Audio conversion
Convert WAV to M4A
Updated Jul 2026
WAV is an uncompressed recording format that takes up a lot of space, and M4A is the compressed format iTunes, Apple Music, and voice memo apps expect. To convert WAV to M4A, open the file in a converter and export it as M4A. Doing this on your own computer means the recording never has to leave your machine to get smaller.
- Extension
- .wav
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- Uncompressed audio, recording
- Extension
- .m4a
- Type
- Audio
- Typically
- iTunes / voice memos
- Compression
- Lossy
Convert WAV to M4A on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert WAV to M4A
- Open Morphjet and drag in the WAV file, or a whole folder of recordings, at once.
- Choose M4A as the output format.
- Convert. The M4A file is written next to your original, and nothing leaves your machine.
WAV vs M4A: what actually changes
| WAV | M4A | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Large, uncompressed | Much smaller, often a fraction of the WAV |
| Quality | Lossless, exact copy of the recording | Lossy, small loss on export, usually hard to notice |
| Compatibility | Opens in almost any audio app or OS | Native to iTunes, Apple Music, and voice memo apps, and plays fine on most modern phones and players |
| Tags and metadata | Limited support for title, artist, or artwork | Supports track title, artist, album art, like other iTunes-era files |
| Good for repeated editing | Yes, no generation loss | Not ideal, re-exporting a lossy file repeatedly compounds quality loss |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert WAV to M4A when you want to shrink a large recording for storage or syncing to a phone, or when you're loading audio into iTunes, Apple Music, or a voice memo library that expects M4A.
Keep the WAV if you're still editing, mixing, or archiving the recording, since WAV holds every bit of the original and M4A's compression can't be undone.
Why not just use an online converter?
A voice memo or field recording in WAV can be a large, sensitive file, a meeting, an interview, a private conversation. Uploading it to an online converter just to shrink it means that recording sits on a stranger's server until someone deletes it. Converting on your own computer keeps the audio, and whatever's said in it, on your machine the whole time.
Questions
Does converting WAV to M4A lose quality?
Yes, a little. M4A compresses the audio, so there's a small, one-time quality loss on export. For voice memos, podcasts, or everyday listening it's generally not noticeable.
Will M4A play on my phone and in iTunes?
Yes. M4A is the format Apple's own apps use for music and voice memos, so it plays natively in iTunes, Apple Music, and on iPhone. Most other modern phones and players handle it too.
Do I keep the song or recording info after converting?
Yes. M4A supports title, artist, and album art tags, so basic metadata usually carries over from the WAV where it exists.
Should I delete the WAV after converting?
Only if you're sure you don't need it again. Once you convert to M4A, the compression is permanent, so it's worth keeping the WAV around if you might ever need the uncompressed version.
Can I convert WAV to M4A without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file locally, so the recording never travels over the internet. It works even with your wifi off.
Morphjet converts WAV, M4A, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.