How to convert Apple Lossless (ALAC) to WAV
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Upload your file
Drag and drop a file or click to select one. Keep this page open while the file uploads and converts.
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Convert Apple Lossless (ALAC) to WAV
NexMedia converts Apple Lossless (ALAC) to WAV on its own servers. Processing time depends on the file size and how busy the queue is.
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Download the converted file
When the conversion finishes, the download appears on this page. Your converted file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
About Apple Lossless (ALAC)
Apple Lossless (ALAC) is Apple's lossless audio codec, usually stored in an .m4a file; Apple released it as open source in 2011.
Lossless music in iTunes, Apple Music and on iPhones.
ALAC files are smaller than WAV but several times larger than AAC, and many devices outside Apple's prefer FLAC.
Convert ALAC to WAV online free, no account required — WAV is an uncompressed audio format.
Change ALAC to WAV without losing quality — convert ALAC to WAV free in your browser.
Why won't my Windows PC or Android phone play my ALAC files? Apple Lossless rarely ships outside Apple software, so converting to FLAC keeps the lossless quality on the rest of your devices.
About WAV
WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is a Microsoft and IBM container that normally stores uncompressed PCM audio.
Recording, editing and mastering, where every sample has to be kept exactly.
Uncompressed audio is large, about 10 MB per minute of CD-quality stereo, and a classic WAV file is limited to 4 GB.
Why convert audio to WAV? For editing and mastering: uncompressed samples take further processing without new loss, and every audio program reads them.
What changes when you convert ALAC to WAV
- ALAC and WAV both store audio without lossy compression, so no lossy encoder discards detail on the way.
- WAV output is written as 16-bit PCM, so audio with a higher bit depth, such as 24-bit, is reduced to 16 bits.
Settings you can change
Before you convert ALAC to WAV, you can adjust: Audio codec, Rate control, Audio bitrate, Quality (VBR), Sample rate, Channels, Normalize loudness, Trim start, Trim duration, and Keep tags.
Limits
Each plan sets a maximum file size and a number of conversions per day, and video and audio files also have a maximum length. Guests can convert files up to 100 megabytes and 5 per day; a free account raises this to 500 megabytes and 25 per day; paid plans go up to 100 gigabytes.
Your converted WAV file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
ALAC to WAV: questions and answers
Does converting ALAC to WAV reduce quality?
ALAC and WAV both store audio without lossy compression, so no lossy encoder discards detail on the way. WAV output is written as 16-bit PCM, so audio with a higher bit depth, such as 24-bit, is reduced to 16 bits.
What is the difference between ALAC and WAV?
ALAC is Apple's lossless audio codec. WAV is an uncompressed audio format.
Can I change the settings when converting ALAC to WAV?
Before you convert ALAC to WAV, you can adjust: Audio codec, Rate control, Audio bitrate, Quality (VBR), Sample rate, Channels, Normalize loudness, Trim start, Trim duration, and Keep tags.
Do I need an account to convert ALAC to WAV?
No. You can convert ALAC to WAV without an account; signing in raises the file-size and daily limits.
How long is my converted WAV file kept?
The WAV file you convert from ALAC is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
Will my WAV keep the 24-bit sound of my ALAC?
WAV output is written as 16-bit PCM, so audio with a higher bit depth, such as 24-bit, is reduced to 16 bits.
Is converting ALAC to WAV a truly lossless copy?
ALAC and WAV both store audio without lossy compression, so no lossy encoder discards detail on the way.