Convert WAV to MP3
Convert WAV audio files to MP3 format instantly in your browser. Reduce file size by 90% while keeping great audio quality. Perfect for music, podcasts, and voice recordings. No upload needed.
Drag 'n' drop files here, or
click to select files
.wav
Drop your files and click Convert to get MP3
//when_to_use
When to Convert WAV to MP3
- Compressing studio recordings or voiceovers from DAWs (Audacity, Logic Pro, Ableton) for client delivery
- Converting voice memos or field recordings from a portable recorder (Zoom H1, Tascam) for email sharing
- Preparing audio files for podcast hosting platforms (Anchor, Buzzsprout) that have upload size limits
- Reducing the size of sound effects libraries for use in web projects or mobile apps
- Converting lossless audio rips to MP3 for portable music players, car stereos, or phone storage
//comparison
WAV vs MP3
| Property | WAV | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Uncompressed PCM | Lossy (LAME MP3) |
| Typical file size (5 min stereo) | 50 MB | 5 MB |
| Audio quality | Perfect (lossless) | 192kbps (transparent) |
| Sample rate | Up to 192kHz | Up to 48kHz |
| Device support | Audio editors, DAWs | Universal |
| Bit depth | 16, 24, or 32-bit | N/A (compressed) |
//how_it_works
How It Works
Drop your WAV files
Drag and drop or select WAV audio files. Any sample rate and bit depth supported — 16-bit, 24-bit, 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz. First use loads FFmpeg WASM (~30MB).
FFmpeg reads PCM audio
FFmpeg WASM reads the uncompressed PCM audio data from the WAV container in your browser. No data is uploaded — everything stays on your device.
LAME encoding at 192kbps
The LAME MP3 encoder compresses the audio at 192kbps constant bitrate. Its psychoacoustic model removes inaudible frequencies, achieving ~90% file size reduction with transparent quality.
Download compact MP3s
Your MP3 files are ready — about 90% smaller than the WAV originals. Play them on any device, upload to any platform, or share via email without size issues.
// under the hood
WAV stores uncompressed PCM audio (typically 16-bit, 44.1kHz stereo = 1411kbps). Our converter uses FFmpeg WASM with the LAME MP3 encoder (libmp3lame) at 192kbps constant bitrate. LAME uses a psychoacoustic model based on the human auditory system to discard inaudible frequencies and reduce file size by approximately 90% while maintaining transparent audio quality.
//faq
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between WAV and MP3?
- WAV stores uncompressed audio — every sample is preserved exactly, resulting in large files (about 10MB per minute). MP3 uses lossy compression to reduce file size by ~90% while maintaining audio quality that's indistinguishable from the original for most listeners.
- Why convert WAV to MP3?
- WAV files are impractically large for sharing, streaming, or storing on phones. A 5-minute WAV is ~50MB, while the same audio as MP3 is ~5MB. MP3 is universally supported by every music player, phone, car stereo, and streaming platform.
- What quality is the MP3 output?
- We encode at 192kbps using the LAME encoder — considered high quality and transparent for most listeners. This bitrate preserves the full frequency range of speech and music while achieving approximately 90% file size reduction compared to WAV.
- Can I convert multiple WAV files at once?
- Yes. Drag and drop or select multiple WAV files for batch conversion. Each file is processed sequentially by FFmpeg WASM in your browser and can be downloaded individually or all at once.
- Is the conversion private?
- Completely. All processing happens in your browser using FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. Your audio files never leave your device — we have zero access to them.