Tutorial to convert a WAV audio file to MP3 format using VLC easily or online, whether you have Windows or Mac.
Audio files are currently one of the most commonly used multimedia elements by millions of users. This type of file is available in different quality formats depending on the user and the end use that will allow different uses.
Two of the most popular audio formats are MP3 and WAV format. The MP3 format has been active since 1995 and its name is an abbreviation of MPEG Layer 3.
When we use MP3 we rely on an MP3 format that uses compression to make the audio file lighter. That’s why the MP3 format can reduce the weight in bits up to 25% less than other formats.
If we use the WAV format (Waveform Audio File), it is a more natural format since it does not add anything to the original file, nor any extra compression or adjustments that modify or regulate aspects such as playback volume or file size that affects its quality.
WAV file formats use containers to save audio in fragments using the Resource Exchange File format. The WAV format allows you to have the sound in one of the best qualities as it contains no leaks and it is normal to find it as standard in computers.
Despite the advantage of greater sound fidelity, its size will also be significantly higher because it stores more data and information. In general, the MP3 format is used in readers because the file size is small and the quality is quite acceptable. Between both formats, there is a gap in the professional world and the daily use of audio files.
Today we will explain how we can convert a file in WAV format to MP3 to reduce disk space because this is perhaps one of the main reasons why we do not use much WAV format.
How to convert WAV files to MP3 using VLC
VLC is a free application that acts as an open source multimedia player that is multiplatform and works as a “framework” that reproduces most of the multimedia files of DVDs and audio CDs, VCDs and various current transmission protocols.
The free download of VLC is available at the following link: VLC
Once installed, access the application and go to the “Media” menu and select the “Convert” option or use the following key combination: CTRL + R
In the window that will open we must click on the “Add” button and a new window will be displayed where we will have to choose your .WAV file to be converted.
We select it and click on the “Open” button and we will see that your file is loaded in the VLC console.
Now click on the “Convert / Save” button and in the new window that will open, change if you need the “Profile” field by selecting “Audio – MP3”
Optional: If we want, we can click on the key icon to access the properties of the profile and in the new window we go to the “Audio codecs” tab. From there we can see aspects such as:
- File codecs
- Bitrate
- Number of channels
- File sampling rate
In the “Destination” field, specify the path and the name to be assigned to the MP3 file. Click the “Start” button, in this way VLC will start to convert the WAV audio file to Mp3.
How to convert WAV files to MP3 online
There are several sites in the network that will allow us to perform the conversion process from Wav to Mp3 in a simple way, one of them is Zamzar which is available in the following link: zamzar
This site allows us to convert up to 10 files simultaneously, here we have to perform three steps which are as follows:
- Select the WAV file
- In step 2 define the MP3 format
- In step 3, enter an email where we will receive the converted file
Click the “Convert” button to perform the conversion.
