About this tool
WAV recordings are perfect but bulky: ten minutes is about 100 MB. Converting to MP3 at 192 kbps shrinks that to around 14 MB with no audible difference for most listeners, making the file easy to email, upload, or play on a phone.
About the formats: WAV stores uncompressed PCM audio: perfect quality, but around 10 MB per minute. It is the format audio editors, samplers, and studios expect. MP3 is the universal lossy audio format. Practically every device, car stereo, and app made in the last 25 years plays it, and at 192-320 kbps it is indistinguishable from the original for most listeners.
WAV and MP3, side by side
| .wav in | .mp3 out | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | None | Lossy |
| Typical size | 10 MB per minute (CD quality) | 1 MB per minute at 128 kbps |
| Plays on | Everything | Everything |
| Best for | Editing, samples, masters | Sharing, players, podcasts |
Rows where the two differ are marked. The full story on each: WAV files and MP3 files.
How to use it
- Drop your WAV files into the box above, or click to browse. Nothing is uploaded.
- Adjust the options if you want; the defaults suit most files.
- Click Convert to MP3 and wait a moment.
- Download the results individually or all at once as a ZIP.
Questions
Is WAV to MP3 lossy?
Yes, MP3 discards inaudible detail. At 192-320 kbps the result is indistinguishable from the WAV for nearly everyone.
How much smaller will the MP3 be?
Roughly 85-90% smaller at 192 kbps.
Is it free, are files uploaded, which browsers work: the general questions are answered once for the whole site.