WAV
Waveform AudioUsed for uncompressed production audio.
- Family
- Audio
- MIME
- audio/wav
To convert WAV to AAC, upload the WAV file, start the conversion and download the result: Converter.now writes AAC audio at 192 kbps. AAC is a lossy format, so the file is usually much smaller but some fine detail is discarded; keep your WAV original.
Converter.now decodes the waveform and channel layout carried by WAV, then writes the codec and container profile used for AAC. Duration can remain identical while compression, channel mapping, frame cadence, metadata, or auxiliary streams change. WAV parsing reads RIFF chunks to establish the precise sample encoding, rate, channel layout, data extent, and any non-audio chunks before transcoding. An AAC elementary-stream result carries coded audio frames without the richer tags, chapters, artwork, and track metadata of an M4A container.
Decoded media - A waveform container written here as uncompressed 16-bit PCM audio. Encoded delivery profile - Lossy Advanced Audio Coding frames used by many streaming and device workflows.
Not quite the pair you need? Browse more ways to convert WAV files or the AAC converter hub for every route into and out of AAC.
Background reading: lossless vs. lossy audio covers which audio format to archive and which to share.
Used for uncompressed production audio.
Designed for recorded sound meant for playback over time.
PCM WAV can be much larger than delivery audio, and converting high-bit-depth material to 16-bit changes sample precision.
An AAC elementary stream carries less container metadata than M4A and another lossy encode can soften transients.
The media engine writes an AAC elementary stream, so container-only cover art and chapter data are not expected.
Compare duration, sample rate, 16-bit depth, channels, peaks, and audible clipping.
Listen for speech sibilance and music attacks, then confirm duration and channel layout.
Confirm the receiving player, editor, or publishing service actually names AAC's container and codecs before switching; stay with WAV if extra tracks or original encoding need to survive intact.