Convert AIFF to M4A Online Free
Convert large uncompressed AIFF files to compact M4A format for iPhone, portable storage, and streaming. FFmpeg encodes your AIFF to AAC in an Apple M4A container, dramatically reducing file size.
ChangeThisFile converts your AIFF to M4A using FFmpeg on secure servers. M4A uses the AAC codec to compress uncompressed AIFF audio by up to 10x, while maintaining excellent audio quality. M4A is natively supported on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Music, making it ideal for mobile listening. Files are auto-deleted after conversion, free with no signup.
Convert AIFF to M4A
Drop your AIFF file here to convert it instantly
Drag & drop your .aiff file here, or click to browse
Convert to M4A instantly
AIFF vs M4A: Format Comparison
Key differences between the two formats
| Feature | AIFF | M4A |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Uncompressed PCM | Lossy AAC |
| File Size (3 min) | ~30–60 MB | ~3–6 MB |
| iPhone/iPad Native | Limited | Full native support |
| Audio Quality | Lossless | Excellent (lossy, transparent at 256 kbps) |
| Logic Pro Native | Yes (preferred) | Good support |
| Mobile Storage Use | Impractical (large) | Ideal |
| iTunes Sync | Supported | Native format |
| Streaming | Not practical | Standard streaming format |
When to Convert
Common scenarios where this conversion is useful
iPhone and iPad music library from Logic Pro exports
Logic Pro and GarageBand export AIFF files. Convert these large AIFF exports to M4A for a 10x file size reduction, making them practical for iPhone and iPad music libraries.
Portable player storage optimization
AIFF files consume significant storage on portable devices. Convert AIFF recordings to M4A to store 10x more music on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad without significant quality loss at high AAC bitrates.
iTunes library sync across devices
Convert AIFF files to M4A before adding to iTunes for syncing. M4A files sync efficiently across all Apple devices and maintain full iTunes metadata support.
Music distribution from lossless masters
Convert AIFF studio masters to M4A for distribution to clients, streaming platforms, or band members who need a portable, widely-compatible format rather than large uncompressed files.
How to Convert AIFF to M4A
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1
Upload your AIFF file
Click the upload area or drag and drop your AIFF file. Files up to 50MB are accepted. The upload is secured with HTTPS encryption.
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2
Convert to M4A
Click Convert. FFmpeg encodes the AIFF PCM audio as AAC in an MPEG-4 M4A container. The resulting file will be dramatically smaller than the source AIFF.
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3
Download your M4A file
Download the compact M4A file when ready. The file is automatically deleted from our servers after download.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. M4A uses AAC lossy compression, so converting from lossless AIFF introduces irreversible quality reduction. At 256 kbps AAC, the quality is near-transparent to most listeners. Keep your original AIFF as the master.
Approximately 5-10x smaller. A 50 MB AIFF file typically becomes 4-8 MB as M4A at 256 kbps AAC, which represents massive storage savings for mobile device libraries.
Yes. M4A is iTunes's native format. Drag the M4A into your iTunes library or Apple Music and sync to your iPhone via Finder (macOS Catalina+) or iTunes (Windows).
Mostly yes. Title, artist, album, and track number from AIFF metadata transfer to iTunes-compatible M4A tags. AIFF-specific loop point metadata (MARK/INST) does not transfer to M4A.
Yes. Android natively supports M4A/AAC audio. Most Android music players handle M4A files without additional codecs, making M4A a good cross-platform choice.
Yes, strongly recommended. AIFF is your lossless master. The M4A conversion is lossy and irreversible. Keep the AIFF for future re-encoding to other formats or for editing in Logic Pro.
FFmpeg encodes at a standard high-quality AAC bitrate appropriate for the source audio. For most music content, 256 kbps AAC in M4A is considered near-transparent and indistinguishable from lossless in most listening tests.
Yes. Files are uploaded over HTTPS, processed by FFmpeg on our server, and automatically deleted after download. We do not retain or access your audio content.
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