# 🔄 WAV ⇄ ALAC Converter

## 🎯 Overview

This is a high-quality bidirectional converter that converts between WAV and ALAC (Apple Lossless) files. It supports both 16bit and 24bit audio and completely preserves metadata and cover art.

### ✨ Key Features

- Bidirectional Conversion - Supports both WAV → ALAC and ALAC → WAV
- High-Quality Conversion - Lossless compression with no audio quality degradation
- 16/24bit Support - Automatically detects and preserves original bit depth
- Metadata Preservation - Completely preserves artist name, album name, and other information
- Cover Art Support - Preserves album artwork (except ALAC→WAV)
- Maximum Compression - Uses ALAC's highest compression level 12
- Batch Processing - Supports multiple files and folder batch processing

## 📦 Distribution Files

File Name | Description
--- | ---
`wav_alac_converter.exe` | EXE file (approx. 7.2MB)
`ffmpeg_install.bat` | FFmpeg installation batch file
`wav_alac_converter_ReadMe.html` | User manual (Japanese version)
`wav_alac_converter_ReadMe_en.html` | This file (User manual - English version)

⚠️ Important: FFmpeg installation is required to use this tool.

## 📋 Operating Environment

Item | Description
--- | ---
OS | Windows 10 or later
Required Software | FFmpeg (ffmpeg.exe, ffprobe.exe)
Supported Input | WAV (16/24bit), ALAC/M4A
Supported Output | ALAC (.m4a), WAV (16/24bit)

## ⚙️ FFmpeg Installation

### Method 1: Automatic Installation (Recommended)

1. Double-click `ffmpeg_install.bat`
2. Allow execution with administrator privileges
3. FFmpeg will be automatically downloaded and installed
4. Restart your PC after installation completes

### Method 2: Manual Installation

1. Download from FFmpeg official site
2. Download "ffmpeg-release-essentials.zip"
3. Extract and place in `C:\ffmpeg` or similar location
4. Add `C:\ffmpeg\bin` to system environment variable PATH
5. Restart your PC

### ✅ Verifying FFmpeg Installation

1. Open Command Prompt (Win + R → cmd → Enter)
2. Type `ffmpeg -version` and press Enter
3. If version information is displayed, installation is successful

## 🚀 How to Use

### Basic Usage

1. Drag & drop music file(s) (WAV or ALAC) onto `wav_alac_converter.exe (or its shortcut)`
2. Conversion starts automatically
3. Converted files are created in the same folder as the original file

💡 Drag & Drop Tips:

- Multiple files can be dropped at once
- Dropping a folder processes all WAV/ALAC files in it
- WAV and ALAC can be mixed (automatically detected)

### Automatic Conversion Direction Detection

- WAV files (.wav) → Convert to ALAC (.m4a)
- ALAC files (.m4a) → Convert to WAV (.wav)

## 📊 Conversion Specifications

### WAV → ALAC Conversion

Item | Specification
--- | ---
Codec | ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec)
Compression Level | 12 (Maximum compression)
Bit Depth | Same as original WAV (16bit/24bit auto-detect)
Sampling Rate | Same as original WAV
Metadata | Complete preservation (Title, Artist, Album, etc.)
Cover Art | Preserved (JPEG/PNG supported)

### ALAC → WAV Conversion

Item | Specification
--- | ---
Format | PCM (Uncompressed)
Bit Depth | Same as original ALAC (16bit/24bit auto-detect)
Sampling Rate | Same as original ALAC
Metadata | Basic information only (Title, Artist, Album, Year, Genre, Track number) ※Composer and Comment not supported
Cover Art | Not supported (WAV format limitation)

Note: Standard WAV format does not have native support for embedded cover art. This tool does not save cover art during ALAC→WAV conversion. (Cover art can be embedded in WAV using specialized tools like Mp3tag)

## 📁 Output Files

### File Naming Rules

- Original filename is basically preserved
- Only extension is changed (.wav → .m4a, .m4a → .wav)
- If a file with the same name exists, a number is appended (e.g., `music_2.m4a`)

### Filename Examples

Original File | After Conversion
--- | ---
`song.wav` | `song.m4a` (ALAC)
`album_track.m4a` | `album_track.wav`
`music.wav` (existing: music.m4a) | `music_2.m4a`

## 🔍 Metadata Support

### Preserved Metadata

Field | WAV→ALAC | ALAC→WAV
--- | --- | ---
Title | ✅ Preserved | ✅ Preserved
Artist | ✅ Preserved | ✅ Preserved
Album | ✅ Preserved | ✅ Preserved
Album Artist | ✅ Preserved | ✅ Preserved
Year | ✅ Preserved | ✅ Preserved
Genre | ✅ Preserved | ✅ Preserved
Track Number | ✅ Preserved | ✅ Preserved
Composer | ✅ Preserved | ❌ Not supported
Comment | ✅ Preserved | ❌ Not supported
Cover Art | ✅ Preserved | ❌ Not supported

## ❓ Troubleshooting

### "FFmpeg is not installed" Error

Cause: FFmpeg is not installed or PATH is not set.

Solution:

1. Run `ffmpeg_install.bat` to install FFmpeg
2. Or manually install FFmpeg and add to PATH
3. Restart PC after installation

### Conversion Fails

Cause: File is corrupted or in an unsupported format.

Solution:

- Verify that the original file plays normally
- WAV files support only 16bit/24bit (32bit not supported)
- M4A files support only ALAC codec (AAC not supported)

### Metadata Not Saved

Cause: Original file has no metadata set.

Explanation:

- If the original file has no tag information, it remains empty after conversion
- WAV→ALAC conversion performs enhanced metadata copying with mutagen library
- ALAC→WAV conversion may not save some metadata due to WAV format limitations

### Cover Art Not Displayed (WAV)

Cause: This tool does not support embedding cover art in WAV files.

Explanation:

- Standard WAV format does not have native support for embedded cover art
- Cover art can be embedded in WAV using specialized tools like Mp3tag
- Cover art is preserved in ALAC format
- If you need cover art, keep in ALAC format

## 💡 Usage Examples

### Useful For

- Use with Apple products: Convert WAV files to ALAC for management in iTunes/Apple Music
- Reduce file size: Convert WAV to ALAC to reduce file size while maintaining quality (approx. 30-50% compression)
- DAW/editing work: Convert ALAC files to WAV for editing in various DAWs
- High-quality storage: Store 24bit hi-res sources in ALAC without compression
- Metadata organization: Convert formats while preserving tag information

## 🎓 Technical Specifications

### Technologies Used

- FFmpeg: Audio file conversion engine
- mutagen: Metadata reading/writing
- ALAC codec: Apple Lossless Audio Codec (lossless compression)

### About ALAC (Apple Lossless)

ALAC is a lossless audio compression codec developed by Apple.

- Quality: Completely lossless compression (100% identical to original WAV)
- Compression ratio: Approximately 30-50% file size reduction
- Compatibility: Standard support in iTunes, Apple Music, iOS, macOS
- Supported bit depths: 16bit, 24bit (up to 32bit)
- Supported sampling rates: Any (up to 384kHz)

## 🔒 Security Information

### VirusTotal Scan Results

This EXE file has been scanned by the third-party organization VirusTotal:

- Detection Status: 6/72 detections (False Positive)
- Scan Results URL: View VirusTotal Results

Detection Engines (6/72):

- Arctic Wolf - Unsafe
- DeepInstinct - MALICIOUS
- Jiangmin - Trojan.Generic.hunjo
- SentinelOne (Static ML) - Static AI - Suspicious PE
- Skyhigh (SWG) - BehavesLike.Win64.Generic.wc
- Zillya - Trojan.Blank.Script.976

About False Positives:

- Not detected by major security software (Windows Defender, Kaspersky, Avast, AVG, etc.)
- Contains no malicious code whatsoever
- False positive pattern by some engines for tools that convert Python scripts to EXE

### ⚠️ About Download Warnings

Your browser may warn that this is a "dangerous file", but this is a false positive.

For Chrome:

1. "Dangerous file" appears in the download bar
2. Click the "^" to the right of the filename
3. Click "Continue" or "Keep"

For Microsoft Edge:

1. "This file cannot be downloaded safely" appears
2. Click "..." (details)
3. Click "Keep"

### ⚠️ About First-Time Execution Warning

Windows Defender (SmartScreen) may display a warning, but this is a false positive:

1. "Windows protected your PC" appears
2. Click "More info"
3. Click "Run anyway" button

## 📄 Disclaimer

#### Notes on Usage

- Use of this tool is at your own risk.
- The developer assumes no responsibility for the quality of converted files.
- The developer assumes no responsibility for any damage caused by the operation of this tool.
- Conversion of copyrighted music files should be performed within the scope of personal use.

## 📄 License

This tool is freely distributable and usable. FFmpeg is distributed under the LGPL license.

## 🧑‍💻 Developer Information

Developer | Noriya
Email | noriyahd28v@gmail.com
URL | http://noriya.info/

This tool was developed with the aim of providing a better music experience for music lovers.
If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us at the above address.

WAV ⇄ ALAC Converter - High-Quality Bidirectional Audio Converter