Convert AIFC to WAV — Free Online Converter
Convert AIFF-C Compressed Audio (.aifc) to Waveform Audio (.wav) online for free. Fast, secure audio conversion with no watermarks or registration....
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How to Convert
Upload your .aifc 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 .wav file when it's ready.
About AIFC to WAV Conversion
AIFC (AIFF-C) is Apple's compressed audio interchange format, the Mac-native extension of AIFF supporting IMA ADPCM, MACE 3:1/6:1, G.711 (u-law, A-law), and uncompressed PCM. WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is Microsoft's uncompressed audio standard, based on the RIFF container and supported natively on every version of Windows, macOS, Linux, and virtually every audio application ever created.
Converting AIFC to WAV decompresses any compressed AIFC audio and stores it as uncompressed PCM in the universally recognized WAV container. This is the single most compatible audio format conversion possible — WAV files work everywhere, from professional DAWs to embedded systems to telephone infrastructure.
Why Convert AIFC to WAV?
WAV is the most universally supported audio format in existence. Every audio editor, DAW, media player, operating system, and programming library handles WAV natively. AIFC, especially with MACE or IMA ADPCM codecs, is recognized by essentially nothing modern. Converting AIFC to WAV makes your audio accessible to every piece of software.
For professional audio production, WAV is the industry standard interchange format. Studios, broadcasters, game developers, and sound designers all work with WAV as their base format. AIFC files from vintage Mac projects need to be converted to WAV before they can enter any modern production pipeline.
Common Use Cases
- Making legacy AIFC audio compatible with every audio application and operating system
- Preparing vintage Mac recordings for professional DAW workflows in Pro Tools, Ableton, or Reaper
- Decompressing MACE-encoded AIFC files to uncompressed PCM for archival preservation
- Converting AIFC sound effects for game development engines that expect WAV input
- Providing audio to broadcast systems and embedded devices that only accept WAV
How It Works
FFmpeg decodes the AIFC container — handling all variants including PCM (big-endian), IMA ADPCM, MACE 3:1/6:1, u-law, and A-law — to raw PCM samples. It then writes the samples as little-endian PCM (typically pcm_s16le at the original sample rate) into a WAV/RIFF container. The byte-order conversion from AIFC's big-endian to WAV's little-endian is handled automatically. The resulting WAV file contains a standard RIFF header with fmt and data chunks.
Quality & Performance
For AIFC files with uncompressed PCM, the conversion is essentially lossless — the audio data is identical, only the byte order and container format change. For IMA ADPCM sources, the decompressed PCM faithfully represents the encoded audio. For MACE 3:1 and 6:1 sources, the PCM output contains whatever quality the MACE compression preserved. WAV itself adds zero quality degradation — it is an uncompressed container.
Device Compatibility
| Device | AIFC | WAV |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Native |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| 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
- 1WAV is the safest choice when you are unsure what software will consume the audio — it works everywhere
- 2Keep original AIFC files alongside the WAV conversion in case the AIFC metadata or compression type is needed for reference
- 3For professional production, ensure the WAV sample rate matches your project settings (44.1 kHz for music, 48 kHz for video/broadcast)
- 4If file size is a concern, convert to FLAC instead of WAV — FLAC is lossless but 40-60% smaller
- 5Use 24-bit WAV output if the AIFC source contains 24-bit audio to avoid truncating bit depth
AIFC to WAV is the most practical conversion for legacy Apple audio. WAV's universal support means the output works everywhere without exception, and uncompressed PCM preserves maximum fidelity from whatever quality the AIFC source contained.