You have a folder of voice recordings your player won't open, a pile of WMA files that need to be MP3s, or a video clip where you only want the sound. Switch Audio File Converter from NCH Software handles all of these. You add files, pick an output format and convert.
Quick facts
- Platforms: Windows 7 to 11, macOS 10.5 or above, plus Android and Chromebook apps
- Formats: more than 75 audio file formats
- Free version: available for non-commercial use, does not expire, covers the most common formats
- Paid version: sold online by NCH Software
Key features
Convert between more than 75 audio formats
You can convert from formats such as MP3, WAV, WMA, M4A, OGG, FLAC, AAC, AIFF, AMR, DSS and VOX. Output includes MP3, WAV, FLAC, WMA, M4A, OGG, AAC, M4R (ringtones) and M4B (audiobooks).
Batch-convert whole folders in one pass
Drag in many files, or import an M3U or PLS playlist, and convert them all to one output format. You can also mix input formats in the same batch.
Even out volume while you convert
Switch can normalize audio automatically. It also offers an equalizer, noise reduction, amplification and dynamic range compression to limit the volume range of a file.
Keep song information and preview before converting
Music tags are preserved for formats that support them, including MP3, WAV, WMA, FLAC and OGG. Switch can also look up song information in an online database. You can listen to a track before you convert it.
Pull the audio out of video files
Video clips such as AVI, MOV and MPEG can be converted to the audio format you choose. The same tool covers audio from DVDs.
Turn recordings into text
The vendor lists conversion of voice recordings and MP3 files to .txt and .srt text using AI speech recognition.
Automate it or use it from Explorer
You can start conversions from the Windows Explorer right-click menu, or run Switch as a command line plugin to automate conversions from other software. Drag and drop works too. Conversion runs offline on your PC.
Who it's for
Switch suits you if you have a large music collection to move between formats, or you record interviews, lectures or dictation and need files that other software will open. It also suits you if you want ringtones or audiobook files prepared quickly. The free version covers occasional home use. Commercial use needs the paid version.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very wide format coverage, with batch conversion and playlist import
- Normalizing and tag handling are built in
- Free version that does not expire
- Available on Windows, Mac, Android and Chromebook
Cons
- The free version is limited to non-commercial use and has fewer features and formats
- It is a converter, not an audio editor. Detailed editing needs a separate tool such as NCH's WavePad
- Older Windows versions such as XP and Vista need an earlier build, which NCH lists on separate pages
FAQs
Can I try it before paying?
Yes. A free version is available for non-commercial use. It does not expire and includes most common audio file formats.
Can it convert WMA to MP3?
Yes. WMA and MP3 are both among the supported input and output formats.
Can it handle many files at once?
Yes. You can batch convert large numbers of files, and you can combine different input formats in one run.
Can I extract audio from a video?
Yes. Switch converts video clips to the audio format of your choice.
Does it work on a Mac?
Yes. A Mac version is available for macOS 10.5 or above.
System requirements
- Windows 7 to 11
- macOS 10.5 or above for the Mac version
- Earlier Windows versions (98, 2000, XP, Vista) are served by separate older builds