Use this CAF to WAV converter to prepare a recording or sound asset for an editor or recipient that requests PCM WAV. Upload one .caf file, start conversion, and download the WAV when it finishes. The tool is free, with no account or software installation required.
The output is uncompressed 16-bit PCM WAV. CAF can contain audio with different encodings and precision, so the extension alone does not tell you whether every original sample can be preserved. Keep the source if you need its higher precision or editing information.
What is inside CAF, and what does this WAV contain?
CAF means Core Audio Format. Apple's CAF overview describes a container that can store audio and additional information, including markers and regions. It is not one fixed audio codec.
| Property | CAF input | This tool's WAV output |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .caf | .wav |
| Audio encoding | Varies; PCM and ALAC are examples | Signed 16-bit little-endian PCM (pcm_s16le) |
| Compression | Depends on the internal codec | Uncompressed PCM |
| Precision | May include higher-bit-depth or floating-point audio | Fixed 16-bit integer samples |
| Page preview | File information; input playback is not required | WAV playback when supported, plus download |
| Editing information | May include markers, regions, and other data | Complete transfer is not guaranteed |
PCM and ALAC are examples, not a complete compatibility list. The service must be able to decode the actual audio. This page accepts .caf; changing another extension to .caf does not change the contents or guarantee that the file meets the upload and decoding requirements.
When a CAF to WAV conversion helps
Import a recording into a PCM editing workflow
A recording exported from an audio application may be saved as CAF while your editor requests WAV. Convert a copy and check the duration, channel count, and channel layout after import. If the editor already reads the CAF correctly, an intermediate conversion may be unnecessary.
Deliver a file that requires 16-bit WAV
Check the recipient's bit-depth and sample-rate requirements before converting. This tool can provide 16-bit PCM WAV, but it cannot meet a specification that asks for 24-bit or floating-point output. The .wav extension alone does not confirm every part of a delivery requirement.
Make a usable copy of a sound asset
An individual recording or sound effect may be easier to use in a project that accepts WAV. Export the actual CAF audio file first, rather than uploading an entire project or archive. For loops, audition the transition in the destination project: conversion does not guarantee that loop instructions or region boundaries will be preserved.
How to convert a CAF file to WAV online
- Upload one CAF file. Select or drag in a
.cafup to 200MB and 30 minutes. The upload area shows file information; the browser does not need to play the CAF first. - Start conversion. Wait for the upload to finish and start the task. WAV is already selected. The service checks the audio and duration and creates a 16-bit PCM result.
- Listen and download. Preview the WAV if your browser supports it, then download the file and open it in the intended editor or player.
Each task processes one file. There is no batch-upload, webpage-link, or project-import option. Use a recording that has finished exporting or downloading. A cloud shortcut or an incomplete file is not a substitute for the actual audio asset.
Can CAF to WAV preserve the original audio?
For a compatible 16-bit PCM or ALAC source, decoded samples can be preserved when the sample rate, channels, and sample values remain unchanged. Changing the container or PCM byte order does not by itself reduce precision. This does not mean the complete CAF and WAV files will be identical.
The output is always 16-bit PCM. A 24-bit source has finer numerical precision, while floating-point audio has different precision and range characteristics. Neither can be assumed to retain all its original properties when saved as 16-bit integer PCM. This page does not provide 24-bit, floating-point, or dither settings.
If the CAF contains audio that has already undergone lossy compression, WAV cannot restore information discarded earlier. Converting formats does not remove noise, repair clipped peaks, or bring back missing speech. Preserve the best original available for further editing or exact archiving.
Listen at similar volume and inspect the downloaded file's actual properties. Matching duration, sample rate, and channels is useful, but a similar listening experience alone does not prove sample-for-sample equality. To verify exact preservation, compare the decoded PCM samples from the source and the result; check metadata and file structure separately.
Why the WAV may be larger, smaller, or similar in size
The starting codec matters. A CAF containing uncompressed 16-bit PCM and a WAV with the same sample rate, channels, bit depth, and duration contain the same amount of PCM audio data. Their total file sizes can still differ because of headers and metadata.
A losslessly compressed ALAC input will often become larger when decoded to PCM. Conversely, reducing higher-bit-depth or floating-point PCM to 16 bits can reduce the amount of audio data. There is no universal size ratio for .caf to .wav, and a smaller result is not proof that the original precision was preserved.
For 90 seconds at 48kHz, 16-bit stereo PCM contains about 17.28MB of audio data; mono contains about 8.64MB. The formula is audio data size (MB) ≈ sample rate (Hz) × channel count × 2 × duration (seconds) ÷ 1,000,000. Each 16-bit sample occupies 2 bytes per channel. These are decimal-MB calculations excluding headers and metadata, not measured conversion results or selectable settings.
The 200MB limit applies to the uploaded file, and the output can exceed it. Duration is a separate limit: a small compressed CAF can still exceed 30 minutes. Check both before uploading and check any destination file-size limit after conversion.
If a CAF will not convert or the WAV needs checking
Seeing file information instead of an input player is expected. Missing browser playback does not establish that the CAF is damaged, but it does not bypass the service's audio and duration checks either. An unsupported encoding, incomplete export, or damaged file can still fail.
Open a failing source in the application that created it and check whether a fresh, complete export is available. Upload the audio file itself. The tool does not select individual regions, split a project into clips, or repair a corrupted recording.
After downloading, check the start and end of the audio, channel balance, and any project-specific timing. Verify markers, region information, labels, and artwork separately if your work relies on them. A playable WAV does not guarantee that CAF editing information remains usable in another application.
Frequently asked questions
Is this CAF to WAV converter free?
Yes. It is free without an account or credits. Each task handles one CAF file up to 200MB and 30 minutes. Batch upload and automatic splitting of longer recordings are not available.
Can I convert CAF without a browser preview?
Yes. The upload area shows file information and does not require browser playback of the CAF. The service still needs readable, supported audio within the size and duration limits. You can preview the completed WAV if your browser supports it.
Does every CAF file work?
No universal compatibility is promised. CAF can contain different encodings and channel arrangements. PCM and ALAC are examples, not a complete list of supported variants; the actual file must be readable by the conversion service.
Is converting PCM or ALAC CAF to WAV lossless?
A compatible 16-bit source can preserve its decoded audio samples if sample rate, channels, and sample values remain unchanged. This page always outputs 16-bit PCM, so higher-bit-depth or floating-point inputs cannot be assumed to retain their full precision. Audio preservation also does not guarantee identical metadata or file bytes.
Can I get a 24-bit or floating-point WAV?
No. This tool outputs uncompressed, signed 16-bit little-endian PCM WAV (pcm_s16le). It has no 24-bit or floating-point output option. Keep a higher-precision CAF for work that requires those properties.
Can I change the sample rate, channels, or dither?
No. The page uses preset conversion settings and provides no sample-rate, channel, bit-depth, or dither controls. Check the downloaded WAV against the requirements of your editor or recipient.
Will markers, regions, and loop settings transfer?
Complete preservation is not guaranteed. The tool creates one audio file and does not choose or split CAF regions. Check the result in the destination project and keep the original if markers, loops, labels, or other editing information are important.