Phone recordings are often m4a, music is mp3, and editing files are wav, so formats can get confusing.
What each format is like
| Format | Characteristics | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| WAV | Uncompressed format (introduced by IBM and Microsoft in 1991). Large files | Editing, archiving |
| MP3 | Lossy compression, small files | Listening to music, sharing |
| M4A | Compressed format widely used for phone recordings | Recording |
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How to convert
- Add your file to the Audio Converter.
- Pick MP3 or WAV as the output format. For MP3, choose the quality (kbps).
- Press Save.
At 192 kbps or higher, most people can't hear a difference. But re-saving the same MP3 many times can lower the quality a little each time.
Good to know
- FreeSoundTools can only read formats your browser can open. For formats that won't open (some amr files, for example), convert them with another program first.
- When a file is read, its sample rate may be matched to your browser's setting (usually 48 kHz).
- You can also extract the sound from a video (mp4) and save it as MP3.
Sources and date checked
Checked: October 3, 2026
- Wikipedia, MP3 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MP3
- Wikipedia, WAV — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV
This article is general information. Devices and services can change over time.