Introduction
Audio comes in many formats, and the app you need it in usually accepts only some of them. A phone records M4A, a recorder makes WAV, a game wants OGG.
ToolBuddy's Audio Converter changes the format of one file or a whole folder in your browser. This guide explains which format to choose and how to convert a batch.
Pick the right format
The format decides compatibility, size and whether quality is preserved.
| Format | Type | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 | Lossy | Playing anywhere, sharing |
| WAV | Uncompressed | Editing, maximum compatibility |
| FLAC | Lossless | Archives at half the size of WAV |
| M4A / AAC | Lossy | Apple devices, small files |
| OGG / Opus | Lossy | Web and games |
Add files or a folder
Open the Audio Converter and choose audio files, or Add folder to pick up every audio file inside. Files up to 500 MB each (100 MB on phones and tablets) are accepted; files the browser cannot decode are skipped so the rest still convert.
Each file appears in the Files card marked Pending.
Choose the settings
One setting applies to the whole batch. For MP3, M4A, AAC and OGG, choose the bitrate: 128 kbps for speech and casual listening, 192 to 320 kbps for music. For WAV and FLAC, choose 16-bit for playback or 24-bit or 32-bit float for editing.
Convert and check
Select Convert. Several files are processed in parallel, and each row turns Converting, then Done (or Failed, with the reason). Rows show the size before and after.
Select a file and switch between Original and Result to listen; only that file is loaded into the player, so large folders do not fill your device's memory.
Download
Download any file from its row, or all converted files as one ZIP named after the format.
Common conversions
A few conversions come up again and again.
- WAV recordings to share: MP3 at 192 kbps.
- Phone voice memos (M4A) for an editor: WAV, 16-bit.
- A lossless archive: FLAC, 24-bit.
- Game sound effects: OGG at 128 kbps.
- A mixed folder for one player: MP3 at 256 kbps.
Lossless, lossy and what conversion cannot do
Converting to WAV or FLAC keeps every sample. Converting to a lossy format removes some detail. Converting a lossy file such as an MP3 to WAV does not restore what was removed; it only makes it easier to edit.
To make files smaller beyond a format change, use the Audio Compressor.
Written by
Ankit Kumar
Senior Software Engineer & Founder at ToolBuddy
Engineering browser-first utilities with zero upload requirements using WebAssembly, Web Audio, and Canvas technologies.