FixFile
File Format

AIFF (.aiff)

Apple's uncompressed audio format equivalent to WAV. Standard format for professional audio on macOS and used natively in GarageBand and Logic Pro.

Extension
.aiff
MIME Type
audio/aiff

Last updated

Overview

AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) was developed by Apple in 1988, based on the IFF container from Electronic Arts. It stores uncompressed PCM audio in a big-endian byte order, making it the macOS equivalent of Microsoft's WAV format. Like WAV, AIFF offers completely lossless audio storage — every sample is preserved exactly as recorded.

AIFF is the native format for Apple's professional audio tools. GarageBand and Logic Pro both use AIFF as their primary export format, and iTunes has historically used AIFF for CD ripping (alongside AAC). A compressed variant called AIFF-C (or AIFC) supports compressed codecs but is rarely used in practice.

Common Uses

  • macOS audio production — GarageBand, Logic Pro, and MainStage use AIFF as default audio format
  • CD ripping on Mac — iTunes can rip CDs to AIFF for lossless local storage
  • Professional audio archiving — broadcast and post-production studios on macOS store masters as AIFF
  • Sample libraries — many professional sample packs are distributed as AIFF for macOS users

Advantages

  • Completely lossless — uncompressed PCM audio with no quality degradation
  • Native macOS support — plays in QuickTime Player, Finder previews, and all Apple audio apps without plugins
  • Supports metadata — stores artist, title, copyright, and marker information in the file header
  • Broad DAW compatibility — all major DAWs including Pro Tools, Logic, and Ableton accept AIFF

Limitations

  • Large file sizes — identical to WAV; roughly 10 MB per minute at CD quality
  • Weaker Windows support — not natively supported by Windows Media Player or most Windows audio players
  • No compression option — unlike FLAC, AIFF has no standard lossless-but-smaller alternative in widespread use

Supported Software

  • macOS: QuickTime Player, GarageBand, Logic Pro, Audacity, iTunes/Music, Final Cut Pro
  • Windows: Audacity, foobar2000, VLC, Adobe Audition
  • Cross-platform DAWs: Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Studio One, Reaper

Tools for AIFF files