WAVWaveform Audio File Format
Uncompressed audio at full quality, used for recording and editing. One minute at CD quality weighs about 10 MB.
- Compression
- Uncompressed
Convert WAV to MP3
Turn your WAV files into MP3 files in seconds. Conversion happens in your browser, so your files are never uploaded to a server.
- Files never uploaded
- Free, no sign-up
- No queue
WAV5249464624E20400
MP34944330400000000
The first bytes of a file often reveal its real format.
or drop them here. You can also paste an image (Ctrl+V).
Free · No sign-up · No upload
Files
These sample files are generated on the page. Convert them to try it out, or add your own.
How to convert WAV to MP3
- 01
Add your WAV files
Click “Choose WAV files” or drop them on the page. You can add several at once.
- 02
Check the MP3 format
MP3 is already selected. Choose the bitrate, from 128 to 320 kbps.
- 03
Convert and download
Click “Convert”, then download your MP3 file. With several files, grab everything at once as a ZIP.
WAV to MP3: what to know
WAV files come from field recorders, dictaphones, Audacity or music software exports. To send, publish or play one on a phone, MP3 is the obvious choice. The sound is decoded first, brought down to 44.1 kHz if it was recorded at 48 or 96 kHz, then encoded at a constant bitrate using the setting you pick. A mono WAV gives a mono MP3, and a stereo file stays stereo.
At 320 kbps the MP3 is about 4.4 times smaller than a CD-quality stereo WAV; in mono at 128 kbps it is about 5.5 times smaller than a 16-bit, 44.1 kHz mono WAV. The recorder’s metadata (date, markers, BWF information) is not carried over; the WAV’s INFO tags (title, artist, album…) are, as the MP3’s ID3 tags, and the MP3 keeps the WAV’s file name. Keep the WAV as your master, as reworking an MP3 adds another round of loss.
WAV vs MP3: what’s the difference?
MP3MPEG-1 Audio Layer III
The most universal audio format. Its compression shrinks files a lot while keeping good listening quality, and it plays on every device.
- Compression
- Lossy
WAV to MP3: frequently asked questions
Will my 32-bit float WAV clip when it is converted to MP3?
No. 32-bit float WAVs, such as those from some recent recorders, can hold peaks above 0 dBFS, which MP3 cannot keep: Formatomat then lowers the whole sound just enough for the peak to fit (by 6 dB for a peak at +6 dBFS), and a message says so under the converted file. Nothing is clipped. To set the level yourself, normalise the file in your editor before converting.
What MP3 bitrate should I use for a podcast recorded as WAV?
For a single voice recorded in mono, 128 kbps is plenty: the MP3 stays mono, so the whole bitrate goes to that one channel. For a stereo podcast with music, 192 kbps, the default setting, is a good balance. Higher bitrates mostly make your listeners’ downloads bigger.
Are my WAV files uploaded to the internet?
No. The file is read and converted by your browser, on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, and nothing is kept after you close the page.
Does converting WAV to MP3 reduce quality?
MP3 is a lossy format. At the default bitrate (192 kbps) the difference is inaudible to most listeners; choose 320 kbps for the best quality.
How many WAV files can I convert?
As many as you like, for free and without signing up. Add them all, then download the results one by one or in a single ZIP. The maximum size depends on your device and browser, with a few caps that protect its memory (for example 20,000 files per archive or 5 million filled cells per workbook: see the home page FAQ); a file over one of them is not converted, and a message says so.
Does it work on iPhone and Android?
Formatomat is designed for recent browsers on computers, iPhone and Android, with no app to install. A conversion the browser cannot do (a format it cannot read or write) is refused with a message that says so.