Convert WAV to ALAC on Mac
Select the WAV files in Finder, press ⌥ F, choose ALAC and press Return. FileFlip saves each ALAC next to its original and works without an internet connection.
How to convert WAV to ALAC with FileFlip
Select the WAV files
In Finder or on the Desktop. One file, or a whole folder with ⌘ A.
Press ⌥ F
FileFlip opens next to the selection and lists the formats it can make from WAV. Type “ALAC” to jump to it.
Choose ALAC and press Return
The ALAC files appear next to the originals with the same names. The WAV files stay as they are.
WAV and ALAC
WAV is uncompressed, so recordings take far more space than they need for listening. ALAC is lossless and plays natively in Apple’s Music app and on iPhone.
What changes when you convert
- Both formats are lossless, so the sound itself doesn’t change. Only file size and compatibility do.
- ALAC files use the .m4a extension, just like AAC files.
| Property | WAV | ALAC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Waveform Audio File Format | Apple Lossless Audio Codec |
| Made by | Microsoft and IBM | Apple |
| Introduced | 1991 | 2004 |
| Compression | Uncompressed | Lossless |
| Best for | Recording, editing and audio apps that need raw sound | Lossless music in Apple’s Music app and on iPhone |
| Opens in | Every audio app and operating system | Apple devices and many players; less common elsewhere than FLAC |
| File extension | .wav | .m4a |
| In FileFlip | Opens and saves | Saves |
Other ways on a Mac
For one file now and then you may not need FileFlip. These work with what’s already on your Mac.
Music
In the Music app, choose Music → Settings → Files → Import Settings and set Import Using to Apple Lossless Encoder. Then select the songs and choose File → Convert → Create Apple Lossless Version.
The songs have to be in your Music library.
Terminal
afconvert is Apple’s command-line audio converter.
afconvert -f m4af -d alac podcast-ep12.wav podcast-ep12.m4aBuilt into macOS and good for scripts.
Questions about WAV and ALAC
Does converting WAV to ALAC lose quality?
Both formats are lossless, so the sound itself doesn’t change. Only file size and compatibility do.
Can I convert many WAV files at once?
Yes. Select them all in Finder, press ⌥ F and choose ALAC. Progress moves to the menu bar, so you can close the panel and keep working.
Where does ALAC play?
Apple devices and many players; less common elsewhere than FLAC.
Where is the ALAC file saved?
Next to the original, with the same name and the .m4a extension. The WAV file isn’t changed. In Settings you can choose a different folder instead.
Can I convert ALAC back to WAV?
No. FileFlip saves ALAC files but doesn’t open them.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. FileFlip converts files on your Mac and works with the internet turned off.
Convert a whole album at once
FileFlip also handles images, camera raw files, video, PDFs, documents and data files. Requires macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Coming soon for Mac