Audio Converter

192 kbps is the safe default — transparent for most listeners on most material. Use 128k for voice recordings and podcasts where size matters more than fidelity, and 256–320k for music you care about. One thing higher bitrates can't do: restore quality a previous compression already discarded, so converting a 128k M4A to 320k MP3 makes a bigger file, not a better one.

Compatibility — M4A/AAC is technically a fine codec, but plenty of tools still expect MP3: older car stereos, some editing and transcription software, email recipients on unknown devices, and most 'upload audio' forms. MP3 plays on effectively everything manufactured since the late 90s, which is why it remains the exchange format.

When a tool demands uncompressed audio: DAWs and audio editors (every edit-export cycle on MP3 stacks another lossy pass), broadcast submissions, and archival of originals. WAV here is 16-bit PCM at the source sample rate — the CD-quality standard. The cost is size: roughly 10 MB per minute in stereo versus about 1.4 MB for 192k MP3.

Decoding relies on your browser's codec support: MP3, WAV, M4A/AAC, and OGG work essentially everywhere; FLAC works in most browsers but not all; exotic formats (WMA, AMR, ancient RealAudio) generally don't. Protected files (old iTunes DRM purchases) can't be decoded by design. If a music file fails, trying a different browser is genuinely the first fix.