WAV vs MP3
WAV (Waveform Audio File (PCM)) is uncompressed, bit-for-bit PCM audio that every editor and DAW opens. MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) is plays on practically every device, car stereo and app made since the late 1990s.
MP3 is the safest choice when a file has to play on an old car stereo, a smart TV, a website player or a podcast host.
Converting WAV to a lossy format shrinks it by roughly 5 to 10 times. Keep the WAV as your master if you might edit again.
Settings that work
- Voice memos, lectures, podcasts: 96–128 kbps, Mono ticked.
- Music: 192 kbps for everyday listening, 320 kbps if you are picky.
How big will the file be?
Uncompressed audio stores every sample: 44,100 per second, 16 bits each, per channel. Lossy formats instead spend a fixed number of bits per second, discarding sounds your ear is least likely to notice. Slide to compare.
11.0× smaller · Transparent for most speech, decent for music
Formula: size in bytes = bitrate (bits/s) × seconds ÷ 8. A CD-quality stereo WAV runs at 1,411 kbps.
Questions
How do I convert WAV to MP3?
Drop your WAV files into the converter above. MP3 is pre-selected; press Choose files and each converted file downloads automatically.
Will converting WAV to MP3 lose quality?
MP3 is lossy, so a small amount of detail is discarded. At 192 kbps or higher this is very hard to hear.
Is it safe to convert private recordings here?
Yes. Conversion runs entirely in your browser with the Web Audio API and a JavaScript encoder, and nothing is uploaded to a server.
Related conversions
MP4 to MP3M4A to MP3OGG to MP3AAC to MP3OPUS to MP3WebM to MP3