How do I convert AIFF to MP3?

AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is Apple's 1988 uncompressed PCM container — functionally the Mac equivalent of WAV, storing identical audio data with big-endian byte order and better native metadata support. Logic Pro, GarageBand, and classic Mac audio workflows produce AIFF, and like WAV it runs about 10 MB per minute of CD-quality stereo.

Since AIFF is lossless PCM, converting to MP3 gives you a single clean generation of lossy encoding — the best-case scenario for MP3 quality. A 320 kbps encode of an AIFF master is audibly transparent for nearly all listeners; 192 kbps remains a good space/quality balance for everyday listening.

The workflow mirrors WAV exactly: keep AIFF as your editing/archive format, and export MP3 for sharing, streaming upload, or devices. One AIFF advantage worth knowing: it supports embedded metadata and cover art more gracefully than plain WAV, and those tags are mapped into ID3 where possible during conversion.

Reasons to convert AIFF to MP3 usually come down to compatibility, file-size, or specific feature requirements. Common situations:

• An app or platform only accepts MP3 uploads.
• You need a feature unique to MP3 (e.g. lossless editing, chapter markers, smaller streaming size, etc.) that AIFF doesn't provide.
• You're optimising file size — modern formats often produce smaller files than the older format you started with.
• You need a single archival format across a project so files behave consistently in the same viewer.

1. Open the AIFF → MP3 tool on mp3.now.
2. Drag your AIFF file onto the drop zone, or click Select files. You can drop a whole folder of files at once.
3. The output is fixed to MP3. If the format supports extra options (bitrate, sample rate, channels, volume normalization), tweak them in the options panel.
4. Click Convert. The job runs on our server and finishes in a few seconds for typical tracks.
5. Download the result. Files stay in storage for 24 hours and are then permanently deleted.

The entire flow is free for the first 10 jobs per day with no signup required. A free account doubles that quota; a premium plan removes the limit entirely.

• AIFF and WAV are audio twins — identical PCM data, different byte order and container; conversion quality is identical.
• Use 320 kbps for music masters exported from Logic or GarageBand.
• Keep the AIFF as your archive; MP3s can be regenerated at any time.
• 24-bit AIFF converts fine — bit-depth handling is automatic.
• AIFC (compressed AIFF) files are rarer but also supported by the decoder.