View AIF Files Online

About AIF Files

An .aif file (or .aiff file) is an audio file saved in the Audio Interchange Format (AIFF). It stores CD-quality audio data in an uncompressed format, similar to WAVE. Standard AIF files typically feature a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz with a 16-bit depth and support two channels for stereo sound.

Apple Computer developed the AIFF format in 1988 based on Electronic Arts' IFF format. AIFF eventually became a widely used format in professional audio environments, especially among Mac users, due to its high fidelity and uncompressed nature. Despite the eventual rise of compressed formats like MP3 and AAC for everyday use, AIFF remains relevant in audio production, including DAW workflows, primarily because it supports high-quality audio and consistency across playback systems

Converting AIF Files

You can convert .aif files to .mp3 files when sharing audio to decrease their file size. Many media players also support the MP3 format. Since .mp3 files utilize compression to reduce their size, they will also lose some quality.

You can also convert .aif files to .aac files. The AAC format features lossy compression, likely resulting in a smaller file size than the original .aif file without much quality loss. AAC also provides better sound quality than MP3 at similar bitrates but will likely be a bit larger.