Convert WAV to FLAC
You convert WAV to FLAC by dragging the .wav file into the dropzone above and pressing Convert to FLAC. Encoding is handled by ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly running locally in your browser, so the recording is compressed on your computer and never sent across the network.
Runs in your browser. Your file never leaves your device.Drop your WAV hereChoose a WAV to convert
It becomes a FLAC right in your browser, up to 200 MB
Your file never leaves your device
Works in airplane mode. See the proof
Limits, published exactly
| Where it runs | In your browser. The file never leaves your device. |
|---|---|
| Free conversions | Unlimited. No account, no ads, no queue, no watermark. |
| Max file size, free | 200 MB |
Why convert WAV to FLAC?
The reason is almost always storage. WAV is uncompressed, so a stereo master runs about 10MB per minute, and a folder of stems, field recordings or album masters balloons fast. FLAC fixes that without the compromise an MP3 would force: it is lossless, so you shrink the library while keeping every single sample. That makes it the right archive format for anyone who wants smaller files but flinches at the idea of throwing audio away. FLAC also plays in modern browsers and most current software, so the smaller files stay usable.
What is WAV?
WAV is uncompressed audio in its plainest form: the 1991 RIFF container holding raw PCM samples, the same data a CD carries. Nothing is lost and nothing is guessed, which makes WAV the standard handoff format for audio editing, mastering, transcription tools and samplers. The price is size: about 10MB per stereo minute, an order of magnitude more than a decent MP3 of the same sound.
What is FLAC?
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) compresses audio to roughly half of WAV size while keeping every sample bit-perfect, which made it the archival and audiophile standard. It is open and royalty-free, plays in browsers and most modern software, but car stereos, older devices and plenty of apps still want MP3, and audio editors often prefer plain WAV input.
Quality and what to expect
FLAC is lossless compression, so this is not the quality tradeoff that MP3 or AAC would be. The encoded FLAC contains the identical audio: decode it later and you get back exactly the samples your WAV held, bit-for-bit, with nothing discarded. The win is size, typically 40 to 60% smaller depending on the material, because dense and noisy audio compresses less than sparse or quiet audio. Sample rate and bit depth are preserved as-is. The only thing you trade is a little CPU time during encoding, since FLAC works harder than simply writing raw PCM.
WAV to FLAC FAQ
Is any audio quality lost compressing WAV to FLAC?
None at all. FLAC is mathematically lossless, so the compressed file holds the exact same samples as your WAV. Decoding it returns bit-for-bit identical audio; the only thing that changed is how compactly the data is stored.
How much smaller will the FLAC be?
Usually 40 to 60% smaller than the source WAV. Busy, noisy or loud material compresses less, while sparse or quiet recordings compress more, so the exact saving depends entirely on what the audio contains.
Can I get my original WAV back from the FLAC?
Yes, because the compression is lossless. Converting the FLAC back to WAV reproduces the same uncompressed samples you started with, so FLAC is a safe archival format rather than a one-way export.
Does the recording reach your servers during encoding?
No. The FLAC encoder is WebAssembly executing inside this browser tab on your own CPU, so the WAV bytes stay on your machine. There is no upload step in the conversion at all, which you can confirm in developer tools.