Wav Converter
Many audio editors, samplers, telephone systems and speech tools want plain WAV files. This converter decodes your audio and writes a WAV file entirely in your browser — nothing is uploaded — with the sample rate, bit depth and channels you need, plus optional trimming and volume normalising.
WAV converter
WAV size calculator
Audio Format Reference Pack
Printable audio format reference (sample rates, bit depths, bit rates and typical uses), a WAV file size calculator spreadsheet, a delivery specification checklist and a recording session log.
- Format reference (PDF)
- Size calculator (XLSX)
- Delivery checklist (PDF/DOCX)
- Session log (PDF/DOCX/XLSX)
Formats: PDF, XLSX, DOCX. Instant download after payment (link valid 72 hours, up to 5 downloads). AI-assisted: the templates were drafted with AI help and reviewed and laid out by Kedop.
$3.00 USD, one-time
Secure card checkout by Stripe. Full refund within 7 days — see the refund policy and license.
What the converter does
- Your browser decodes the file into raw audio samples using the Web Audio API.
- Optional trimming keeps only the section between start and end.
- The audio is resampled to the chosen rate and mixed to mono or stereo if needed.
- Optional normalising raises or lowers the level so the loudest peak is at −1 dBFS.
- The samples are written into a standard WAV file with a 44-byte header and offered as a download.
Everything happens on your device — the file is never uploaded, which also means large files are limited only by your device’s memory.
Which settings should I choose?
| Use | Sample rate | Bit depth | Channels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Music editing, CD-quality | 44,100 Hz | 16 or 24-bit | Stereo |
| Video projects | 48,000 Hz | 24-bit | Stereo |
| Speech recognition and voice assistants | 16,000 Hz | 16-bit | Mono |
| Telephone systems and IVR prompts | 8,000 Hz | 16-bit (check the system’s spec) | Mono |
| Sampler instruments | 44,100 or 48,000 Hz | 16 or 24-bit | Mono or stereo |
| Further processing in a DAW | Keep original | 32-bit float | Keep original |
When a system specifies a format — for example an IVR requiring 8 kHz mono — follow its documentation exactly. Some telephone systems require μ-law or A-law encoding, which this converter doesn’t produce.
WAV file sizes
| Format | 1 minute | 3 minutes | Bit rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44.1 kHz / 16-bit / stereo | 10.1 MB | 30.3 MB | 1411 kbps |
| 48 kHz / 24-bit / stereo | 16.5 MB | 49.4 MB | 2304 kbps |
| 96 kHz / 24-bit / stereo | 33.0 MB | 98.9 MB | 4608 kbps |
| 16 kHz / 16-bit / mono | 1.8 MB | 5.5 MB | 256 kbps |
| 8 kHz / 16-bit / mono | 0.9 MB | 2.7 MB | 128 kbps |
Size = sample rate × bytes per sample × channels × seconds. WAV is uncompressed, so a CD-quality stereo file uses about 10 MB per minute — roughly ten times a 128 kbps MP3.
Does converting to WAV improve quality?
No. Converting an MP3 or AAC file to WAV cannot restore detail that lossy compression removed; the WAV will sound the same as the original, just much larger. WAV is useful because it is simple, widely supported and avoids further quality loss while you edit. Converting a lossless FLAC file to WAV keeps full quality.
Worked example
A podcaster needs a 3-minute intro as 48 kHz, 24-bit stereo WAV for a video editor. The source is a 44.1 kHz MP3. They open it, choose 48000 Hz, 24-bit and stereo, trim from 0 to 180 seconds and tick normalise. The converter resamples, sets the peak to −1 dBFS and produces a file of about 49.4 MB — which the size calculator confirms before they start.
WAV compared with other formats
| Format | Compression | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| WAV | None (PCM) | Editing, sampling, broadcast delivery |
| AIFF | None (PCM) | Apple-centric editing workflows |
| FLAC | Lossless | Archiving and high-quality listening |
| MP3 | Lossy | Distribution and portable playback |
| AAC / M4A | Lossy | Streaming, Apple devices, video |
| Opus / OGG | Lossy | Web audio, voice chat |
Lossless formats keep every sample; lossy formats discard sound judged least audible to make files much smaller. For editing, work in WAV or another lossless format and export a lossy copy only at the end.
Common WAV problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| File won’t open in a phone system | Wrong sample rate, channels or encoding | Use the exact spec, often 8 kHz mono 16-bit; some need μ-law |
| Speech recogniser gives poor results | Music-rate stereo or clipped audio | Try 16 kHz mono 16-bit and avoid peaks at 0 dBFS |
| Audio sounds too fast or slow in an editor | Sample rate mismatch between file and project | Convert to the project’s rate |
| File is very large | High sample rate or 24/32-bit stereo | Lower the rate or bit depth if the destination allows |
| Clicks at the start or end | Trim point in the middle of a waveform | Trim a little earlier or apply a short fade in your editor |
Bit depth and dBFS
- 16-bit audio has about 96 dB of dynamic range — enough for finished music.
- 24-bit gives about 144 dB of theoretical range and more headroom while editing.
- 32-bit float cannot clip internally, which suits files headed for further processing.
- dBFS measures level relative to digital full scale: 0 dBFS is the maximum; −1 dBFS leaves a little safety margin.
Privacy
Audio files are processed locally in your browser and never uploaded.
Frequently asked questions
Is my audio uploaded?
No. Decoding and conversion happen in your browser.
Which formats can I convert?
Any your browser can play — commonly MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, M4A/AAC and WebM, depending on the browser.
Will converting MP3 to WAV improve quality?
No — it keeps the same quality in a larger, uncompressed file.
What is the best WAV format for video?
48 kHz, 24-bit is the common standard for video.
Why is my WAV file so large?
WAV is uncompressed: about 10 MB per minute at CD quality.
Can it convert WAV to MP3?
Not this tool — it writes WAV files only.
Is there a file size limit?
Only your device’s memory; very long files may be slow on phones.
Does the converter keep metadata?
No — tags like title and artist are not copied into the WAV file.
Should I choose 16-bit or 24-bit?
24-bit for editing and recording; 16-bit for finished files or when a system requires it.
Can I convert several files at once?
Convert them one at a time; each download is created on your device.