are practical considerations: Mobile browsers have file size restrictions. Uploading large files over cellular data uses a lot of data and takes time. Your phone might time out or go to sleep during long conversions (though most finish in under a minute).

Best practices for mobile: Use WiFi, not cellular data (even MP3s are 3-8MB each, albums are 50-100MB). Keep your screen on during conversion. Convert shorter audio files (under 10 minutes works best). For converting entire music albums or large collections, use a computer. Mobile is perfect for quick single-file conversions like podcast episodes or voice recordings.

If you're having trouble on mobile: Try using your computer instead. Make sure you have a stable WiFi connection. Close other apps to free up memory. Update your browser to the latest version. Some older phones struggle with large file uploads – if upload fails repeatedly, the file might be too large for your device.

What happens to my audio metadata and tags?

Metadata (ID3 tags in MP3, Vorbis comments in OGG/FLAC) includes artist, album, title, genre, track number, album artwork, lyrics, and more. Our converter attempts to preserve basic metadata when converting between formats that support it. MP3 to AAC usually keeps artist, album, title, and artwork. FLAC to MP3 preserves most tags. The catch: Different formats support different metadata fields, so some information might be lost in conversion.

What typically gets preserved: Song title, artist name, album name, track numbers, basic genre tags, and album artwork (if not too large). What might get lost: Advanced tags like lyrics, ReplayGain data, custom fields, multiple artists, detailed credits, and ratings. Format capabilities matter – FLAC and MKA support extensive metadata, while WAV barely supports any.

Best practices for metadata: Always keep your original files with complete metadata as masters. Use our converter for creating distribution copies. For serious metadata management (editing tags, adding artwork, organizing libraries), use dedicated tools like Mp3tag (Windows), Kid3 (cross-platform), or MusicBrainz Picard before converting. These tools give you full control over tags and work better than trying to preserve tags through conversion.

Can I extract audio from videos?

Our converter focuses on audio-to-audio conversion. For extracting audio from video files (getting MP3 from MP4, WAV from MKV, etc.), you'll need a video converter or audio extraction tool. We have a separate Video Converter that can help with that. Audio extraction from video is a different workflow that requires handling video codecs, containers, and sometimes multiple audio tracks.

Why we don't mix audio and video conversion here: They're different tools for different jobs. Audio extraction needs to decode video containers, handle video codecs, select audio tracks (movies often have multiple languages), and deal with sync issues. It's better handled by tools designed specifically for video. Keeping audio conversion separate makes it faster, simpler, and more focused on what it does best.

Workaround for extracting audio from video: Use our Video Converter to convert your video to a format with the audio you want, then use desktop software like VLC (Media > Convert/Save), Audacity (import audio from video), or online tools that specialize in audio extraction. This two-step approach gives you more control and better results than trying to do everything in one tool.

Should I use OPUS or MP3 for my podcast?

OPUS is technically superior – it sounds better than MP3 at half the file size. A podcast at 64kbps OPUS sounds as good as 96-128kbps MP3, saving bandwidth and storage. OPUS at 96kbps rivals MP3 at 192kbps for music. If you're hosting your podcast on your own website or a modern platform that supports OPUS, and your audience uses modern devices (anything from the last 5 years), OPUS is the better choice. Smaller file sizes mean faster downloads, lower hosting costs, and less mobile data usage for listeners.

But MP3 is universally compatible. It works on everything – old MP3 players, car stereos from 2005, vintage iPods, weird proprietary podcast apps, and every computer made since 1995. If your audience includes people with older devices, or you're distributing through platforms that don't support OPUS yet, MP3 is the safer choice. Use 96kbps for speech-heavy podcasts (perfectly clear voice, tiny files), 128kbps for podcasts with music intros/outros, or 192kbps if music is a big part of your content.

Practical recommendation: Use MP3 at 96-128kbps for maximum compatibility unless you have a specific reason to use OPUS. Most podcast platforms (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts) work best with MP3. Save OPUS for web-only distribution where you control the player and know it supports modern formats. For audiobooks, use mono MP3 at 64-96kbps – voice doesn't need stereo and mono saves 50% space with zero quality loss for speech.