How to Convert MOV to WAV

MOV is a container format created by Apple for QuickTime. Like MP4, it wraps multiple tracks — video, audio, subtitles — into a single file. The two formats are closely related: MOV and MP4 share the same base specification (ISO Base Media File Format). MOV files are common output from: iPhone video, Mac screen recordings (QuickTime Player), Canon and Sony cameras set to QuickTime output, and Final Cut Pro projects exported as QuickTime. The audio track inside a MOV is usually AAC, but some files — particularly from professional cameras — may carry PCM audio already. Knowing your source codec helps you make better decisions about output quality.

WAV is the universal uncompressed audio standard. Every DAW, video editor, and audio workstation reads WAV without issues. MOV audio (usually AAC) may not import cleanly into all software, especially older versions of Windows applications that have limited QuickTime support. For editing workflows, WAV is preferable because it is uncompressed. Applying EQ, compression, or noise reduction to a lossy AAC track compounds the artifacts. WAV gives the editor the cleanest possible starting point. If you recorded a voice memo or interview on an iPhone, the MOV-to-WAV conversion gives you a file you can drop directly into any podcast editing or audio production software.

AudioUtils uses FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly to run the conversion in your browser. The process: the MOV container is read locally, the audio stream is identified and decoded to PCM, and the samples are written into a WAV file with a RIFF header. Processing happens on your device. Files are not uploaded. A browser Worker thread handles the conversion so the page does not freeze during processing. Output: 16-bit PCM WAV at the original sample rate of the source audio. For iPhone recordings, this is typically 44.1 kHz AAC decoded to 44.1 kHz WAV. For professional camera footage, it may be 48 kHz.

iPhones shoot video in MOV containers with AAC audio (or in HEVC/H.264 MP4 on newer models). The AAC audio is typically stereo at 44.1 kHz. For voice memos that were saved as video (screen recordings with audio), the sample rate is usually 48 kHz. After converting to WAV, the file will be substantially larger: an iPhone MOV of 100 MB might produce a 250–400 MB WAV, depending on the audio duration and sample rate. This is expected — WAV is uncompressed. For archiving iPhone recordings, FLAC is worth considering instead of WAV: same lossless quality, roughly half the file size.

WAV files converted from MOV drop into any editing workflow without configuration: Logic Pro, Garage Band, Ableton Live: import directly from the browser downloads folder. Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve: drag onto the timeline or use the media browser to import. Audacity-style editors: open directly — WAV is always the first supported format. Podcast editors (Hindenburg, Descript, Reaper): WAV import is standard. The WAV file will show correct duration and sample rate in all of these tools. No metadata conversion or transcoding is needed on the editing software side.

File rejected by AudioUtils: MOV files with unusual codecs (ProRes, DNxHD) sometimes confuse the container parser. Try renaming the file with a .mov extension if it has none, or re-wrap the video in QuickTime Player by exporting as 'Movie' before converting. Output has no audio: Some MOV files from screen recorders have video-only tracks. Verify audio plays in a media player before converting. Conversion takes very long: MOV files from cameras can be large. A 4K 10-minute recording might be 4–6 GB. This is normal — the conversion will complete but may take several minutes on slower hardware. Wrong sample rate in DAW: If your DAW project is 44.1 kHz and the WAV comes in at 48 kHz, the DAW will resample. This is fine for most editing purposes.