Compress AIFF to M4A
Need smaller audio files? Converting AIFF to M4A dramatically reduces file size. A 50MB file becomes 5MB. Perfect for email, sharing, and storage.
Drop your AIFF file here or click to browse
AIFF (.aiff) · Max 20 MB
AIFF files are uncompressed and huge. M4A uses lossy compression to shrink them by 90% or more. The size reduction is significant for sharing, uploading, and storage.
For email attachments, 128-192kbps works well. For music sharing, use 256-320kbps. AudioUtils lets you drop your file and convert instantly. No upload to a server, no waiting.
The size drop is the point — around 8× less data, which is what turns an unsendable file into an attachment. Encoding straight from an uncompressed master means one lossy generation, not two — noticeably better than re-encoding from an already-compressed file.
Most people meet AIFF through Logic Pro and GarageBand bounces. It is a fine format there; the trouble is that AIFF is uncompressed like WAV, so a four-minute song is 40 MB+ and won't attach to an email. M4A is the destination because it plays essentially everywhere — iPhone Voice Memos and every ordinary phone, browser, and player. AIFF costs you around 10 MB for every minute; M4A asks for about 1.2. Over a long recording that gap is the whole reason to convert. Because AIFF is uncompressed, encoding to M4A here is the clean, single-generation case — the encoder sees the whole original signal, so this M4A is as good as the format gets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much smaller will the file get?
The size drop is the point — around 8× less data, which is what turns an unsendable file into an attachment.
What bitrate keeps the quality acceptable?
192–256 kbps is transparent for most music, 128 kbps is fine for speech, and 64–96 kbps mono is plenty for pure voice — halving the size again with no real cost. Below that you start hearing it.
Will compressing damage the audio?
Encoding straight from an uncompressed master means one lossy generation, not two — noticeably better than re-encoding from an already-compressed file.
Should I compress a master or an archive copy?
Never the master. Compress a copy for sharing and listening, and keep the original — you can always re-encode from it, but you can never re-create what a lossy encoder discarded.
Is this compressor free?
Yes. Free users get 5 conversions per month. The output is limited to the first 10 seconds as a preview, with a 20MB input file size limit. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited, full-length conversions.
About AIFF
Apple's uncompressed format. Similar to WAV but with better metadata support. Used in professional Mac audio workflows.
About M4A
Apple's preferred audio format. Better quality than MP3 at same bitrate. Default for iTunes and Apple devices.