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Despite the AIFF format being a lossless audio file format, it occupies a large space. For users that are concerned about storage space, AIFF to MP3 is a common conversion on Mac, as MP3 is the most popular audio format that's compatible with lots of devices/apps. Here will briefly explore how to convert AIFF to MP3 on Mac, both paid and free workarounds included.

Click the green 'Convert' button at the bottom corner of screen to begin converting the original AIFF file and save it as an MP3 file on Mac. This entire process might take minutes depending how many AIFF files are in the list, how big the video files are, and how fast your Mac power is.

How to Convert AIFF to MP3 on Mac Using Software?

1. AIFF to MP3 - Convert file now View other audio file formats: Technical Details: The AIFF file is uncompressed which means the file size of an AIFF file is enormous, certainly compared to an MP3 file. It is around ten times the size of an MP3 and whilst there’s no doubt the sound quality of an AIFF is superior it’s not ten times as superior.
2. Convert AAC/AIFF/ALAC/WAV/M4A and more audio formats to MP3 on Mac. AnyMP4 MP3 Converter for Mac is a powerful Mac MP3 Converter software that converts any audio format including AAC, AIFF, ALAC, WAV, M4A and other general audio formats to MP3 on Mac with super fast conversion speed and perfect audio quality.

#1 Cisdem Video Converter

If you have a large set of AIFF files on your Mac and wish to convert them to MP3 in a bulk, we recommend you use Cisdem Video Converter. With super-fast converting speed, it works wonderfully to convert AIFF to MP3 on Mac and prevents quality loss in output files. Apart from conversion properties, the software can edit videos and download videos from YouTube, Myspace, Twitch, Vimeo, Reddit, and more.

Best AIFF to MP3 Converter for Mac

• Make conversion between more than 300 input and output formats
• Convert AIFF to MP3, AAC, M4A, WMA, FLAC, MKA, iPhone, iPad, etc.
• Customize AIFF files by changing bitrate, channel, sample rate, codec, etc.
• Convert video files like MP4, MKV, VOB, etc. to audio files
• Merge a plethora of AIFF audio files into a single one
• Rip or convert DVDs to AIFF, MP3, or other digital audio/video formats
• Download online videos from 1000+ websites
• Process media files in batches, whether to convert or download
• Compatible with the latest operating system, including macOS Big Sur

Steps to Convert AIFF to MP3 on Mac with Cisdem:

Free download the trial and install it.

Run Cisdem AIFF to MP3 converter for Mac after installation, you will notice a simplistic wizard of the 'Convert' interface.

Add AIFF audio by drag and drop. With the support of batch conversion, you can add several AIFF audios into the program for processing at a go.

Select the format of a single video: click the format button near each video.

Choose a unified format for all videos: click the box next to 'Convert all tasks to'.

Both will get into a format selection panel. Choose 'MP3 Audio' as the output file type under the 'General Audio' category.

To make full control of the quality and compression options of audio files, click icon next to the 'MP3 Audio' option call up the 'Advanced Settings' panel. Manually adjust the parameters like sample rate, channel, etc. and click 'OK'.

Select an output folder to store the newly converted MP3 audio files. Hit button located on the bottom right corner to start the conversion.

Pros:

1. Simple to operate
2. Super fast conversion speed
3. Batch convert video and audio files
4. Adjust audio quality
5. Edit and download media files

#2 iTunes

iTunes works as a decent Mac AIFF to MP3 converter that not only converts AIFF but AAC, WAV, and MP3 files. The steps are quite simple, after which the newly made MP3s will be saved in the iTunes library. Note that different versions of iTunes have a little difference in operation.

Steps to Convert AIFF to MP3 Mac with iTunes:

1. Open iTunes on your Mac. Go to iTunes “Preferences” and click on the “General” tab.
2. Click the 'Import Settings' button under the “General” tab. This is where you specify the types of files iTunes produces when it imports songs.
3. Set “Import Using” to MP3 Encoder.
4. Click 'Music' under 'Library' that is located on the left part of iTunes.
5. Choose all of the AIFF audio files you want to convert to MP3.
6. Go to top of menu bar, click “File” > “Convert” > 'Create MP3 Version.'

Pros:

1. Free of charge and no need to install
2. Save old data before converting

Cons:

1. Limited output format and no video outputs
2. Can’t use iTunes during conversion
3. Not convenience to convert multiple files, as the original files and the converted files will be mixed together

#3 VLC

VLC is a free and open source media player that opens almost any file format, and it has a hide option that can convert video and audio files.

Steps to Convert AIFF to MP3 Mac via VLC:

1. Open VLC and click “File” in the menu bar then select “Convert/Stream.”
2. Drag and drop your AIFF audio to VLC.
3. From the “Profile” drop-down list, select “Audio - MP3”.
4. Click “Save as File” > “Browse” to set the location.
5. After you’ve selected a folder, you will have to change the file extension to “.mp3”.
6. Click the “Save” button.

Pros:

1. Free to use
2. Support multi-platforms
3. Can convert and play media files

Cons:

1. No batch convert
2. Not user-friendly for novice users

#4 Audacity

Audacity also allows you to convert AIFF files to MP3 format easily. The following is what you will need to do.

Steps to Convert AIFF to MP3 Mac via Audacity:

1. First, make sure you've downloaded Audacity.
2. Head to “File” > “Import” > “Audio” to locate the AIFF file you want to convert and then click “Open”. Alternatively, drag AIFF to the software directly.
3. In the menu, click “File” > “Export” > “Export as MP3”.
4. Set the location to save your file and click “Save”.

Pros:

1. Free
2. Convert AIFF, WAV, OGG, FLAC, MP3, and MP2
3. Able to tweak audio parameters

Cons:

1. Limited input (WMA, M4A, etc. are not supported) and output
2. Can’t convert multiple AIFFs, or the track will be mixed down and export as one stereo file

How to Convert AIFF to MP3 on Mac without Software?

CloudConvert.com is an online AIFF to MP3 converter for Mac that helps you to turn more than 15 audio formats into MP3 with great ease. Besides a local Mac computer, you can also upload the AIFF file from Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or URL.

Steps to Convert AIFF to MP3 Online:

1. Visit https://cloudconvert.com/aiff-to-mp3.
2. Hit the 'Select File' button to upload AIFF files.
3. Click 'Convert'.
4. Download your converted MP3 files.

Pros:

1. No installation required
2. Batch conversion is possible
3. Change audio codec, volume, start & end time to trim, etc.

Cons:

1. Can't exceed 1GB in size and 25 minutes in conversion time
2. Having a risk of information leakage
3. The output quality is sacrificed

FAQs

What is AIFF

The AIFF is short for Audio Interchange File Format created by Apple in 1988. it ends in the .AIF or .AIFF file extension. AIFF itself is an uncompressed file and takes up large storage space because it is not compressed and it's 4 times bigger than MP3.

How to Open AIFF & AIF Files

You can play AIFF & AIF files with iTunes, QuickTime, VLC, iPad, iPhone and probably most other multi-format media players.

Will Convert AIFF to MP3 Cause Quality Loss

You might notice reduced sound quality when you go from an uncompressed format to a compressed format. that is when converting uncompressed AIFF to a compressed format like MP3, you’ll notice the sound quality might not be as good as the original, uncompressed format.

Are Converting AIFF to MP3 Reverse-able？

If you compress AIFF file to MP3 it will lose some data and you can't uncompress it to retrieve the data. If you convert AIFF to MP3 and then convert the output MP3 to AIFF you will notice the quality doesn't improve. The file only takes up more disk space.

Conclusion

This post has gone over how to convert AIFF to MP3 on Mac. Except for Cisdem Video Converter, the other 4 AIFF to MP3 converters for Mac like iTunes, VLC, etc. are completely free. If you would like to get the task done safely, efficiently, and without errors, a paid and professional program- Cisdem Video Converter is perfect solution for Mac users.

Even though we know that AIFF files are lossless and with better quality than the MP3 files, it is not so popular and capitible with almost all devices and platforms as MP3 format is. And this is the true reason why we need to change AIFF to MP3. To make it easy, in the following content, we have gathered 4 ways to help you, each one with detailed how-to steps.

Method 1. How to Convert AIFF to MP3 with VideoProc Converter

VideoProc Converter basically serves as a simple video processing tool, running on both Windows and Mac operating systems. We take it into this list because its fast processing speed, 72X faster than real-time play thanks to the level-3 GPU acceleration technology. With it, you can convert the AIFF files separately or in batch. As a decent video conversion software, VideoProc Converter also enables you to convert other type files, as many as 370+ audio and video formats. In addition, it allows you to adjust the output parameter including bitrate, sample rate, channels, metadata information and many more in a very easy manner.

Step 1. Download and install VideoProc Converter on your Windows or Mac computer.

Step 2. Run it and choose the Video option from it homepage.

Step 3. Click + Music button to import the AIFF file into VideoProc Converter. If there are dozens of files, you can load them all. Then at the bottom of the software, choose the MP3 as the output fromat from the Music column. Or you can click the Target Format for more options there. Then click Browse for output location. After all the settings mentioned above are made, now you can just click the RUN button start the AIFF to MP3 converting work.

Method 2. How to Convert AIFF to MP3 in iTunes

We may mostly use iTunes for our iPhone data management, however, it can also work as a great AIFF to MP3 converter.

1. If you want to convert the AIFF file in iTunes library

Step 1. Run iTunes on your PC. If you have not installed it yet, you can go to the Apple website or Microsoft store to download the installation file.

Step 2. Choose Edit > Preference.

Step 3. In the pop-up windows, choose Import Settings under the General tab.

Step 4. In the next screen, choose MP3 Encoder under the option of Import Using. You can also choose the audio quality under the Setting option. Then click OK button back to iTunes homepage.

Step 5. Click File > Convert > Create MP3 Version. And it will create an MP3 version of this AIFF file in your library.

Tip: We show you the detailed steps with Windows screenshots. Mac users can also follow them.

2. If you want to convert the AIFF file NOT in iTunes library, but in a folder

Step 1. Set the MP3 Encoder, by Edit > Preference > Import Settings > Import Using > MP3 Encoder > OK. These are just as same as above step 1-3. You can find the specifics there.

Step 2. Now hold down the Shift key on your keyboard, and select File > Convert > Convert to MP3.

Step 3. Now locate the folder which contains the AIFF files, choose them, and click the Open button to start changing them to MP3. After converted, the files would display in your music library.

Method 3. How to Convert AIFF to MP3 with Audacity

Audacity is a well-known audio editor with rich advanced features. This free and open-source program also enables us to convert uncompressed type of audio like AIFF, as well as lossy codec like FLAC to MP3, WAV, AC3, M4A, and many other formats. A small downside of Audacity is its 80s style of interface with difficult terminologies which is not friendly for beginners or occasional users.

Step 1. Import AIFF File to Audacity

Download and install Audacity on your computer. Launch Audacity, click File at the top-left corner of the window > Put a check to Open to import the AIFF file. Alternatively, you can click File > Import > Auido to import the AIFF file.

Step 2. Export AIFF as MP3 File

After you have loaded the AIFF file, click File again > hover on Export > and click Export as MP3.

Step 3. Adjust the Parameter

Go to the Format Options section, and here you're advised to choose Preset as the Bit Rate Mode. The default quality is set to be standard, 170-210kbps (bitrate), you can choose a higher/lower quality as you like. But remember, the higher the quality, the larger the output files size. As for variable speed and channel mode, we can leave them as default.

Aiff To Mp3 Free Converter For Mac

Step 4. Start the Conversion from AIFF to MP3

Click Save and Audacity starts to convert AIFF to MP3.

Aiff File Converter

Method 4. How to Convert AIFF to MP3 Online

If you are an occasional user who has a few small AIFF files that need to be converted to MP3, then give Online-converter a try. This web-based AIFF to MP3 converter enables us to do the conversion without installing any third party software which is very convenient to use. However, we don't recommend you to use any online apps when you need to cope with multiple or large size AIFF files. Since it has limits in file size and quantity, and AIFF files are mostly large because of it lossless features. If you are in such situation and looking for AIFF to MP3 converter with no limits, then VideoProc Converter would be highly recommended.

Step 1. Click and go to the free and online file converter.

Step 2. On the Audio Converter tab, click Select target format and Select Convert to MP3. Then check Go for the next step.

Step 3. Click Choose Files to import the source audio > Start conversion

Step 4. Download the converted MP3 file in the pop-up page.

AIFF to MP3 Related Questions

What is better AIFF vs MP3?

For compatibility and space saving, MP3 is better. Almost all devices and platforms support MP3 files. And because it is compressed, it would cost less memory to save it. For audio quality, AIFF is better, because it is lossless and uncompressed. But because of the umcompression issue, it size would be much larger.

How do I convert an AIFF to mp3 using Windows Media Player?

Base on our multiple tests, unfortunately, Windows Media Player cannot convert AIFF to MP3. You may see that there are some websites writting about how to use Windows Media Player for audio converting, but what they said does not work at all.

Convert Aiff To Mp3 Windows

How to Convert AIFF File to MP3 on Android?

Convert Aiff To Mp3 Free

There are just some apps which can help you change AIFF file to MP3 simply on your Android devices, for example, the Convert to Mp3 app. You can find more in the Google Play store.