What is Audio Bitrate Converter?
Audio Bitrate Converter lets you change the bitrate of audio files to reduce file size or improve quality. Convert between common bitrates like 128kbps, 192kbps, 256kbps, and 320kbps. Drop in a video file and it pulls out the audio track. Supports MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, and AAC — all processing happens privately on your device.
Re-encoding runs through FFmpeg right on your device, so the file never leaves it. You can keep the source format or switch container (MP3, OGG, AAC, FLAC), and you can drop in a video file (MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM) to extract just its audio. WAV and FLAC are lossless, so the bitrate setting only affects the lossy output formats. Pick a sample rate, choose constant (CBR) or variable (VBR) bitrate, and turn on loudness normalization to land the output at a platform-ready level for Spotify, YouTube, podcasts, or broadcast. The estimated output size updates live as you drag the slider.
How to use
- Upload an audio file (MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, AAC) or a video file (MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM) up to 50MB — the audio track is extracted automatically. The tool displays current bitrate, duration, and file size.
- Select your target bitrate from presets (64, 128, 192, 256, 320 kbps) or enter a custom value. Lower bitrates mean smaller files but reduced quality.
- Click Convert and download the re-encoded file. Compare file sizes to see exactly how much space you saved.
When to use
- Shrinking a 50MB WAV interview down to a 5MB MP3 you can email or upload.
- Hitting a podcast host's per-episode size limit without manually trimming audio.
- Standardising a folder of mixed-bitrate music to a single quality before syncing to a phone.
Result
A podcaster has a 45-minute WAV recording (380MB). She converts it to 128kbps MP3, reducing the file to 41MB — perfect for uploading to her podcast host's 50MB limit.
FAQ
- What bitrate should I use for spoken-word vs music?
- Voice content (interviews, podcasts, audiobooks) is fine at 64-96 kbps mono. Music needs 192 kbps stereo minimum for casual listening, 256 or 320 kbps if you care about cymbals and reverb tails. Below 128, music starts sounding swishy.
- Will converting a 128 kbps MP3 up to 320 kbps make it sound better?
- No. Bitrate sets a ceiling, not a floor. Information lost in the first compression is gone for good, and the 320 kbps file will just be a bigger version of the same quality. Only re-encode upward if a downstream tool requires a specific bitrate.
- Why is my WAV file the same size after conversion?
- WAV is uncompressed PCM, so the bitrate setting is ignored — every sample is stored at full resolution. To shrink a WAV, switch the output format to MP3, OGG, or AAC and then pick a target bitrate.
- Does the conversion lose quality each time?
- Yes, when going between two lossy formats (MP3 to AAC, for example). Each generation discards more high-frequency detail. If you'll need to re-edit later, keep the original WAV and only export to MP3 for the final delivery.
- How long does converting a long audio file take?
- FFmpeg has to load once on first use (about 25MB), after which a one-hour MP3 takes roughly 20-40 seconds on a recent laptop. The progress bar reflects real encoder progress, not an estimate.
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