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Convert MP4 to AIFF - Extract Uncompressed Audio from Video

Convert MP4 to AIFF - Extract Uncompressed Audio from Video

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Need Uncompressed Audio from Your MP4 Videos?

MP4 videos contain compressed audio tracks, typically AAC or MP3. When you need that audio in uncompressed AIFF format for professional editing, music production, or archival purposes, a simple format change is not enough. Our converter extracts the audio and outputs it as pristine, uncompressed AIFF.

AIFF is the gold standard for audio on Apple platforms. Whether you are importing samples into GarageBand, preparing stems for Logic Pro, or building a sound library on your Mac, AIFF delivers lossless audio quality that professional workflows demand.

How to Convert MP4 to AIFF

  1. Upload your MP4 video - Drag and drop or select your video file from any device
  2. Confirm AIFF output - Your audio extracts to uncompressed Apple format automatically
  3. Download your AIFF file - Get studio-quality audio ready for any Apple DAW or player

The entire process takes seconds for typical video files. No software installation required, and your files process securely in your browser.

Understanding MP4 Audio and AIFF Quality

MP4 files typically contain AAC audio compressed at 128-256 kbps. When converted to AIFF, the audio expands to uncompressed 16-bit or 24-bit PCM data. A 3-minute audio track in AIFF format occupies approximately 30 MB compared to 3-4 MB in the original MP4.

  • MP4 audio codec - Usually AAC at 128-256 kbps, sometimes MP3 or AC-3
  • AIFF sample rates - Supports 44.1 kHz (CD quality), 48 kHz (video standard), and higher
  • AIFF bit depth - 16-bit standard, 24-bit for professional production
  • File size increase - Expect AIFF files to be 5-10 times larger than compressed MP4 audio

Apple developed AIFF in 1988 based on the Interchange File Format. It stores raw PCM audio data without compression, making it functionally equivalent to WAV in audio quality but with better metadata support on Mac systems.

When MP4 to AIFF Conversion Makes Sense

Music Production in GarageBand or Logic Pro

Apple Loops, the native loop format for GarageBand and Logic Pro, are specially-tagged AIFF files. When you extract audio samples from MP4 videos for music production, AIFF integrates seamlessly with Apple's DAW ecosystem and supports tempo-stretching features.

Podcast and Video Editing on Mac

If you are editing podcasts in GarageBand or preparing audio for Final Cut Pro, AIFF provides native compatibility without transcoding overhead. Your Mac handles AIFF files efficiently, and you avoid quality loss from repeated format conversions.

Building a Sample Library

Sound designers often extract audio from video clips to build sample libraries. AIFF format preserves full audio quality and metadata, making it ideal for organizing and archiving sounds on Mac-based production systems.

Archival and Master Storage

When you need to preserve audio extracted from video in the highest quality possible, AIFF serves as an archival format. Unlike lossy formats, AIFF files can be converted to any other format later without generational quality loss.

AIFF vs WAV: Choosing the Right Uncompressed Format

Both AIFF and WAV store uncompressed PCM audio with identical sound quality. The choice depends on your platform and workflow.

  • Choose AIFF when: You work primarily on Mac, use GarageBand or Logic Pro, need Apple Loop compatibility, or want better metadata handling on Apple systems
  • Choose WAV when: You work cross-platform, collaborate with Windows users, or use DAWs like Pro Tools, Ableton, or FL Studio where WAV is the convention
  • Consider MP3 or AAC when: File size matters more than quality, such as sharing online or portable device playback

In blind listening tests, AIFF and WAV are indistinguishable. The formats differ only in their container structure and metadata handling, not in audio quality.

Important Quality Considerations

Converting MP4 to AIFF does not improve audio quality beyond what exists in the source file. If your MP4 contains 128 kbps AAC audio, the resulting AIFF will contain that same audio in uncompressed form. The benefit is avoiding additional compression when editing or converting to other formats later.

For maximum quality, start with MP4 files that have high-bitrate audio tracks. Videos from professional cameras often contain 320 kbps AAC or even uncompressed PCM audio, which converts to AIFF with no quality loss.

Batch Convert Multiple MP4 Files

Processing an entire folder of video clips? Upload multiple MP4 files at once and download all extracted audio as AIFF files. Batch conversion saves hours when preparing samples for a music project or extracting audio from a video shoot.

Works on Any Device

Our browser-based converter runs entirely in your web browser. No software to install, no plugins required, and no account needed.

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and phones

Your files process locally in your browser, ensuring complete privacy for your video content.

How to convert MP4 to AIFF

Convert MP4 audio to AIFF for uncompressed editing.

How to convert MP4 to AIFF
1

Upload your MP4 file

Click Upload and select your MP4 file from your device.

2

Confirm AIFF as output

The AIFF format is auto-selected for this page—confirm it (or choose if needed). Good for professional audio workflows.

3

Convert and download

Click Convert Now and download your AIFF file. Archive with enough disk space. Note: AIFF files are large.

Tip: Extract MP4 audio as AIFF for editing in Logic.

Expert Tips for MP4 to AIFF

Pro Tip

For music production, extract audio to AIFF first, then import into GarageBand or Logic Pro. If you need tempo-syncing, use Logic Pro's 'Convert to Apple Loop' feature on your AIFF file to add the metadata that enables automatic tempo matching.

Common Mistake

Users assume converting to AIFF magically improves low-quality MP4 audio. It does not. If your source video has 128kbps compressed audio, the AIFF will sound identical. The advantage is avoiding further quality loss during subsequent edits or format changes.

Best For

Perfect for Mac-based music production, extracting samples for GarageBand or Logic Pro, preparing audio for Final Cut Pro projects, or archiving audio from video in an uncompressed format compatible with Apple workflows.

Not Recommended

Not ideal if you need small file sizes for sharing or streaming. AIFF files are 5-10x larger than compressed audio. If your final destination is YouTube, Spotify, or mobile devices, consider MP3 or AAC instead. Also unnecessary if you only work on Windows, where WAV is more conventional.

Frequently asked questions

No. Converting to AIFF preserves the existing quality but cannot restore what compression already removed. The benefit is having uncompressed audio for editing, which prevents further quality loss during your workflow. Always start with the highest-quality source video.
Both formats offer identical audio quality. Choose AIFF if you work on Mac with GarageBand, Logic Pro, or Final Cut Pro, as AIFF has better metadata integration with Apple software. Choose WAV for cross-platform work or Windows-based DAWs.
Yes, GarageBand fully supports AIFF format. It is actually Apple's native audio format. Drag your converted AIFF files directly into GarageBand tracks. For loop functionality with tempo stretching, you would need to convert them to Apple Loops format within GarageBand.
Significantly larger. A 3-minute audio track converts from approximately 3-4 MB (compressed in MP4) to 30 MB as uncompressed AIFF. Expect 5-10x file size increase depending on the original compression level.
The output matches your source MP4 audio specifications. Most MP4 videos contain 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz audio at 16-bit depth. Professional video may have 24-bit audio. Our converter preserves the original specifications in the AIFF output.
Our converter extracts the primary audio track from your MP4 file. If your video contains multiple audio tracks (such as different languages), the main track is extracted. For multi-track extraction, you would need desktop video editing software.
Yes, though AIFF is primarily an Apple format. Windows Media Player supports AIFF playback, and most professional audio software on Windows (Audacity, Pro Tools, Ableton) handles AIFF files without issues.
AIFF is uncompressed while FLAC uses lossless compression, so both preserve identical audio quality. AIFF files are larger but load faster in DAW software. FLAC is better for storage and streaming; AIFF is better for real-time editing and Apple ecosystem compatibility.
Typically a few seconds for standard video files. A 5-minute MP4 video converts in under 10 seconds on most devices. Longer 4K videos with high-quality audio may take 30-60 seconds. Processing happens locally in your browser.
Yes, this is a common use case. Screen recordings often capture audio from video calls or presentations. Extracting to AIFF gives you uncompressed audio to edit in GarageBand or other podcast editing software without additional quality degradation.