Is WAV lossless when extracted from MP4?

The WAV file itself is lossless PCM — it's the studio-standard uncompressed format. However, the audio inside MP4 is usually AAC (lossy), so what you get is a faithful PCM decode of the AAC stream. The WAV won't be worse than the MP4's audio, but it can't be better — there's no hidden quality to recover from a lossy source.

Why extract WAV instead of MP3 or AAC?

DAWs and audio analysis tools work with uncompressed PCM internally. Feeding them WAV avoids a re-decode, eliminates any further generational loss during editing, and gives sample-accurate scrubbing. WAV is also the de facto deliverable for podcast post-production handoffs and music sample libraries.

What sample rate and bit depth do you use?

44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo by default (CD-quality, the most universally supported PCM profile). If the source MP4 audio is 48 kHz (typical for video), the output WAV preserves 48 kHz to avoid resampling.

Will the WAV file be large?

Yes — WAV is uncompressed. Expect roughly 10 MB per minute of stereo audio at 44.1 kHz / 16-bit. A one-hour MP4 yields a ~600 MB WAV. For storage rather than editing, FLAC gives lossless compression at roughly half the size.

Are my MP4 files uploaded?

No. FFmpeg WebAssembly decodes and re-muxes entirely in your browser tab. Conference talks, interview tapes, and unreleased footage all stay local.

Convert MP4 to WAV

Extract the audio track from MP4 video files as uncompressed WAV (PCM) directly in your browser. WAV is the lossless studio standard — every DAW (Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton, FL Studio, Audacity) and analysis tool reads it natively. No upload needed.

Drag 'n' drop files here, or
click to select files

.mp4

WAV

Drop your files and click Convert to get WAV

Files never leave your device — 100% browser-based

//when_to_use

When to Convert MP4 to WAV

Extracting WAV audio from MP4 interview recordings for editing in Adobe Audition / Hindenburg before podcast publishing
Pulling WAV stems from MP4 music videos for sample analysis and remixing in Ableton Live / FL Studio
Converting MP4 lecture recordings to WAV for transcription tools (Otter.ai local, Whisper.cpp) that prefer uncompressed input
Extracting WAV dialogue from MP4 footage for ADR / dubbing sessions in Pro Tools
Pulling WAV reference tracks from MP4 instructional videos for music transcription in MuseScore / Sibelius

//comparison

MP4 vs WAV

Property	MP4	WAV
Type	Video container	Audio-only PCM container
Audio codec	AAC (lossy)	PCM (uncompressed)
Typical bitrate	128-256 kbps	~1411 kbps (44.1/16/stereo)
File size	Small	~10 MB/min stereo
DAW support	Limited (need extraction)	Universal
Best for	Watching / distribution	Audio editing, transcription

//how_it_works

How It Works

Drop your MP4 files

Drag and drop or pick .mp4 files. First conversion loads FFmpeg WASM (~30MB).

FFmpeg demuxes MP4

FFmpeg WASM reads the ISOBMFF box structure, locates the audio track, and discards the video track entirely.

Decode AAC to PCM

The AAC audio stream is decoded to raw 16-bit signed PCM samples at the source sample rate (preserving 48 kHz or downmixing to 44.1 kHz).

Download WAV files

WAVs open in every DAW (Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton, FL Studio, Reaper, Audacity) and audio analysis tool natively.

// under the hood

MP4 is an ISOBMFF container carrying H.264 / H.265 video and AAC audio. WAV is Microsoft's RIFF-based PCM audio container. Our converter uses FFmpeg WASM to demux the MP4, decode the AAC stream to PCM, and write a RIFF/WAVE file at 44.1 kHz (or source rate) 16-bit signed little-endian stereo. No video re-encoding happens — only the audio track is touched.

//faq

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WAV lossless when extracted from MP4?: The WAV file itself is lossless PCM — it's the studio-standard uncompressed format. However, the audio inside MP4 is usually AAC (lossy), so what you get is a faithful PCM decode of the AAC stream. The WAV won't be worse than the MP4's audio, but it can't be better — there's no hidden quality to recover from a lossy source.
Why extract WAV instead of MP3 or AAC?: DAWs and audio analysis tools work with uncompressed PCM internally. Feeding them WAV avoids a re-decode, eliminates any further generational loss during editing, and gives sample-accurate scrubbing. WAV is also the de facto deliverable for podcast post-production handoffs and music sample libraries.
What sample rate and bit depth do you use?: 44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo by default (CD-quality, the most universally supported PCM profile). If the source MP4 audio is 48 kHz (typical for video), the output WAV preserves 48 kHz to avoid resampling.
Will the WAV file be large?: Yes — WAV is uncompressed. Expect roughly 10 MB per minute of stereo audio at 44.1 kHz / 16-bit. A one-hour MP4 yields a ~600 MB WAV. For storage rather than editing, FLAC gives lossless compression at roughly half the size.
Are my MP4 files uploaded?: No. FFmpeg WebAssembly decodes and re-muxes entirely in your browser tab. Conference talks, interview tapes, and unreleased footage all stay local.

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Convert MP4 to WAV

When to Convert MP4 to WAV

MP4 vs WAV

How It Works

Drop your MP4 files

FFmpeg demuxes MP4

Decode AAC to PCM

Download WAV files

Frequently Asked Questions

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