Why should I convert video to WAV instead of MP3?

WAV is uncompressed and lossless, so you keep all audio details from your original video. This is key for editing, audio restoration, or transcription. MP3 discards some audio information to shrink file size. For final delivery or sharing, MP3 is fine, but for editing or archiving, WAV is much better.

How big will my WAV file be?

A standard WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo) is about 10 MB per minute. At 48 kHz, it’s around 10.5 MB per minute. So, a 30-minute video produces a WAV file of about 300–315 MB. Higher sample rates or bit depths make files even larger.

Can I convert video to WAV on my phone?

Neither iOS nor Android offers a built-in way to extract WAV from a video. Some apps claim to do it, but many only output MP3 or M4A, or require payment. For best results, transfer the video to a computer and use a browser tool like Videozify.

Is there any quality loss when converting to WAV?

No. WAV is a lossless format. The audio is extracted exactly as it is in the video, with no compression or loss. If the original video used compressed audio (like AAC), the WAV will match that quality—it can’t restore detail lost in the original file.

What sample rate should I choose: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz?

For music or podcasts, 44.1 kHz is standard. For video, film, or broadcast projects, 48 kHz is standard. Match the sample rate to your project to avoid sync or resampling issues. If unsure, keep the original rate from the video.

Can I extract only part of the audio as WAV?

Yes. Trim the video before conversion, or use an audio editor to cut the WAV after extraction. Videozify’s video trimmer and audio trimmer tools make this easy.

Does Videozify upload my files to the cloud?

No. All extraction and conversion happens in your browser using WebAssembly. Your video and audio never leave your device, so privacy is protected.

Guide

How to convert video to WAV

By Mohamed Laghbar · Updated 10 October 2026

To convert video to WAV, use a browser tool like Videozify’s MOV to WAV converter. Just upload your MP4, MOV, or WebM, and it extracts lossless WAV audio in seconds. WAV files are best for editing, DAWs, and transcription because they’re uncompressed—expect about 10 MB per minute at 44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo. No uploads: all processing is local.

Quickest route: open the MOV to WAV converter, drop in your video (MP4, MOV, WebM, and others supported), and download the WAV audio. Everything runs in your browser—your files never leave your device.

How to convert video to WAV with Videozify

Open the MOV to WAV converter in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.
Click or drag your video file (MP4, MOV, WebM, etc.) onto the upload box.
Wait a few seconds while the tool analyzes your video.
Choose your desired sample rate (44.1 kHz for music, 48 kHz for video work).
Click Convert. The tool extracts the audio and saves it as a WAV file.
Download the resulting WAV file to your computer or phone.
You can now import the WAV into audio editors, DAWs, or transcription tools.

Open the MOV to WAV converter →

Why convert video to WAV?

WAV is the standard for uncompressed audio. It’s the default format for professional audio editing, DAWs (digital audio workstations), and many transcription services. Unlike MP3 or AAC, WAV stores audio in a raw, lossless form—no quality is lost in conversion. This makes it perfect for further editing, noise reduction, or archiving.

If you’re sending audio to a producer, working with podcasts, or running speech-to-text, WAV ensures you get every detail from the original recording. MP3 and AAC compress audio, which can introduce artifacts or cut frequencies. WAV preserves everything, which is why it’s the format of choice for mastering, broadcast, and studio work.

How big is a WAV file? Size per minute explained

WAV files are much larger than compressed formats. For standard CD-quality (44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo), expect about 10 MB per minute. At 48 kHz (the video standard), the size goes up to about 10.5 MB per minute. This means a 5-minute song is roughly 50 MB as a WAV file.

If your video is an hour long, the extracted WAV will be around 600 MB. There’s no way to shrink this without compression, but for editing or transcription, the uncompressed size is worth it. If you need smaller files for sharing, consider converting to FLAC (lossless compression) or MP3 (lossy) after editing.

Sample rates: 44.1 kHz vs 48 kHz

When converting video to WAV, you’ll often see a choice between 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. 44.1 kHz is the standard for music and audio CDs, while 48 kHz is the standard for video, film, and broadcast. Most video files (MP4, MOV, WebM) use 48 kHz audio, but music-focused projects often stick to 44.1 kHz.

If you’re planning to edit the audio with video, keep it at 48 kHz to avoid sync issues. For music or podcasting, 44.1 kHz is fine. Changing sample rates isn’t a problem for most DAWs, but keeping the original rate avoids resampling and potential artifacts.

Which video formats can you convert to WAV?

Videozify’s converter handles most common video formats: MP4, MOV, WebM, AVI, MKV, MTS, and more. The audio track is extracted directly, so there’s no quality loss. Some rare formats (like proprietary camera files) may not be supported, but for anything from a phone, DSLR, or screen recording, there’s usually no problem.

You can also use the dedicated WebM to WAV converter at /convert/webm-to-wav/ for WebM files. If you just want the audio from any video, the extract audio tool at /tools/extract-audio/ covers almost every scenario.

How to convert video to WAV: built-in and free software options

If you prefer not to use a browser tool, there are offline options. On Windows, VLC Media Player can extract WAV audio from most video formats. Open VLC, go to Media > Convert/Save, add your video, choose Convert, and pick WAV as the output format. It’s reliable, but the interface is clunky and not beginner-friendly.

On macOS, the Music app (formerly iTunes) cannot extract audio from video files directly. You’ll need to use QuickTime Player to export audio, but it only saves in M4A (AAC), not WAV. For true WAV export, Audacity is your best bet: import the video, then export as WAV. Audacity works on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and is free.

iPhone and Android do not offer a built-in way to extract WAV from video. Some third-party apps claim to do it, but many only save as M4A or MP3, or require a paid upgrade. For the best results, transfer the video to a computer and use a browser tool or desktop app.

Step-by-step: Extract WAV audio with VLC (Windows, Mac, Linux)

VLC is free and widely available. Here’s how to use it:

- Open VLC and go to Media > Convert/Save.

- Add your video file and click Convert/Save.

- Under Profile, choose Audio - WAV.

- Pick a destination file and start the conversion.

VLC’s output is always 16-bit WAV. It works for most MP4, MOV, MKV, and AVI files. If the audio won’t extract or the file is silent, try converting the video to a more common format first, or use Audacity.

Step-by-step: Extract WAV audio with Audacity

Audacity is a free audio editor that can import most video files (except some DRM-protected or unusual formats). Here’s how:

- Open Audacity, then drag your video file onto the window.

- Wait for the audio to import. Only the audio track will appear.

- Go to File > Export > Export as WAV.

- Choose your sample rate and bit depth (default is 44.1 kHz, 16-bit).

Audacity gives you full control over the output. You can cut, trim, or clean up the audio before exporting.

Troubleshooting: Common issues and fixes

Sometimes, conversion fails or the output WAV is silent. This usually means the video uses an uncommon audio codec (such as Dolby Digital or PCM in a strange layout). Try converting the video to MP4 or MOV first, then extract the WAV.

If the WAV file is much larger than expected (for example, over 100 MB for a 5-minute clip), check the sample rate and bit depth. 24-bit or 96 kHz audio can balloon file size. For most uses, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz at 16-bit is more than enough.

If you need only a section of the audio, trim the video first before converting. This saves space and processing time. Videozify’s trimmer and audio trimmer tools help with this.

WAV vs other audio formats: When to use what

WAV is best for editing, mastering, and anything where quality matters. FLAC is lossless but compressed—half the size of WAV, but not as widely supported by older DAWs or hardware. MP3 and AAC are lossy, much smaller (about 1 MB per minute at 128 kbps), but throw away detail. For final delivery, MP3 is fine; for editing or archiving, stick to WAV or FLAC.

If you need to convert your WAV to another format after editing, Videozify supports all common conversions, including WAV to MP3, FLAC, AAC, and M4A.

Frequently asked questions

Why should I convert video to WAV instead of MP3?: WAV is uncompressed and lossless, so you keep all audio details from your original video. This is key for editing, audio restoration, or transcription. MP3 discards some audio information to shrink file size. For final delivery or sharing, MP3 is fine, but for editing or archiving, WAV is much better.
How big will my WAV file be?: A standard WAV (44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo) is about 10 MB per minute. At 48 kHz, it’s around 10.5 MB per minute. So, a 30-minute video produces a WAV file of about 300–315 MB. Higher sample rates or bit depths make files even larger.
Can I convert video to WAV on my phone?: Neither iOS nor Android offers a built-in way to extract WAV from a video. Some apps claim to do it, but many only output MP3 or M4A, or require payment. For best results, transfer the video to a computer and use a browser tool like Videozify.
Is there any quality loss when converting to WAV?: No. WAV is a lossless format. The audio is extracted exactly as it is in the video, with no compression or loss. If the original video used compressed audio (like AAC), the WAV will match that quality—it can’t restore detail lost in the original file.
What sample rate should I choose: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz?: For music or podcasts, 44.1 kHz is standard. For video, film, or broadcast projects, 48 kHz is standard. Match the sample rate to your project to avoid sync or resampling issues. If unsure, keep the original rate from the video.
Can I extract only part of the audio as WAV?: Yes. Trim the video before conversion, or use an audio editor to cut the WAV after extraction. Videozify’s video trimmer and audio trimmer tools make this easy.
Does Videozify upload my files to the cloud?: No. All extraction and conversion happens in your browser using WebAssembly. Your video and audio never leave your device, so privacy is protected.