Convert WAV to M4A online and shrink large recordings into AAC files for Apple Music and iPhone. Upload files up to 20GB and download the converted result in a few clicks.
Convert M4A to WAVDrag & Drop your WAV file here
WAV files, up to 20GB
Files stay private.
Automatically deleted after 24 hours.
Link
20GB upload limit.
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Trusted for 1,827,796+ conversions
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps, no account, nothing to install.
01
Upload the WAV
Drag and drop your WAV files or select them from your device. 8 to 32-bit, float, RF64 and compressed WAVs are accepted.
02
Convert to M4A
Keep M4A as the output and start. PCM audio is encoded as AAC at 256 kbps for stereo or 128 kbps for mono.
03
Download the M4A
Save each M4A when it is ready, or download several results together as a ZIP.
WAV
WAV is a RIFF-based audio format commonly used for uncompressed PCM audio. It is easy to edit and broadly supported in recording, broadcast, and desktop audio workflows. Files are large: about 10 MB per minute of CD-quality stereo.
M4A
M4A is an audio-only MPEG-4 file, usually holding AAC audio. It is the format of iTunes Store purchases and plays in Apple Music and on iPhone, Mac, Android and Windows, as well as in web browsers.
FILE FORMATS
SOURCE
Microsoft and IBM defined WAV in 1991. It normally stores plain PCM audio with no compression, which is why editors, DAWs, broadcast systems and speech tools accept it without question. The price is size: CD-quality stereo takes about 10 MB per minute, and tagging support is limited.
TARGET
M4A is an MPEG-4 audio file, usually AAC and sometimes Apple Lossless, with iTunes-style tags and album art. It is the format of iTunes Store music, iPhone voice memos and Apple Music libraries, and Android, Windows and browsers play it too. At the same bitrate, AAC in M4A sounds better than MP3.
| Feature | WAV | M4A |
|---|---|---|
| Developed by | Microsoft and IBM | Apple / MPEG |
| File extension | .wav | .m4a |
| Compression | None (PCM) | Lossy (AAC) or lossless (ALAC) |
| Size vs uncompressed WAV | Same size (1:1) | About 1/10 (AAC) |
| Tags and cover art | Basic text tags, no cover art | iTunes tags and cover art |
| Best for | Editing, mastering, speech tools | Apple Music and iPhone libraries |
| Plays on phones and browsers | Yes | Yes, most devices |
USE CASES
Practical workflows where WAV to M4A conversion is useful.
Put studio bounces on your iPhone
Bounce a mix to WAV, convert it to M4A and listen in Apple Music or on iPhone at a fraction of the size.
Send a demo to a band or client
A 256 kbps M4A is small enough for email and chat, while still in iTunes Plus quality.
Mix down multitrack recorder files
Recorder WAVs with many tracks and no speaker layout are mixed to stereo with tracks 1, 3, 5… on the left and tracks 2, 4, 6… on the right, so every track is heard.
Make listening copies of high-resolution masters
24-bit 96 kHz WAVs become 48 kHz AAC for everyday playback. Keep the WAV as your master.
Shrink phone-call recordings
8 kHz mu-law and A-law call recordings stay 8 kHz and become compact M4A files.
Play old dictaphone recordings
Old voice recorders and answering-machine software saved IMA ADPCM or GSM WAVs. They convert to M4A files that today's phones play.
Hear surround WAVs in stereo
5.1 WAVs are mixed down to stereo M4A, which plays on headphones and ordinary speakers.
Keep track names from the WAV
Title and artist from the WAV's INFO chunk and a cover from its ID3 chunk are kept, so tracks show up properly in Apple Music.
Upload to a site with a size limit
Platforms with upload caps take a 256 kbps M4A far more easily than a large WAV.
Publish a podcast episode as AAC
Export the episode from your editor as WAV, then convert it to M4A for hosts and apps that accept AAC audio.
SUPPORTED FILES
WAV files of any common bit depth and sample rate are supported.
16, 24 and 32-bit WAV from DAWs.
Field recorder and voice recordings.
High sample rates become 48 kHz AAC.
Mixed down to stereo.
Upload many WAVs and download the M4A files together as a ZIP.
TROUBLESHOOTING
These explain most differences from the WAV.
01
M4A here holds lossy AAC. Keep the WAV as your master.
02
WAV files usually carry few tags. Add title and artist in your music app.
03
High-resolution sources are written at 48 kHz in AAC.
04
Multichannel WAV is mixed down to stereo.
05
That's expected. AAC is roughly a tenth of the WAV size.
06
Check the WAV plays. A damaged file stops with a short message.
Audacity, foobar2000, fre:ac and Apple's Music app can all convert audio once they are installed and set up. dragdropdo is built for turning WAV into M4A quickly, from any device.
| What matters | dragdropdo | Desktop Audio Converters |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing to install | ✓Yes. Runs in any modern browser. | ~Yes, a download, and sometimes an extra encoder or codec. |
| Works on phones and tablets | ✓Yes. Desktop, Android, iPhone and iPad. | ~Mostly desktop only. |
| Batch conversion | ✓Yes. Add many files and download one ZIP. | ~Varies. foobar2000 and fre:ac batch well; Audacity needs macros. |
| Share finished files | ✓Yes. Send a unique link from the result page. | ~You upload and share the files yourself. |
| Pricing | ✓Free with daily limits. $2.99 or $6.99 passes for unlimited use, no monthly plan. | ~Mostly free (Audacity, foobar2000, fre:ac). |
| Choosing bitrate and settings | ✓Fixed, high-quality settings chosen for M4A. | ~Yes. Most let you choose bitrate, sample rate and channels. |
Other tools use different pricing, limits and workflows. This comparison describes dragdropdo's own features without assuming every other tool works the same way.
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WHY DRAGDROPDO
Convert WAV to M4A in your browser, with nothing to install and nothing kept after 24 hours.
Private by default
Files are encrypted in transit and deleted from our servers automatically after 24 hours.
No install required
Convert in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone or iPad. No app and no sign-up wall.
Big files and batches
Upload files up to 20GB each, add several at once, and download the results one by one or as a ZIP.
Share & download
Save finished files to your device or pass them on with a share link from the result page.
MORE WAV TOOLS
WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is a standard audio file format used for storing waveform data. It delivers high-quality audio and is widely used in professional environments for music production and sound design. With its uncompressed format, WAV files ensure top fidelity, making them ideal for editing and mastering. Perfect for audio enthusiasts and professionals alike, WAV files guarantee an exceptional listening experience.
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FAQ
Answers to common questions about dragdropdo's WAV to M4A converter.
