Compress AIFF files
Convert large AIFF exports from GarageBand and Logic into compact audio files.
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How to compress AIFF files
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AIFF, Apple's uncompressed audio format
AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) was developed by Apple in 1988, based on the IFF chunk format from Electronic Arts. It is the Mac counterpart of WAV: a header describing the sample rate, bit depth and channels, followed by raw PCM samples, here stored in big-endian byte order, which suited the Motorola processors of the early Macs. You get AIFF files from GarageBand and Logic Pro exports, from CD imports with iTunes set to its AIFF encoder, from sample libraries and from many Mac audio tools. The extensions .aif and .aiff are interchangeable.
Because the samples are not compressed, the size is fixed by the format: CD-quality stereo takes about 10.6 MB per minute, 24-bit 48 kHz stereo about 17.3 MB. A four-minute song exported from GarageBand is over 40 MB, more than any common email service accepts.
AIFF and AIFF-C
A variant called AIFF-C (or AIFC) allows compressed audio inside the same structure. In practice, macOS uses it mostly for a little-endian or floating-point variant of plain PCM, sometimes labeled "sowt" or "fl32", so an AIFF-C file is usually just as large as a normal one. The tool reads these PCM variants, including µ-law and A-law. Genuinely compressed AIFF-C files with old codecs such as IMA ADPCM or MACE are rare today, and this tool cannot read them.
How to shrink an AIFF file
The tool reads the PCM samples in your browser and encodes them into a compact format, MP3 by default on this page. Since the source is lossless, this is the best possible starting point: a single lossy encode from uncompressed audio sounds better than any chain of conversions.
| Goal | Output | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Share a GarageBand song with friends | AAC (M4A), 192 kbps, stereo | About 1.4 MB per minute instead of 10.6 MB |
| Send a demo to a band member for comments | AAC or MP3, 128 kbps | Under 1 MB per minute |
| Store a podcast episode recorded on a Mac | AAC, mono, 64–96 kbps | Clear speech, a small fraction of the original size |
| Keep a lossless archive in less space | FLAC, Bit depth Keep original (the default is 16-bit) | Bit-identical audio, usually much smaller than the AIFF |
Keep the AIFF, or the project file in GarageBand or Logic, if you might still mix or master the song. Lossy files are for listening, not for further production.
Things to watch out for
- Loop and instrument data. Sample-library AIFFs may contain loop points and root-key information used by samplers. Converted files lose these chunks, so keep the originals for music production.
- Windows users. Windows plays AIFF in some apps but not all. Sending an M4A or MP3 avoids questions.
- Very long recordings. Like WAV, classic AIFF uses 32-bit size fields, so a single file stays under 4 GB.
AIFF questions
Is AIFF better than WAV?
No. Both store the same uncompressed PCM audio, so a recording sounds identical in either. AIFF stores tags a little more naturally on the Mac; WAV is more common on Windows.
Can I turn AIFF into a smaller lossless file?
Yes, with FLAC or Apple Lossless (ALAC). Both decode to exactly the same samples. FLAC is supported by more software and is the one this tool writes; ALAC is supported by more Apple devices.
Why does GarageBand export such big files?
An export to AIFF or WAV keeps the full quality of the mix. In GarageBand's Share menu you can also export straight to AAC or MP3 if you only need a listening copy.
Which bitrate is right for music exported from my Mac?
For listening on phones and speakers, 192 kbps AAC is a comfortable choice. Go to 256 kbps if the music has a lot of high-frequency detail or will be played on good headphones.
See also
The Windows equivalent is covered on the WAV page, lossless compression on the FLAC page, and every audio format on the audio compressor page. For the local processing model, see how it works.