AIFF Audio (.AIFF)
AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is an uncompressed audio format developed by Apple, based on the IFF (Interchange File Format) structure. Like WAV, it stores raw PCM audio data at full quality, but uses big-endian byte ordering. AIFF is the standard uncompressed audio format in macOS and professional audio production on Apple platforms.
Advantages of AIFF Audio
What the AIFF format does well, and why you might choose it.
- Completely lossless with full PCM audio quality
- Native support in macOS and all Apple audio software
- Supports embedded metadata including loop points for music production
Limitations of AIFF Audio
What the AIFFformat doesn't do well, and when to choose another format.
- Very large file sizes comparable to WAV
- Less universal than WAV on non-Apple platforms
- Not suitable for portable use or streaming due to file size
What AIFF files are used for
- Professional audio production on macOS
- Apple ecosystem audio recording and editing
- Music production sample libraries and loop files
How AIFF files work
Audio files store sampled sound: each sample is a measurement of air pressure at a moment in time, and the file is a long sequence of those samples plus metadata (title, artist, cover art). Sample rate (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz) controls the highest pitch the file can represent; bit depth (16-bit, 24-bit) controls dynamic range. Lossless codecs (FLAC, ALAC, WAV) keep every sample; lossy codecs (MP3, AAC, OPUS, OGG) discard inaudible information using psychoacoustic models. Modern codecs like OPUS achieve near-transparent quality at bitrates where MP3 would sound noticeably degraded.
Best practices when working with AIFF
Record and master in lossless. Encode to lossy only at the final delivery step, and encode from the lossless master, not from another lossy file (re-encoding stacks artifacts). For voice-heavy content like podcasts, 96 kbps mono MP3 or 64 kbps OPUS is plenty; for music, target 192-256 kbps MP3 or 128 kbps OPUS. Don't normalize by clipping — use proper peak/loudness normalization (LUFS targets are -16 for podcasts, -14 for streaming music). Preserve metadata (ID3 tags) when converting if it matters for your library.
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Choosing AIFF versus the alternatives
MP3: universal compatibility, fine for casual listening, 32+ year track record. AAC: better than MP3 at the same bitrate, dominant in Apple's ecosystem and YouTube. OPUS: technically the best modern lossy codec, especially for voice and low bitrates, growing support. FLAC: lossless and free, the de facto archival standard. WAV: lossless and uncompressed, large files but maximum compatibility for editing pipelines. ALAC: Apple's lossless answer to FLAC; choose only inside Apple's ecosystem.
Where AIFF fits in real workflows
Audio production keeps a lossless master (WAV during editing, FLAC for archival) and ships a lossy distribution copy (MP3, AAC, OPUS). Every revision goes back to the lossless master — editing the lossy distribution version compounds compression artifacts in audible ways within just a few generations.
Privacy and file handling
When you convert a AIFFfile with MegaConvert, the file is uploaded to our converter, processed, and automatically deleted within an hour. We don't train models on your files, share them with third parties, or retain them after the conversion completes. The download link expires when the file is removed. If your work involves files subject to NDA or compliance requirements (HIPAA, GDPR data processing), please review our privacy policy before uploading sensitive material.
Frequently asked questions about AIFF
What is a .AIFF file?
AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is an uncompressed audio format developed by Apple, based on the IFF (Interchange File Format) structure. Like WAV, it stores raw PCM audio data at full quality, but uses big-endian byte ordering. AIFF is the standard uncompressed audio format in macOS and professional audio production on Apple platforms.
What is the MIME type of AIFF?
The official MIME type for AIFF files is audio/aiff. This is the value web servers and applications use to identify the format when transferring files.
What category does AIFF belong to?
AIFF is a Audio Converter format. Files in this category share common conversion paths and use cases.
How do I open a .AIFF file?
AIFF files are typically opened by software that natively supports the AIFF Audioformat. If you don't have a compatible application, the most reliable approach is to convert the file to a more universal format using the converters listed above. Most AIFF Audio files convert to widely-supported alternatives in seconds.
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