How to convert M4A (AAC/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 M4A (AAC/ALAC) to WAV
NexMedia converts M4A (AAC/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 M4A (AAC/ALAC)
M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file: the MP4 container holding only audio, usually AAC and sometimes Apple Lossless (ALAC).
Music bought on iTunes, iPhone voice memos and many podcast downloads.
Whether an M4A is lossy or lossless depends on the codec inside, which the file extension does not show.
Convert M4A to WAV online free, no account required — WAV is an uncompressed audio format.
Change M4A to WAV without losing quality — convert M4A to WAV free in your browser.
Why won't my car radio or old speaker play my M4A files? The MPEG-4 audio container is newer than MP3, and devices that only decode MP3 cannot read it until it is converted.
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 M4A to WAV
- The audio is decoded and re-encoded as WAV at the default settings, so the result is close to the M4A but not bit-identical.
- 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 M4A 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.
M4A to WAV: questions and answers
Does converting M4A to WAV reduce quality?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as WAV at the default settings, so the result is close to the M4A but not bit-identical. 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 M4A and WAV?
M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually holding AAC. WAV is an uncompressed audio format.
Can I change the settings when converting M4A to WAV?
Before you convert M4A 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 M4A to WAV?
No. You can convert M4A 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 M4A is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
Will my WAV keep the 24-bit sound of my M4A?
WAV output is written as 16-bit PCM, so audio with a higher bit depth, such as 24-bit, is reduced to 16 bits.
When I convert M4A to WAV, is the audio re-encoded?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as WAV at the default settings, so the result is close to the M4A but not bit-identical.