Audio conversion guide: formats, settings and downloads.
Use this audio conversion guide to choose a format, prepare a phone recording, and save your finished files. Start with what you want to do, keep the original, and change settings only when you need to.
Match the format to the job
| Format | A useful choice for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 | Sharing and everyday listening | Widely compatible; lossy compression. |
| WAV | Editing and PCM audio projects | 16-bit output; often much larger. |
| FLAC | Keeping decoded audio without lossy compression | Not accepted by every app. |
| M4A | AAC audio for phones and compatible players | Lossy AAC output; DRM files are unsupported. |
| OGG | Vorbis audio for compatible games and players | Uses variable bitrate; check your target app. |
Open the audio converter to choose any of these output formats. If you only need sound from a video, use Video to MP3. To turn speech in a saved clip into an editable draft, use Video to text.
What do bitrate, sample rate, and channels mean?
Bitrate controls how much data a compressed file uses each second. A lower bitrate usually means a smaller file and more audible compression. For MP3, 192 kbps is a practical starting point; a voice note may be fine at 96 or 128 kbps.
Sample rate describes how often sound is measured each second. Keep the original unless a project asks for a particular rate, such as 44,100 Hz for music or 48,000 Hz for video work. Selecting a higher rate does not create missing sound detail.
Channels describe the audio layout. Mono uses one channel; stereo uses left and right. Keep the original for music, or choose mono when a voice-only project requires it. Exporting a mono source as stereo does not create a new spatial recording.
Can converting improve a low-quality recording?
No file format can recover sound that was never recorded or was removed by compression. MP3 to WAV is useful for compatibility, but it will not turn the source into an original studio recording. Save your best source file for future edits.
Use recordings from your phone
For an iPhone voice memo, open Voice Memos, select the recording, choose Share, then Save to Files. Select that file in the M4A to MP3 converter. On Android, export or share the recording to a folder you can select from your browser.
After converting, download one result in its chosen format or save all finished results in a ZIP. Your browser may save the file to Downloads or offer a sharing menu. Keep this tab open until the download finishes. For large recordings, use a computer; touch devices have a 25 MB per-file limit here.
When a file does not convert
First, play the original. A damaged or silent source cannot become a complete recording. A video needs an audio track. Protected music and audiobook files are not supported; obtain an unprotected export you are allowed to use.
An AUP3 file is an Audacity project, not a finished audio file. Open it in Audacity and export WAV or MP3 first. If an unusual codec fails, export a standard audio file from the app that created it.
Save a copy before leaving
Results live only in this browser tab until you download them. Refreshing or leaving the page clears the file list and transcripts. Listen to the converted file and check its length before deleting any original.
Need words instead of audio? Transcribe a short recording or transcribe a saved video, then review the draft and any subtitle timing carefully.