Audio conversion
Convert WAV to AAC
Updated Jul 2026
WAV is an uncompressed audio format used for recording and editing, and AAC is the compressed format Apple devices and most streaming services use. To convert WAV to AAC, open the file in a converter and export it as AAC. Doing this on your own computer means the recording never has to be uploaded anywhere to get shrunk down.
- Extension
- .wav
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Uncompressed audio, recording
- Extension
- .aac
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Apple / streaming audio
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert WAV to AAC on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert WAV to AAC
- Open Morphjet and drag in the WAV file or a whole folder of recordings.
- Choose AAC as the output format, and pick a bitrate if you want more control over size versus quality.
- Convert. The AAC files are written locally next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
WAV vs AAC: what actually changes
| WAV | AAC | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, roughly 10 MB per minute of stereo audio | Small, a fraction of the WAV size at typical bitrates |
| Quality | Lossless, exact copy of the recorded audio | Lossy, some detail is discarded to shrink the file |
| Opens everywhere | Yes on most software, but files are unwieldy to share | Yes, native support on Apple devices and most streaming platforms |
| Good for editing | Yes, no generation loss when re-saving | No, re-encoding an already-compressed file loses more quality |
| Metadata (title, artist, artwork) | Limited, not consistently supported | Yes, well supported for tags and cover art |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert WAV to AAC when you've finished recording or editing and want a much smaller file to store, sync to a phone, or play back through Apple software and most streaming apps.
Keep the WAV if you plan to edit, mix, or master the audio further, since WAV has no compression artifacts to compound and AAC can't be converted back to lossless quality.
Why not just use an online converter?
Voice memos, interviews, and demo recordings in WAV form can be sensitive, and an online converter means uploading that audio to a server you don't control before you ever get the AAC back. Converting on your own computer keeps the recording on your machine the whole time, with nothing sent anywhere.
Questions
Does converting WAV to AAC lose quality?
Yes, a little. AAC is a lossy format, so some audio detail is discarded during compression. At a reasonable bitrate the difference is hard to hear on typical playback, but it's not reversible.
Will the AAC file keep song title, artist, and cover art?
Yes. AAC files support metadata tags well, so title, artist, and artwork carry over or can be added during conversion, unlike WAV which handles this inconsistently.
Why convert WAV to AAC instead of MP3?
AAC generally sounds better than MP3 at the same bitrate and is the format Apple devices and many streaming services prefer natively. MP3 is still more universal on older hardware.
Can I convert WAV to AAC without uploading the recording?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the audio never has to travel over the internet to be compressed.
Morphjet converts WAV, AAC, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.