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WAV to AAC Converter

Turn WAV files into AAC in a couple of clicks. Uncompressed PCM audio. Perfect quality, big files. 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

WAV files (.wav, .wave) · up to 300 MB each

or paste files from your clipboard

Ready when you are

Drop a WAV 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 WAV 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.

WAV and AAC explained

WAV stores uncompressed PCM audio — the raw samples, exactly as captured. A stereo CD-quality minute is roughly 10 MB, which is the price of having no compression whatsoever.

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 WAV files come from
Recording sessions, sample libraries and audio editing.
Where AAC is used
Streaming services, video soundtracks and Apple devices.

WAV vs AAC

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

WAV compared with AAC
PropertySourceTarget
CompressionUncompressedLossy
Introduced19911997
Browser supportUniversal.Excellent across modern devices.
WAV is stronger at
Perfect fidelity with zero compression artefacts. No decoding overhead, so editors scrub instantly. Universally supported.
AAC is stronger at
Better quality per bit than MP3. The standard audio track for MP4 video. Excellent device support.

Why convert WAV to AAC?

People make this switch when they run into the limits of WAV: distribution or storage on a phone. AAC is the better fit when modern streaming, or the audio track of a video.

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

WAV limitations that prompt the switch
Very large files. No standard metadata support worth relying on. Impractical for distribution.
What you give up
Still lossy. Patent licensing applies to encoders.

Does converting WAV to AAC reduce quality?

WAV 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 WAV original if it is the only copy — the conversion cannot be undone.

About these formats

Source

Waveform Audio

Uncompressed PCM audio. Perfect quality, big files.

Extensions
.wav, .wave
MIME type
audio/wav
Best for
Editing and mastering · Sound design · Archival
Compatibility
Universal.

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

WAV to AAC Converter — questions

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FileTools360 by the numbers

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