Convert AIF to MP4 — Free Online Converter
Convert Audio Interchange File Format (.aif) to MPEG-4 Part 14 (.mp4) online for free. Fast, secure audio conversion with no watermarks or registratio...
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How to Convert
Upload your .aif file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .mp4 file when it's ready.
About AIF to MP4 Conversion
AIF is Apple's uncompressed PCM audio format from 1988, built on Electronic Arts' IFF structure with big-endian byte order. As the standard high-fidelity format on classic Mac OS, AIF stores every audio sample without compression. MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is the universal multimedia container based on Apple's QuickTime format, supporting AAC, ALAC, H.264, H.265, and dozens of other codecs.
Converting AIF to MP4 wraps audio content in the world's most widely supported container format. Since AIF contains only audio, the resulting MP4 will be audio-only — functionally equivalent to an M4A file but with the .mp4 extension. This provides maximum compatibility across all platforms, devices, and web browsers.
Why Convert AIF to MP4?
MP4 is the most universally recognized media container in existence — supported by every modern browser, operating system, smartphone, smart TV, game console, and streaming platform. AIF, while lossless, is limited primarily to Apple and professional audio software. Converting AIF to MP4 ensures your audio plays everywhere without codec or container compatibility issues.
MP4 with AAC audio typically reduces AIF's ~10 MB/minute to approximately 2 MB/minute at transparent quality (256 kbps). The MPEG-4 container also supports rich metadata, chapter markers, album art, and streaming-optimized (faststart) atom placement that AIF cannot provide.
Common Use Cases
- Creating universally playable audio files from AIF recordings for web embedding
- Preparing AIF content for HTML5 audio elements that support MP4/AAC natively
- Converting Mac-originated AIF files to the most compatible format for cross-platform sharing
- Wrapping AIF audio in MP4 for integration into multimedia web applications
- Delivering AIF podcast recordings as MP4/AAC for maximum client compatibility
How It Works
FFmpeg decodes the AIF container's big-endian PCM stream and encodes it as AAC-LC (most common for MP4 audio) or ALAC within an MP4 container. The moov atom (metadata) can be placed at the file start (-movflags +faststart) for instant web streaming. The MP4 container supports AAC, ALAC, AC3, E-AC3, Opus, and FLAC audio codecs. For audio-only MP4, the file is structurally identical to M4A — only the extension differs.
Quality & Performance
AAC at 256 kbps produces virtually transparent quality from the lossless AIF source — indistinguishable in blind tests for most listeners. ALAC in MP4 preserves every sample losslessly at ~50% compression. Since AIF is uncompressed PCM, the encoder works from the cleanest possible input, producing optimal results at any bitrate.
Device Compatibility
| Device | AIF | MP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Native |
| macOS | Partial | Native |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Native |
| Android | Partial | Native |
| Linux | Partial | Native |
| Web Browser | No | Native |
Recommended Settings by Platform
Spotify
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 320 kbps
OGG Vorbis preferred
Apple Music
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 256 kbps
AAC format required
SoundCloud
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
Lossless FLAC/WAV for best quality
Podcast
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
MP3 mono for spoken word
Tips for Best Results
- 1Add -movflags +faststart for web-optimized MP4 that begins playing immediately
- 2Use AAC at 256 kbps for the best balance of quality and compatibility across all platforms
- 3For lossless output, use ALAC codec inside MP4: -c:a alac (functionally identical to M4A/ALAC)
- 4The output is audio-only in a video container — rename to .m4a if audio-specific handling is needed
- 5Embed metadata (title, artist, album art) during conversion for a polished listening experience
AIF to MP4 converts Apple's legacy uncompressed format to the universal multimedia standard. The result is audio-only in an MP4 container with maximum cross-platform compatibility.