Audio conversion
Convert M4B to WAV
M4B is the format used for audiobooks, with chapters and bookmarks built in. WAV is a plain uncompressed audio file that almost any editing program or device can open. To convert, open the M4B in a converter and export it as WAV. Doing this on your own computer means the audiobook never leaves your machine.
All 2,748 conversions verified on macOS, Windows, and Linux against the shipping release, this one included. Every conversion runs entirely on your own computer.
- Extension
- .m4b
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Audiobooks, podcasts
- Compression
- Lossy
- Extension
- .wav
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Uncompressed audio, recording
Convert M4B to WAV on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.
How to convert M4B to WAV
- Open Morphjet and drag in the M4B audiobook, or a whole folder of them, at once.
- Choose WAV as the output format.
- Convert. The WAV file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
M4B vs WAV: what actually changes
| M4B | WAV | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Small, compressed for long recordings | Very large, roughly ten times bigger, uncompressed |
| Quality | Lossy, already compressed when it was made | Lossless, but can't recover detail the M4B already discarded |
| Chapters and bookmarks | Yes, built in | No, not supported |
| Compatibility | Audiobook and podcast apps | Universal, especially audio editing software |
| Keeps title, author, cover art | Yes | Minimal, most of it gets dropped |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert M4B to WAV when you need to edit the audio in a sound editor, load it into software that doesn't read M4B, or want an uncompressed file to work from.
Keep the M4B if you just want to listen with chapters, bookmarks, and a resumable place in the book, since WAV drops all of that and takes up far more space.
Why not just use an online converter?
M4B files often hold something personal, a purchased audiobook, a voice memo, a private recording. An online converter uploads that file to a server you don't control before handing back a WAV. Converting on your own computer keeps the audio, and whatever's in it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting M4B to WAV improve the audio quality?
No. The M4B was compressed when it was made, and that trade-off already happened. WAV stores the sound without further compression, but it can't bring back detail the M4B discarded, it just avoids losing any more.
Will the WAV file keep the audiobook's chapters and bookmarks?
No. WAV is a plain audio format with no chapter markers, so chapter breaks and your place in the book won't carry over. If you need those, keep the M4B.
Why would I convert an audiobook to WAV at all?
Mostly for editing. Audio editing and production software works more reliably with uncompressed WAV than with a compressed audiobook container, so it's a common step before cutting, mixing, or processing the audio.
Does the WAV keep the title, author, and cover art?
Generally no. WAV has very limited support for that kind of metadata, so most of it gets dropped in the conversion.
Can I convert M4B to WAV without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never has to leave your machine or pass through anyone else's server.
Morphjet runs this conversion and 2,747 others, all on your machine. Available now.
One-time purchase, no subscription. 14 days to change your mind.