What Is a WAV File? How to Play & Convert WAV Audio

Your DAW exports audio as WAV, but your hard drive keeps filling up. What is WAV, and do you actually need to use it? WAV is a digital audio container used for uncompressed PCM audio. It preserves the original recording quality at the cost of much larger file sizes than MP3s. This post explains what a WAV is and how it compares to other formats. We will also show you how to play them on any device and convert them when needed.

What Is a WAV File?

A WAV file, stands for Waveform Audio File Format, is an uncompressed audio container format. It was created in 1991 by Microsoft and IBM to store raw sound data on personal computers. It is stored in a RIFF container and holds PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) audio.

WAV vs MP3 vs AIFF vs FLAC

After learning the definition of WAV, let's move forward to what a WAV file is used for. We will also introduce three additional audio file types commonly used today. We will present a detailed table that explains how these formats differ from the main topic of this article.

Know more about FLAC vs MP3 vs WAV in this guide.

How to Play WAV Files

On Windows

Windows computers have strong native support for the WAV format. So, how to play WAV files? You can open and play WAVs using the default app, the Windows Media Player.

To open: Right-click the WAV source, click Open With, and select Windows Media Player. Or, open Windows Media Player and drag the WAV into the player to play it.

On Mac

You can open a WAV on a Mac using the QuickTime Player app. However, it may fail to play the file if it uses an obscure compression codec, such as an ADPCM variant.

To open: Double-click the WAV in the Finder to automatically open it in QuickTime Player.

On Android

You can play WAV files on Android devices, but support depends on your device and Android version. If your default music player cannot handle it, you can use VLC for Android.

To open and play: Install VLC for Android from the Google Play Store and launch it. Tap the Audio option, find the WAV on your device, then tap it to start playback.

Premium WAV Player

AnyMP4 WAV Player is a multimedia player that can run both high-quality videos and audio. It can bring out everything that WAVs have to offer, made possible by their Dolby Digital 7.1 support. It was originally designed to project surround sound for movies and high-quality audio formats, including WAVs.

Here's how to play WAV files:

1. Download the WAV player, install it, and complete the installation.

In the software's main interface, select Open File and select the WAV file that you want to listen to.

2. With the music now playing, let AnyMP4 WAV Player play your favorite music in the background.

AnyMP4 WAV Player does everything you need for a dedicated multimedia player. Along with its ability to play your favorite music and films, its top-notch audio quality, powered by Dolby Digital and DTS, is unmatched in the digital software market.

How to Convert WAV Files

Convert WAV with AnyMP4

AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate is, by default, a video-to-video conversion software. Similar to the previously featured Blu-ray player, it delivers more than its name suggests. It can convert WAV to MP3, AIFF, FLAC, and 500+ other formats. It can batch-convert hundreds of WAVs simultaneously without lag or crashing the software. It uses the most advanced hardware-accelerating media processing to achieve a 120× conversion speed.

1. Download AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate and complete the installation. After setup, it will open to the Converter tab.

Click +Add Files to import the WAV sources from your computer. AnyMP4 does not limit the number of files or the file size you can process, so you can upload multiple files.

2. Head to the Output Format picker, click the Audio category, and select MP3. Set the quality preset to High Quality to keep high frequencies from your source.

3. Back to the main interface and enable Hardware Acceleration to speed up the conversion. Set the output folder, then click Convert All to convert WAV to MP3.

Yes, converting WAV is as simple as following these three steps, thanks to the convenience and practicality that AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate provides. To go along with that, you can also access their toolbox, where you can compress WAV files.

Free Way to Convert WAV

Audacity is a time-tested open-source audio editor. Aside from being an editing tool, you can also use it to convert WAVs into different formats, including MP3.

To convert. Click Import and select Audio to load your WAV file. Click the File menu again, but this time select the Export option. Then select Export as MP3 to save the WAV as MP3.

When NOT to Use WAV

A WAV file is not the best format for every situation. Its large file size can become a problem when you are storing hundreds of recordings or sending audio through bandwidth-limited services.

1. Streaming music: Use MP3 for streaming music and online playback.

2. Portable storage: FLAC keeps lossless quality while using less space.

3. Messaging and sharing: MP3 or AAC is a better choice for messaging and sharing.

4. Large music libraries: Use FLAC for lossless archival quality.