REWINDWAV files on iPhone
WAV is a container that usually holds uncompressed PCM audio, so nothing is thrown away and files are big: about 10.6 MB per minute at CD quality. REWIND plays WAV files that you import from the Files app, along with the other supported types.
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What is WAV?
WAV, or Waveform Audio File Format, was created by Microsoft and IBM and introduced in 1991. It is built on the RIFF container. Most WAV files hold raw PCM samples, which means no compression at all. Background: WAV on Wikipedia.
File sizes
Uncompressed audio adds up quickly, and a WAV file is limited to about 4 GB, which matters only for very long recordings.
| Length | CD-quality WAV |
|---|---|
| 1 minute | About 10.6 MB |
| 4 minutes | About 42 MB |
| 1 hour | About 635 MB |
How do I get WAV files onto an iPhone?
Copy them to iCloud Drive, AirDrop them or transfer from a computer, then import from the Files app into REWIND. WAV is common for recordings, samples and CD rips made for editing. If space is an issue, convert to FLAC or ALAC, which keep the quality at about half the size.
How does REWIND play WAV?
REWIND plays WAV files. WAV has weak support for tags and cover art, so a track may show with less information than an MP3 or M4A; that depends on what the file contains. All machines and effects work. For more about supported types, see the music library.
WAV versus MP3, AAC and FLAC
WAV keeps all the data, so it sounds identical to the source. The price is size. A hundred four-minute songs in WAV take about 4.2 GB; the same set in 256 kbps AAC takes about 770 MB, and in FLAC roughly 2 to 3 GB. Use WAV for editing and short samples, and a compressed type for a library.
| Format | Type | 100 songs, 4 min each |
|---|---|---|
| WAV | Uncompressed | About 4.2 GB |
| FLAC | Lossless | About 2 to 3 GB |
| AAC 256 kbps | Lossy | About 770 MB |
| MP3 128 kbps | Lossy | About 380 MB |
Tags in WAV files
The WAV format was not designed with rich metadata in mind. Some tools add tags in extra chunks, and support varies. If you want clean titles and artwork in your library, convert to FLAC, ALAC or AAC and tag them there.
Frequently asked questions
Is WAV lossless?
WAV usually holds uncompressed PCM, so it keeps everything. It is a container, though, and can hold other encodings.
Does REWIND play WAV?
Yes. Import WAV files from the Files app.
Why are WAV files so big?
Because they are uncompressed: about 10.6 MB per minute at CD quality.
Should I convert WAV to FLAC for my iPhone?
If space matters, yes. FLAC or ALAC keep the same quality at roughly half the size.
Keep exploring
AIFF on iPhoneApple's uncompressed audio format. Sizes, loading AIFF on iPhone, and how REWIND plays it.
FLAC on iPhoneFree lossless audio. Sizes, loading FLAC on iPhone, and what REWIND does and does not promise.
ALAC on iPhoneLossless audio in an M4A wrapper. Sizes, loading it on iPhone, and how REWIND plays it.
Offline Music Library for iPhoneImport folders or tracks from Files. Tags, cover art, search, favorites, shuffle and repeat. Offline.