M4A to WAV Converter
Turn M4A files and iPhone voice memos into WAV that every editor and transcription tool opens. Files are converted on your device, never uploaded.
How to convert M4A to WAV
Three steps, all in your browser.
1. Choose your M4A files
Drop one or more M4A files, up to 2 GB each, or pick them from Files on an iPhone. They are read on your device.
2. Keep WAV selected
WAV is chosen for you: 16-bit PCM at the file's own sample rate. FLAC keeps the same sound at about half the size.
3. Convert and download
Press Convert. Each WAV keeps the original name with the .wav extension.
About the formats
M4A – MPEG-4 Audio
Sound in an MP4 container, usually AAC and sometimes Apple Lossless (ALAC). iPhone Voice Memos and GarageBand save M4A; many Windows programs, samplers and transcription tools don't accept it.
WAV – uncompressed PCM
WAV holds the decoded sound as it is, so it opens everywhere and edits don't compress it again. A minute of 44.1 kHz stereo takes about 10.6 MB.
FLAC and MP3
FLAC is lossless like WAV at about half the size. MP3 is the small file for listening and sharing. WAV and FLAC files can be up to 30 minutes long.
Why people convert M4A to WAV
Edit a voice memo
Open an iPhone recording in Audacity, Reaper, Pro Tools or a podcast editor without import errors, and edit it without another round of compression.
Transcription and speech tools
Transcription services and speech recognition tools often ask for WAV. Convert interviews, lectures and meetings before uploading them there.
GarageBand songs for other programs
Move a song exported from GarageBand into a DAW, a video editor or a sampler that wants WAV.
Find the song in a recording
Recorded a song with Voice Memos? Convert it and press Identify this song: the audio opens in the AHA Music song finder.
M4A to WAV: frequently asked questions
How the converter works and what it can do.
How do I convert M4A to WAV?
Choose one or more M4A files above, keep WAV selected, press Convert to WAV and download the result. It runs in your browser, with no upload and no queue.
How do I convert an iPhone voice memo to WAV?
In Voice Memos, tap the recording, then the share button, and choose Save to Files. Open this page in Safari, tap the box above, choose the memo from Files and convert it. On a Mac, drag the memo out of Voice Memos onto the box.
Does converting M4A to WAV improve the sound?
No. The WAV sounds the same as the M4A; what AAC compression left out can't be restored. You get a file every program opens, which you can edit without compressing it again.
What sample rate and bit depth does the WAV have?
16-bit PCM at the M4A's own sample rate, usually 44.1 or 48 kHz, with the same number of channels as the recording.
Is there a length limit?
Each WAV can be up to 30 minutes long, because the result is held in your browser's memory. For longer recordings choose MP3, which has no length limit.
Are my files uploaded?
No. The conversion runs inside your browser with a WebAssembly build of FFmpeg. Only the audio engine (about 31 MB) is downloaded, once; your recordings never leave your device.
Can I convert several M4A files at once?
Yes, up to 20 files at a time, each up to 2 GB. Each gets its own download button.
Is it free?
Yes. It needs no account, adds no watermark and does not limit how many files you convert.
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MP3 Cutter & Audio Trimmer
Cut a part of an audio or video file on the waveform and save it as MP3 or WAV, with an optional fade.
BPM & Key Finder
Tempo, key, mood, energy, loudness and danceability, computed on your device.
Identify a song in a file
Audio or video files up to 2 GB; Full Scan lists each song it recognises with its position.