Turn WAV files into MP3
Convert a WAV into an MP3 right here on the page. MP3 is the usual choice for music libraries and portable players. The usual reason to do it is size, because MP3 is far smaller for this sort of thing. Your file never leaves your computer.
Need the other direction? Convert MP3 to WAV
How to convert WAV to MP3
- 1 Drop your WAV .wav or .wave file onto the page, or click to browse for it.
- 2 Set the quality, or leave the default, which keeps the file small without anything showing.
- 3 Convert. The work happens on your own machine, so how long it takes depends on your computer and the file.
- 4 Download the MP3, or add more files and do the whole set in one go.
Why convert WAV to MP3
- MP3 files come out much smaller, which is the difference between a page that loads straight away and one that keeps people waiting.
- Plays on every device, browser and stereo ever built.
- All relevant patents have expired, so it is free to use.
- Car stereos and older players.
- WAV: track titles and artwork are barely supported.
WAV compared with MP3
How the two formats differ on the things that decide whether a conversion is worth making.
| Property | WAV | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| File extension | .wav | .mp3 |
| Compression | Uncompressed | Lossy |
| Colour depth | 8 to 32 bit, any sample rate | 16-bit output, 32 to 320 kbps |
| Typical file size | Largest | Smaller |
| Introduced | 1991 | 1993 |
| Developed by | Microsoft and IBM | Fraunhofer IIS |
Quality and what changes
This is the step where information is discarded, and it cannot be undone by converting back later. MP3 throws away detail the eye is least likely to notice, which is invisible at sensible settings and shows as blocking around sharp edges and text when pushed hard. Keep the WAV as your master and treat the MP3 as a delivery copy.
- One MP3 limitation to keep in mind: newer formats sound better at the same file size.
Questions about WAV to MP3
Is my WAV file uploaded anywhere?
No. The whole thing runs inside the browser tab you already have open. Your WAV is read straight from your own disk, converted on your machine and handed back as an MP3. Nothing is sent anywhere, nothing is stored and there is no account.
Is there a file size limit?
There is no server-side limit because no server sees the file. The real ceiling is your device memory, since the input and the output both have to fit in the tab. A few hundred megabytes is usually fine on a desktop machine and considerably less on a phone.
Can I convert several WAV files at once?
Yes. Add as many as you like and they are processed one after another, then offered as separate MP3 downloads or as a single ZIP. Speed depends on your own processor rather than on a queue.
Does the converter work offline?
Yes, after the page has loaded once. The engine is cached by the browser, so you can disconnect, reload and keep converting. That falls out of doing the work locally rather than being a separate mode you switch on.