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AIFF to AAC Converter

Turn AIFF files into AAC in a couple of clicks. Apple's uncompressed audio counterpart to WAV. The successor to MP3 — better quality per bit. The output is re-encoded, so quality depends on the settings you choose.

On your deviceNever uploadedGone when you close the tabHow this works

Drop your files here

AIFF files (.aiff, .aif, .aifc) · up to 300 MB each

or paste files from your clipboard

Ready when you are

Drop a AIFF file above and FileTools360 will turn it into AAC — right here on your device, without uploading anything.

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How to use it

  1. 1

    Add your AIFF files

    Drag them onto the upload area, choose them from your device, or paste them from your clipboard. You can queue several at once.

  2. 2

    Adjust the settings if you want to

    The defaults suit most people. Open Advanced to control bitrate, sample rate and channels and start and end times.

  3. 3

    Convert and download

    Press Convert. Everything happens on your own device — nothing is uploaded. Download files one by one, or grab them all as a ZIP.

AIFF and AAC explained

AIFF is Apple's uncompressed audio format, functionally equivalent to WAV but with better metadata support and big-endian byte order.

AAC is the successor to MP3 and is the default audio codec for MP4 video, Apple Music and YouTube. At the same bitrate it generally sounds noticeably better than MP3.

Where AIFF files come from
Mac audio production and older Apple software.
Where AAC is used
Streaming services, video soundtracks and Apple devices.

AIFF vs AAC

The two formats solve different problems, which is why converting between them involves trade-offs rather than a straight upgrade.

AIFF compared with AAC
PropertySourceTarget
CompressionUncompressedLossy
Introduced19881997
Browser supportStrong on Apple, decent elsewhere.Excellent across modern devices.
AIFF is stronger at
Uncompressed and lossless. Better metadata handling than WAV. Standard in Mac audio workflows.
AAC is stronger at
Better quality per bit than MP3. The standard audio track for MP4 video. Excellent device support.

Why convert AIFF to AAC?

People make this switch when they run into the limits of AIFF: distribution, or interchange with Windows tools where WAV is safer. AAC is the better fit when modern streaming, or the audio track of a video.

There is also a size argument: AIFF stores data with little or no compression, so the AAC version is normally dramatically smaller for the same content.

AIFF limitations that prompt the switch
Very large files. Less universally supported than WAV.
What you give up
Still lossy. Patent licensing applies to encoders.

Does converting AIFF to AAC reduce quality?

AIFF stores your data exactly; AAC does not. Some detail is discarded permanently in exchange for a much smaller file, which is usually the right trade for sharing and publishing. Keep your AIFF original if it is the only copy — the conversion cannot be undone.

About these formats

Source

Audio Interchange File Format

Apple's uncompressed audio counterpart to WAV.

Extensions
.aiff, .aif, .aifc
MIME type
audio/aiff
Best for
Pro audio on macOS · Mastering
Compatibility
Strong on Apple, decent elsewhere.

Target

Advanced Audio Coding

The successor to MP3 — better quality per bit.

Extensions
.aac, .adts
MIME type
audio/aac
Best for
Streaming · Apple devices · Video soundtracks
Compatibility
Excellent across modern devices.

Going from a lossless source to a compressed format discards audio data permanently. Keep your original if it is the only copy.

Good to know

AIFF to AAC Converter — questions

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