.wavWhat is WAV?
Waveform Audio File Format
Uncompressed lossless audio — the professional editing standard
- Format type
- Uncompressed lossless audio (PCM)
- Standard
- RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format)
- Bit depth
- 8, 16, 24, or 32-bit
- Sample rate
- Up to 192 kHz (44.1 kHz for CD quality)
WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) was developed by Microsoft and IBM in 1991. It stores audio as uncompressed PCM data — no encoding, no compression, no quality loss. A WAV file is a direct digital representation of the original audio signal. This makes WAV the standard for professional audio production: DAWs import and export WAV, broadcast engineers deliver WAV, and music mastering studios work in WAV.
The trade-off for lossless quality is large file sizes. A 3-minute stereo recording at CD quality (44.1 kHz, 16-bit) occupies approximately 30 MB as WAV, compared to 3–5 MB as MP3. For storage and distribution, WAV files are impractical. For professional workflows where quality must be preserved through multiple editing passes, WAV is the correct format — then export to a compressed format for distribution.
Technical Specifications
| Format type | Uncompressed lossless audio (PCM) |
| Standard | RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format) |
| Bit depth | 8, 16, 24, or 32-bit |
| Sample rate | Up to 192 kHz (44.1 kHz for CD quality) |
| Channels | Mono, stereo, up to 18 channels |
| File extension | .wav |
| Compression | None (PCM) or optional lossless |
Advantages & Limitations
Advantages
- No quality loss — bit-perfect representation of the original
- No generation loss when editing and re-exporting multiple times
- Universal DAW support — Audacity, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Ableton, FL Studio
- Broadcast standard for radio and TV delivery
- No encoding delay — faster to write than compressed formats
- Simple format — easy to parse and process programmatically
Limitations
- Very large files — impractical for storage and distribution
- No built-in metadata support (unlike FLAC)
- Not suitable for streaming or web audio (too large)
- No compression benefit — same quality as FLAC at 2x the size
Common Use Cases
- Professional music production in DAWs
- Broadcast radio and TV audio delivery
- Music mastering and sound design
- Game audio source assets
- Film and video production audio tracks
- Recording studio session files
Compatible Software & Platforms
WAV is natively supported by:
Convert WAV Files — Free Online Tools
Convert from WAV
Convert to WAV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a WAV file?
A WAV file is a audio file using the Waveform Audio File Format format. WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) was developed by Microsoft and IBM in 1991.
What programs open WAV files?
WAV files are supported by: Every DAW: Audacity, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Ableton, FL Studio, Adobe Audition, GarageBand, Reaper, Broadcast hardware, and most modern media players and editors.
What are WAV files used for?
Common uses include: Professional music production in DAWs; Broadcast radio and TV audio delivery; Music mastering and sound design.
WAV vs FLAC: what is the difference?
FLAC is lossless like WAV but 40–60% smaller; WAV has broader software compatibility. WAV is typically chosen for professional music production in daws, while FLAC is preferred for long-term music collection archival.
How do I convert a WAV file?
Convert WAV files online for free at MediaFormatter. Upload your file, choose a target format, and download the result — no installation or sign-up needed.