Step 1: Deliver your AC3 files using the button above or by place and set.
Step 2: Click the 'Process' button to start the processing.
Step 3: Obtain your converted AAC files.
AC3 to AAC Processing FAQ
What bitrate does the AAC file use?
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A lossy AAC is encoded at 192 kbps by default. The Audio Quality setting also offers 320 kbps for the best quality and 128 kbps for a smaller file. A lossless AAC (WAV, FLAC) ignores the bitrate and keeps every sample.
Will going from AC3 to AAC reduce my audio quality?
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If AC3 is lossy and AAC is lossless (e.g. MP3 → WAV), the AAC file is no better than the AC3 source — you cannot recover information that was thrown away by the original lossy encode. If AC3 is lossless and AAC is lossy, expect the AAC codec to recompress; at 192 kbps this is transparent for nearly all material.
Can I batch convert hundreds of AC3 files to AAC?
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Several files in one job need a paid plan. Free use is one file per conversion, one conversion an hour. On a paid plan you can add several files to one job, then download each result on its own or all of them in one ZIP.
Can I normalize loudness in the AC3 to AAC step?
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Not in this step. The converter has no loudness setting and leaves the level as it is. To even out the volume, run the finished AAC through a Normalize tool on this site.
Will the AAC play on my car stereo, iPod, or Sonos?
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MP3 plays almost everywhere. AAC plays on Apple devices, most Android phones and Sonos. FLAC plays on Sonos and Android but not on older iPods, and WAV plays on nearly everything but makes large files. There are no device presets on this page, so choose the target format your player supports.
Is my AC3 file private during conversion?
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Yes. Uploaded AC3 files are processed on our own conversion servers, no person reviews them, and they are never shared. The upload and the converted AAC are both deleted automatically about 24 hours after the conversion, which leaves time to download the result. See /privacy/ for the full policy.
How long does converting a 1-hour AC3 to AAC take?
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It depends on the size and length of the file. Small documents and images are usually ready quickly. Long videos take the longest, because most video conversions re-encode every frame.
Why is the AAC file louder or quieter than the AC3 source?
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The converter does not change the level: it has no gain or normalize setting. If you hear a difference, your player or media library is probably applying ReplayGain or its own volume levelling on playback; switch that off to hear the AAC as it is.
Can I convert AC3 streaming downloads to AAC?
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If the AC3 download is unprotected (no DRM), yes. DRM-encrypted streaming files (Spotify offline, Apple Music) are encrypted at the byte level and we cannot decrypt or process them. Sources from Bandcamp, SoundCloud, archive.org, and personal recordings convert without issue.
