AIFF Format Guide & Converter

AIFF file format is Audio Interchange File Format — Apple’s classic uncompressed audio format, introduced by Apple (1988). AIFF is WAV’s Apple-leaning sibling for uncompressed PCM. Great in Logic and older Mac audio trees; convert to WAV/FLAC/MP3 depending on whether you need exchange, archive, or delivery.

Full name

AIFF file format

Kind

audio

File extension

.aiff, .aif

MIME type

audio/aiff

Developer / standard

Apple · 1988

Compression

usually uncompressed PCM

Quality model

Lossless / not lossy

Container

No / single bitstream typical

Common codecs

—

Technical sources

—

Transparency

Not supported

Animation

No (still / non-animated typical use)

Typical size

Large — similar to WAV for the same sample rate/bit depth

Browser support

Spotty — convert to WAV/MP3 for web playback

Compatibility

Native on classic Mac audio tooling; Windows shops usually prefer WAV — convert when exchanging PCM across platforms

AIFF compression: usually uncompressed PCM. Lossless (or non-destructive packaging) keeps reconstructable data — size savings come from packing efficiency, not throwing detail away. Typical size profile: Large — similar to WAV for the same sample rate/bit depth. Quality note: Studio-grade when PCM; large files

Quality: Studio-grade when PCM; large files

Typical size: Large — similar to WAV for the same sample rate/bit depth

AIFF does not support an alpha channel. Convert to PNG, WebP, AVIF, or SVG when you need transparent backgrounds.

AIFF is a still-media or non-animated format in typical use. Use GIF, APNG, video, or animated WebP when you need motion.

Tags such as ID3, Vorbis comments, or MP4 atoms (title, artist, album, artwork).

• Logic/GarageBand style PCM exports
• Mac audio archives
• Uncompressed voice/music masters
• Exchange with WAV-based tools after conversion

• Phone music libraries
• Streaming enclosures
• Windows users without players
• Long podcast distribution

• Lossless PCM
• Native Mac history
• Pro audio friendly
• Simple editing

• Huge files
• Less universal than WAV in Windows shops
• Not for casual sharing
• Needs lossy derivatives for distribution

Native on classic Mac audio tooling; Windows shops usually prefer WAV — convert when exchanging PCM across platforms

Browsers: Spotty — convert to WAV/MP3 for web playback

• Logic Pro
• GarageBand
• Audacity
• ffmpeg
• VLC

• Mac
• iOS (many apps)
• Pro audio interfaces

Open AIFF in QuickTime, Audacity, Logic, or GarageBand. On Windows, use VLC or convert to WAV so mainstream editors import the PCM cleanly.

Convert AIFF to WAV, MP3, or FLAC in Format Convertly depending on whether you need exchange, delivery, or archives — in-browser only.

• Pick a target format from popular conversions or the full list below.
• Your file is read into browser memory — not uploaded to a server.
• Download the result when conversion finishes.

Incoming conversions strengthen the AIFF cluster — e.g. JPG → AIFF, PNG → AIFF.

Compare AIFF with related formats to pick the right container for quality, size, and compatibility.

Decision pages that cite AIFF — the next hop after a vs comparison.

Tools extend the format graph beyond one-off conversion — compression, metadata, and utilities for real workflows.

Uploading sensitive AIFF files to a random converter creates a third-party copy you cannot control. Format Convertly keeps processing on-device so photos, contracts, and exports stay private.