Audio conversion
Convert WAV to MP3
Updated Jul 2026
WAV is an uncompressed recording format, and MP3 is the compressed format almost everything plays. To convert WAV to MP3, open the file in a converter, pick a bitrate, and export. Doing it on your own computer means the recording never has to leave your machine to make the trip.
- Extension
- .wav
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Uncompressed audio, recording
- Extension
- .mp3
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- The universal audio format
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert WAV to MP3 on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert WAV to MP3
- Open Morphjet and drag in the WAV file or a whole folder of recordings.
- Choose MP3 as the output format and pick a bitrate, higher for music, lower for voice or podcasts.
- Convert. The MP3s are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
WAV vs MP3: what actually changes
| WAV | MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, roughly 10 MB per minute of stereo audio | Small, often a tenth the size or less |
| Quality | Lossless, exact copy of the recording | Lossy, small quality loss depending on bitrate |
| Opens everywhere | Yes on most desktops, spottier on phones and web | Yes, plays on nearly every device and app |
| Good for editing | Yes, no generation loss when re-saving | No, re-encoding loses more quality each time |
| Metadata (title, artist, cover art) | Limited support | Full support via ID3 tags |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert WAV to MP3 when you need to share a recording, upload it somewhere with file size limits, or listen to it on a phone or in a car stereo that doesn't handle large uncompressed files well.
Keep the WAV original if you're still editing or mixing the audio, since every MP3 export bakes in a small, permanent quality loss you can't undo.
Why not just use an online converter?
Recordings often carry things you wouldn't want on a stranger's server, whether it's an unreleased song, a private voice memo, or an interview. Uploading a WAV file to an online converter sends the whole recording out to be processed elsewhere. Converting on your own computer means the audio stays put the entire time.
Questions
Does converting WAV to MP3 lose quality?
Yes, some. MP3 compresses the audio by discarding parts of the sound that are harder to hear, so there's a real but usually small quality loss. At a high bitrate, most people can't tell the difference by ear.
What bitrate should I use?
For music, 256 or 320 kbps keeps the quality very close to the original. For voice recordings, podcasts, or interviews, 128 or 160 kbps is usually plenty and keeps the file small.
Will the MP3 keep song info like artist and album?
MP3 supports that kind of metadata through ID3 tags, but a plain WAV file often doesn't have it to begin with, so there may be nothing to carry over. You can usually add title and artist info after converting.
Why are WAV files so much bigger than MP3?
WAV stores every bit of the original recording with no compression, which is great for editing but makes for large files. MP3 throws away the parts of the audio least noticeable to the ear, shrinking the file a great deal in the process.
Can I convert WAV to MP3 without uploading the file?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file right on your computer, so the recording never has to be sent anywhere. It works even with no internet connection.
Morphjet converts WAV, MP3, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.