Audio converter

An audio converter is a software or hardware tool that converts audio files from one format to another. This process is often necessary when users encounter compatibility issues with different devices, applications, or platforms that support specific audio file formats. Audio converters can be employed for a variety of purposes, ranging from personal entertainment to professional audio production.

Software-based Audio Converters
These converters are applications that run on computers or mobile devices. They offer a user-friendly interface and a wide range of supported input and output formats. Popular software audio converters include Audacity, Freemake Audio Converter, and dBpoweramp.

Online Audio Converters
Web-based converters allow users to upload audio files to a website, which then processes and converts the files before providing a download link. This approach is convenient for users who prefer not to install additional software. Online converters often support common formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC.

Hardware-based Audio Converters
Dedicated hardware devices, such as digital audio converters (DACs) and audio interfaces, can convert audio signals from analog to digital or vice versa. These devices are often used in professional audio settings, such as recording studios, to maintain high-quality audio signal integrity.

Common Audio Formats
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III): A widely used compressed format known for its balance of quality and file size.

WAV (Waveform Audio Format): An uncompressed format that preserves the original audio quality but generates larger files.

M4A (MPEG-4 Audio): A compressed format often used with Apple devices, similar to MP3 but potentially offering higher quality at the same bitrate.

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec): A lossless compression format that maintains the original audio quality but creates files larger than MP3s. OGG Vorbis: An open-source, lossless compression format gaining popularity for its quality and compatibility.

Some audio conversion functions can be performed by software or by specialized hardware. For example, an audio transcoder converts from one compressed audio format to another (e.g., MP3 to AAC) by means of two audio codecs: One for decoding (uncompressing) the source and one for encoding (compressing) the destination file or stream.

Software

 * Audacity
 * FFmpeg
 * Freemake Audio Converter
 * VLC media player — while primarily media player software, VLC can also be used to convert audio files.