CONVERT
CAF → AIFF
Tap to choose your fileDRAG. DROP. DONE.
Upload any file and our engines will handle format detection automatically.
Max 25 MB · Free plan · No signup required
Convert to:
Detecting available formats...
Optimize for
Leave empty to use original name. Extension added automatically.
Uploading...
Processing your file...
Fast, secure CAF to AIFF conversion. No registration required.
Situation. CAF is an audio format with specific trade-offs between file size, bitrate flexibility, and device support. Solution: a AIFF, produced below. A CAF to AIFF transcode is mostly about compatibility, not fidelity. At sensible default bitrates you cannot tell the two apart by ear; what you get is a file that actually opens on the hardware or website you were aiming at. FFmpeg handles the heavy lifting and we stream the result straight back as a download. One more beat. CAF is an audio format with specific trade-offs between file size, bitrate flexibility, and device support. Receiving format: AIFF is Apple's uncompressed Audio Interchange File Format, the macOS equivalent of WAV.
Apple Core Audio
Source formatCAF (Core Audio Format) is Apple audio container supporting any codec.
AIFF Audio
Target formatAIFF is Apple's uncompressed audio format, equivalent to WAV in the macOS ecosystem. It stores CD-quality PCM audio and is widely used in professional audio production on Apple hardware.
Why convert CAF to AIFF
Moving from CAF to AIFF usually buys compatibility or a friendlier file size. For spoken-word content the difference is inaudible; for high-resolution music pick the highest bitrate the AIFF codec supports to avoid compounding compression.
HOW TO CONVERT
CAF → AIFF
Provide the audio file
Drag the CAF onto the uploader. Files up to 25 MB run on the free tier without registration; paid plans go up to 2 GB.
ffmpeg handles the conversion
Our ffmpeg-based pipeline reads sample rate and channel layout, then writes a matching AIFF with ID3 tags intact.
Save the output
Click to download the AIFF. Batch uploads are bundled into a ZIP for single-click retrieval.
Common Use Cases
Share across platforms
Send AIFF files to anyone without worrying about whether they have the right software for CAF.
Embed in documents
Drop AIFF output into Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Notion or a website without conversion warnings.
Optimize size
AIFF often produces smaller files than CAF for web, email and storage.
Archive & future-proof
Store in a widely-supported format that will still open on future operating systems without legacy plugins.
CAF vs AIFF — Strengths and limitations
What each format does best, and where it falls short.
CAF Strengths
- Unlimited file size (64-bit offsets).
- Can hold any Core Audio codec (PCM, ALAC, AAC, etc.).
- Native Apple ecosystem support.
- Rich annotation and metadata capabilities.
Limitations
- macOS/iOS-centric — limited non-Apple tool support.
- Not a delivery format — exists for workflow, not consumption.
- Proprietary but documented.
AIFF Strengths
- Lossless and uncompressed — bit-exact audio reproduction.
- Native to macOS and all Apple Pro Audio apps.
- Simple structure — trivially parsed by audio libraries.
- Supports up to 32-bit float, 192 kHz, and multi-channel audio.
- Rich metadata via named chunks (annotations, markers, MIDI).
Limitations
- Enormous file sizes — 10 MB per minute at CD quality.
- No built-in compression — use FLAC for lossless with smaller files.
- Big-endian byte order confuses tools written on little-endian hardware.
CAF vs AIFF — Technical specifications
Side-by-side comparison of the technical details.
CAF
- MIME type
- audio/x-caf
- Extension
- .caf
- Container
- Chunked, 64-bit sizes
- Codecs
- PCM, ALAC, AAC, IMA ADPCM, µ-law, Opus, FLAC
- Max size
- 2^64 bytes (effectively unlimited)
AIFF
- MIME types
- audio/aiff, audio/x-aiff
- Extensions
- .aif, .aiff, .aifc
- Byte order
- Big-endian
- Max bit depth
- 32 bits (PCM or float)
- Max sample rate
- 192 kHz (practical); unlimited (spec)
| Specification | CAF | AIFF |
|---|---|---|
| MIME type | audio/x-caf | — |
| Extension | .caf | — |
| Container | Chunked, 64-bit sizes | — |
| Codecs | PCM, ALAC, AAC, IMA ADPCM, µ-law, Opus, FLAC | — |
| Max size | 2^64 bytes (effectively unlimited) | — |
| MIME types | — | audio/aiff, audio/x-aiff |
| Extensions | — | .aif, .aiff, .aifc |
| Byte order | — | Big-endian |
| Max bit depth | — | 32 bits (PCM or float) |
| Max sample rate | — | 192 kHz (practical); unlimited (spec) |
CAF vs AIFF — Typical file sizes
Approximate file sizes for common scenarios.
CAF
- iOS app sound effect (short) 10-200 KB
- 1 hour Logic Pro track (24-bit 48 kHz) ~620 MB
- Multi-track session (10 hours, 32 tracks) 100+ GB
AIFF
- 3-min song (CD quality) 30 MB
- 3-min song (24-bit / 96 kHz) 100 MB
- Full album (CD, 10 tracks) 450 MB
Quality & Compatibility
Sample rate, channel layout and bit depth are preserved by default: a 44.1 kHz stereo CAF becomes a 44.1 kHz stereo AIFF. Metadata — title, artist, album, cover art — travels where both formats support it. Protected DRM content cannot be converted legally and is rejected.
Tips for Best Results
- Check the podcast host specification before choosing bitrate — some mandate CBR 64 kbps, others accept VBR up to 192 kbps.
- Preserve ID3 tags by editing them before conversion; Mp3tag and MusicBrainz Picard handle round-tripping cleanly.
- If the CAF is 24-bit studio audio, the AIFF at 16-bit is sufficient for listening; higher is wasted on consumer playback gear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lossy-to-lossy conversions (most combinations) re-compress the audio, which technically introduces some loss. At a 192 kbps or higher target it is inaudible on normal equipment. Lossy-to-lossless conversions freeze the existing quality but cannot improve it; lossless-to-lossy transcodes are only as good as the target bitrate you choose.
For voice content (podcasts, audiobooks, lectures) 128 kbps is indistinguishable from higher bitrates. For music, 192-256 kbps covers most listening; 320 kbps is the ceiling for AIFF and the right choice for audio you plan to edit further. Above that, prefer a lossless target instead.
Yes. Title, artist, album, year and cover art travel from the CAF container to the AIFF container automatically where both formats support them. If a tag field has no AIFF equivalent, it is dropped silently. Use any tag editor (Mp3tag, MusicBrainz Picard) to fine-tune afterwards.
Related comparisons
See these formats side by side to understand which fits your use case best.
Related Guides
AIFF Format: The Complete Guide to Audio Interchange File Format
Everything about AIFF: IFF chunk structure, PCM audio data, AIFF vs AIFF-C vs WAV vs FLAC, Apple ecosystem use, sample rates, bit depth, and how to convert AIFF files.
Read guideAIFF: Complete Guide to Audio Interchange File Format
Master AIFF: IFF big-endian chunk architecture, COMM and SSND chunk fields, 80-bit extended float sample rate, Python aifc/soundfile processing, FFmpeg conversion, AIFF-C compression types, and comparison with WAV and FLAC.
Read guideAIFF Audio Format: What It Is and How to Convert to MP3
What is AIFF, why macOS and Logic Pro use it, AIFF vs WAV differences, and how to convert AIFF to MP3, AAC, or FLAC with FFmpeg or online tools.
Read guideSecure & Private Conversion
Your files are encrypted during transfer, processed in isolated containers, and automatically deleted within 60 minutes. We never read, share, or store your data.