What is an AIFF file?
AIFF is uncompressed audio on a Mac, the Apple counterpart to WAV. It sounds exactly like the recording and is common in studio work, but the files are far too large for everyday listening. You can convert AIFF files here, both into the format and out of it.
Specification
| Full name | Audio Interchange File Format |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .aiff, .aif, .aifc |
| Media type | audio/aiff |
| Compression | Uncompressed |
| Transparency | — |
| Animation | — |
| Multiple pages | — |
| Colour depth | 8 to 32 bit, any sample rate |
| Size limits | — |
| Introduced | 1988 |
| Developed by | Apple |
| Standard | Open |
| Browser support | Some browsers only |
What AIFF is used for
- Professional recording and mastering on macOS
- Logic Pro and Pro Tools session assets
- CD authoring from a Mac workflow
- Sample libraries made for Apple software
Strengths and limitations
What AIFF does well
- Exactly as recorded, identical in quality to a WAV
- Holds track details better than a plain WAV
- Standard across professional Apple audio tooling
Where AIFF falls short
- Files are as large as WAV, roughly 10 MB per minute in stereo
- Less universally supported on Windows and web
- No compression option in the common variant
Convert AIFF to
Every target this format can be written out as, each on its own page.
Convert to AIFF
Everything that can be turned into a AIFF file.
Tools that accept AIFF
Questions about AIFF
What is a .aiff file?
AIFF is uncompressed audio on a Mac, the Apple counterpart to WAV. The extension .aiff or .aif or .aifc identifies it, and its media type is audio/aiff.
How do I open an AIFF file?
Browsers do not display AIFF natively, so you either need software that understands it or you convert it to something more common first. Converting is usually the faster route when you only need to look at the contents once.
Is AIFF lossy or lossless?
Uncompressed. Nothing is discarded, so repeated saves never degrade the contents.
What is AIFF good for?
Exactly as recorded, identical in quality to a WAV. Holds track details better than a plain WAV. Standard across professional Apple audio tooling. In practice that makes it a good fit for professional recording and mastering on macOS, and Logic Pro and Pro Tools session assets.
What are the drawbacks of AIFF?
Files are as large as WAV, roughly 10 MB per minute in stereo. Less universally supported on Windows and web. No compression option in the common variant.