How can I batch convert m4a to wav on Mac without losing quality?

debb289 wrote:

The Music app primarily deals with formats like MP3, AAC, and AIFF, and while it supports playback of M4A files, it might not support direct conversion M4A to WAV.

Both the Music app & iTunes fully support AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless, MP3 and WAV.

All you have to do to convert M4A audio files to WAV is set the Music/iTunes import preference to WAV and then import your M4A's

Even if your M4A's are already in Music as M4A's you can convert them to WAV by changing the import preference to WAV, then select the songs you want to convert and do File > Convert > Create [format] Version.

See Convert music file formats in Music on Mac - Apple Support

And since Music/iTunes is built into all Macs, there is no third party app you need to purchase.

FWIW, I would recommend MediaHuman Audio Converter. It does batch conversion and it's free.

I once had to convert M4A files to WAV files. I did this on my MacBook Pro. It’s a bit manual, but the results are pretty good, and I don’t need to install any additional software.

I first opened the Finder and put all the M4A files I needed to convert in a folder. Then, I started processing each file one by one. Here’s how it went:

1. I double-clicked an M4A file in the Finder, and it opened in QuickTime Player by default.
2. In QuickTime Player, I clicked “File” on the menu bar and selected “Export As.”
3. A dialog box popped up, and I selected “Audio Only” and then selected WAV in the file format options.
4. After choosing a save location, I clicked “Save.” QuickTime Player began converting the files, which was a quick process.
5. Each file took only a few seconds, so even though it was manual, it wasn’t particularly cumbersome. I processed a dozen files at a time, and the results were great, with no loss in sound quality.

Although this method is not suitable for batch processing of a large number of files, it is sufficient for a small number of files. The most important thing is that this method is completely free and only requires the use of software that comes with the Mac, eliminating the trouble of installing and learning third-party software.

If you want an elegant app for doing this, look at Presonus Audio Batch Converter. Although, I believe, it is an add-on to Presonus Studio One.

You could also set up an Automator Workflow using Felttip Sound Studio to do batch conversions.

You can also use Apple iTunes (Music) to batch convert audio files, including WAV.

Not something I have ever done, but Audacity has a batch mode.

As far as quality loss, all that happened when it became an m4a, the wave file should be fine.

AppleScript can automate the conversion process. You can write a script that uses QuickTime Player or another built-in application to batch convert M4a to wav on Mac. This method requires some scripting knowledge but can be very efficient once set up.

FFMPEG is the best free M4A to WAV converter on Mac due to its versatility, efficiency, and extensive format support. As a command-line tool, FFmpeg provides users with powerful options to handle almost any audio or video conversion task. It supports a wide range of input and output formats, including M4A and WAV. Moreover, FFmpeg's performance is unmatched when it comes to speed and efficiency. It leverages advanced algorithms to ensure that conversions are not only fast but also maintain the highest possible quality.

You can convert .m4a to wav on mac with the following command:

ffmpeg -i test.m4a test.wav

The Music app primarily deals with formats like MP3, AAC, and AIFF, and while it supports playback of M4A files, it might not support direct conversion M4A to WAV. In addition, The Music app offers limited file conversion options compared to dedicated audio conversion software. Its primary function is music playback and library management, rather than comprehensive audio format conversion.

For these reasons, using a dedicated tool like AudioKies is recommended for converting M4A to WAV on a Mac. AudioKies provides extensive support for various audio formats and offers a straightforward interface for audio conversions.