Change the bit depth of WAV and FLAC files: reduce 24-bit or 32-bit float masters to 16-bit for CD and streaming with proper TPDF dither and optional noise shaping, or store audio as 24-bit, 32-bit or 32-bit float. Every file is analysed for peak level, dynamic range and real (effective) resolution.
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Target bit depth
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How to use the Audio Bit Depth Converter
Add WAV or FLAC files by dropping them on the box. Each file shows its bit depth, peak, dynamic range and effective resolution.
Choose the target bit depth, for example 16-bit for CD, streaming uploads or older players.
Keep TPDF dither on when reducing bit depth; add noise shaping if you like a quieter-sounding noise floor at 44.1 or 48 kHz.
Pick the output format: same as the input, always WAV, or always FLAC.
Press Convert and download each file or all of them as a ZIP.
Bit depth at a glance
Bit depth
Levels
Theoretical dynamic range
Stereo WAV at 44.1 kHz
Typical use
8-bit
256
49.9 dB
5.3 MB per minute
Retro games, very small voice prompts
16-bit
65,536
98.1 dB
10.6 MB per minute
CD audio, streaming uploads, most players
24-bit
16,777,216
146.2 dB
15.9 MB per minute
Recording, mixing, hi-res downloads
32-bit integer
about 4.3 billion
194.4 dB
21.2 MB per minute
Rare; some converters and archives
32-bit float
24-bit precision + exponent
about 144 dB SNR at any level, no clipping above 0 dBFS
21.2 MB per minute
Audio editors, field recorders, intermediate files
Dynamic range follows DR ≈ 6.02 × N + 1.76 dB for N-bit integer PCM with a full-scale sine wave. Real recordings rarely use more than about 20 bits, because microphones, preamps and rooms are noisier than a 24-bit noise floor.
How the dither and noise shaping work
For each sample the value is scaled to the target range (×2N−1). TPDF dither adds the difference of two uniform random numbers, giving triangular noise of ±1 LSB; RPDF adds a single uniform value of ±½ LSB. The result is rounded to the nearest integer. With noise shaping, the error of the previous samples is subtracted before rounding (error feedback), so the noise spectrum becomes 1 − Σ ck·z−k: the light setting uses c = 1, a gentle high-pass; the strong setting uses five E-weighted coefficients designed for 44.1 kHz that lower the noise in the 1–6 kHz region and raise it near 20 kHz.
Tips
Dither only once, at the very end. Keep 24-bit or 32-bit float while you edit, then convert to 16-bit as the last step.
Check the samples above 0 dBFS warning for float files: integer formats cannot store them, so lower the level first or they will clip.
Choose FLAC to save space without losing anything: 16-bit and 24-bit FLAC files are typically 40–70% of the WAV size.
Try the 24-bit sample file, convert it to 8-bit with and without dither, and listen to the fading tail to hear the difference.
Frequently asked questions
What is audio bit depth?
Bit depth is the number of bits used for each sample. It sets how finely the waveform's amplitude is measured: 16 bits give 65,536 levels, 24 bits about 16.8 million. More bits mean a lower noise floor. The theoretical dynamic range of N-bit audio is about 6.02 × N + 1.76 dB: 98 dB for 16-bit and 146 dB for 24-bit.
Should I use dither when converting 24-bit to 16-bit?
Yes. Reducing bit depth rounds every sample, and in quiet passages that rounding error becomes distortion that follows the music. Dither adds a tiny amount of random noise before rounding so the error turns into a steady, benign hiss around −96 dBFS at 16-bit. TPDF (triangular) dither is the standard choice.
What does noise shaping do?
Noise shaping feeds the rounding error back through a filter so that the dither noise is moved to frequencies where hearing is less sensitive, mostly the very high treble. The total noise is larger, but it sounds quieter. Use it only for the final conversion, because further processing can bring the shifted noise back up.
Does converting 16-bit to 24-bit improve quality?
No. The extra bits are filled with zeros, so the sound is identical and the file is just 50% larger. It is useful when software or a platform requires 24-bit files. This converter detects that no rounding is needed and copies the samples exactly, without adding dither.
What is 32-bit float audio?
32-bit float stores each sample as a floating-point number with 24 bits of precision and an exponent. Its noise floor scales with the signal, so it keeps about 144 dB of signal-to-noise ratio at any level and can hold values above 0 dBFS without clipping. That makes it popular inside audio editors and for recordings, but it needs twice the space of 16-bit.
What does effective bit depth mean?
Some files use fewer bits than their container: a 24-bit WAV may contain 16-bit audio padded with zeros, or a float file may hold exact 16-bit values. The analysis checks every sample to find the real resolution, so you know whether converting down will lose anything.
Are my files uploaded?
No. Reading, dithering and writing WAV or FLAC all happen in your browser, so your audio never leaves your device.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.