Convert Apple Lossless Audio Codec (.alac) to Audio Interchange File Format (.aiff) online for free. Fast, secure audio conversion with no watermarks or registration.
Conversion settings — add a file to adjust
Upload your .m4a 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 .aiff file when it's ready.
ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) stores lossless compressed audio in M4A containers at roughly 50% of raw PCM size. AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is Apple's uncompressed PCM container, created in 1988, storing raw audio at full fidelity with big-endian byte order. Both are Apple formats, but AIFF is the older, uncompressed standard.
Converting ALAC to AIFF decompresses the lossless audio to raw PCM samples. Since ALAC is mathematically lossless, the AIFF output is bit-for-bit identical to the original audio before ALAC compression. This conversion is needed when DAWs or audio systems require uncompressed AIFF input.
Some professional audio workflows and legacy DAW versions require uncompressed AIFF input. Logic Pro, GarageBand, and Final Cut Pro all handle ALAC directly, but third-party tools, hardware samplers, and some mastering chains may specifically require AIFF. Converting ALAC to AIFF satisfies these requirements with zero quality compromise.
AIFF files are also simpler for some audio analysis tools that expect raw PCM data without any compression layer. Scientific audio analysis, waveform inspection, and binary-level audio verification are easier with uncompressed AIFF.
FFmpeg decodes the ALAC stream from its M4A container, reversing the linear prediction and entropy coding to recover the original PCM samples, then writes them into an AIFF container with big-endian byte order. The output preserves the original sample rate (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz, etc.), bit depth (16-bit or 24-bit), and channel layout exactly. The file size roughly doubles since ALAC compression is removed.
This conversion is perfectly lossless. ALAC is mathematically lossless, so the decoded PCM stored in AIFF is bit-for-bit identical to the original pre-compression audio. There is zero quality difference between the ALAC source and the AIFF output. The only change is file size — AIFF is roughly twice as large.
| Device | ALAC | AIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Native | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Native | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No |
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 320 kbps
OGG Vorbis preferred
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 256 kbps
AAC format required
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
Lossless FLAC/WAV for best quality
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
MP3 mono for spoken word
ALAC to AIFF is a perfect lossless decompression, producing uncompressed audio identical to the original recording. Use this when uncompressed AIFF format is specifically required.
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| No |
| Характеристика | ALAC | AIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Полное название | Apple Lossless Audio Codec | Audio Interchange File Format |
| Расширение | .m4a | .aiff |
| Лучше всего подходит для | Lossless | Lossless quality |