Convert MP4 to WAV

Extract lossless audio from MP4 videos and save it as WAV files.

Select your files

or drag and drop your file here

* Files deleted after 24 hours

Convert files up to 100 MB for free

How to convert MP4 to WAV online

1

Drag and drop your MP4 file, or click to select a file. Works with MP4 videos from various sources.

2

The tool extracts audio from your MP4 video and converts it to WAV format.

3

Wait for the conversion to finish. Most MP4 files take 10-30 seconds. A progress bar shows the status.

4

When conversion finishes, you can preview the WAV file. Check the audio quality and file size before downloading.

5

Click Download to save the WAV file to your device. Files are deleted after 24 hours.

About WAV Format

WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is an uncompressed audio format developed by Microsoft and IBM. It was introduced in 1991 and became a standard format for storing audio on Windows computers. WAV files preserve audio quality without compression, making them ideal for professional audio work.

History and Development

WAV was developed by Microsoft and IBM in 1991 as part of the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF). It was designed to store audio data in an uncompressed format, preserving the original quality. WAV became the standard format for audio on Windows computers and is widely used in professional audio production. The format is based on the RIFF container format and can store audio in various formats, including PCM.

Technical Specifications

WAV is an uncompressed audio format that stores audio data in PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) format. The format supports various sample rates (typically 44.1kHz for CD quality, 48kHz for video production) and bit depths (16-bit standard, 24-bit for professional use). WAV files can store mono or stereo audio, and can support multi-channel audio like surround sound. The format preserves all original audio data without compression artifacts.

Advantages

  • No compression artifacts

Limitations

  • Not efficient for storage

Device Compatibility

WAV works well on most platforms. It's natively supported on Windows computers and is widely compatible with audio editing software. Most media players support WAV files, and the format is commonly used in professional audio production. However, WAV files are large, which can be a limitation for mobile devices or streaming.

Use Cases for MP4 to WAV Conversion

Converting MP4 to WAV is useful for anyone who needs uncompressed audio for professional work or editing. Common uses:

Music Production

Extract audio from MP4 videos for music production. WAV preserves all original audio data without compression, making it ideal for professional music production.

Audio Editing

Use WAV format for audio editing. The uncompressed format preserves quality and is compatible with all major audio editing software.

Podcasting

Convert MP4 to WAV for podcast production. WAV files work well in professional audio editing software used for podcast production.

Sound Design

Use WAV format for sound design projects. The uncompressed format preserves all audio details needed for professional sound design.

Archiving

Convert MP4 to WAV for audio archiving. WAV preserves original audio quality without compression, making it useful for long-term archiving.

Professional Workflows

Use WAV in professional audio workflows. The format is the industry standard for professional audio work and is compatible with all major audio software.

Quality Preservation

Extract audio from MP4 videos to preserve quality. WAV ensures no quality loss during conversion, making it useful when quality is important.

Technical Details

MP4 to WAV Conversion

MP4 videos contain both video and audio tracks. When converting to WAV, the video track is removed and only the audio track is extracted. The audio is then encoded in WAV format using PCM (Pulse Code Modulation), which is uncompressed. The conversion process preserves the audio quality without compression, resulting in much larger file sizes than compressed formats.

Format Limitations

WAV has some limitations compared to MP4: it only contains audio, so video information is lost. WAV files are very large because they're uncompressed, which can be a problem for storage and sharing. The format is not suitable for streaming due to its large file size. However, WAV provides the best audio quality and is the industry standard for professional audio work.

MP4 vs WAV

Here's how MP4 compares to WAV:

Feature
MP4 to WAV
WAV
Content Type
Video and audio
Audio only
Compression
Compressed
Uncompressed
File Size
Smaller (compressed)
Much larger (uncompressed)
Quality
Good (compressed)
Best (uncompressed)
Best For
Video playback, sharing, streaming
Professional audio work, editing, music production, archiving

MP4 to WAV conversion FAQ

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