Convert ALAC to AIFF — Free Online Converter
Convert Apple Lossless Audio Codec (.alac) to Audio Interchange File Format (.aiff) online for free. Fast, secure audio conversion with no watermarks ...
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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.
About ALAC to AIFF Conversion
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.
Why Convert ALAC to AIFF?
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.
Common Use Cases
- Providing uncompressed audio to DAWs that do not support ALAC natively
- Preparing lossless masters in AIFF for mastering engineers who require uncompressed format
- Converting ALAC for hardware samplers and synthesizers that only accept AIFF/WAV
- Creating uncompressed working copies for audio analysis and waveform inspection
- Meeting delivery specifications that mandate uncompressed AIFF format
How It Works
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.
Quality & Performance
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 Compatibility
| Device | ALAC | AIFF |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Native | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Native | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Partial |
| Linux | Partial | Partial |
| Web Browser | No | No |
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
- 1Only convert to AIFF when the target system specifically requires uncompressed format — ALAC is always more storage-efficient with identical quality
- 2Verify the output bit depth matches your source (16-bit or 24-bit) to confirm perfect conversion
- 3For cross-platform compatibility, WAV may be preferred over AIFF outside Apple environments
- 4Batch convert when preparing large collections for hardware samplers or mastering sessions
- 5Keep ALAC files as your primary archive — they store identical audio at half the AIFF file size
Related Conversions
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.