AIFC (compressed AIFF)
Also known as: AIFF-C, .aifc file, compressed AIFF
AIFC (AIFF-C, .aifc) is a compressed variant of Apple’s AIFF audio format. Where standard AIFF stores uncompressed audio, AIFC adds support for compression codecs inside the same container, so files can be smaller — though depending on the codec, it may be lossy.
- Compressed variant of Apple’s AIFF
- May be lossless or lossy by codec
- Mostly Apple-ecosystem; often converted
AIFC vs AIFF
Standard AIFF stores raw, uncompressed PCM audio — large files at full quality, similar to WAV. AIFC (also written AIFF-C) extends that container to allow compressed audio inside, so the same file structure can hold smaller, codec-compressed sound.
Whether an .aifc file is lossless or lossy depends on the codec used. That flexibility is the whole point: AIFC keeps the familiar AIFF wrapper while reducing file size.
Playing and converting AIFC
AIFC is mainly an Apple-ecosystem format and opens in Mac audio apps and players like VLC. It is uncommon on phones and non-Apple devices.
For everyday use and sharing, convert .aifc to MP3 or AAC for small, widely compatible files, or to WAV/ALAC if you want uncompressed or lossless audio.