Audio Compressor

Shrinks audio files. Works by lowering the bitrate and resampling to a lower sample rate.

Note: This is a file-size compressor. It is not a dynamic-range / loudness compressor (the kind that evens out loud and quiet sections). You need a different tool for that.

What it does

Use this to fit big WAV files into email, cut disk usage on a podcast archive, or shrink recordings before uploading them to a transcription service.

How to use

  1. Drag audio files into the list.
  2. Pick an Optimization Profile (easiest path).
  3. Or set Target Bitrate and Sample Rate manually.
  4. Click Run.

You get one smaller copy per file.

Optimization profiles

ProfileWhat for
BalancedAcceptable quality + good size. The right call for most cases.
AggressiveMaximum size savings. Fine for speech, not enough for music.
StudioQuality-first, modest size savings.

Manual settings

  • Target Bitrate: Data used per second. Higher = better + bigger, lower = smaller + worse.
    • 320 kbps: Studio quality.
    • 192-256 kbps: High quality.
    • 128 kbps: Standard, fine for music.
    • 96 kbps: Acceptable.
    • 64-32 kbps: Speech only.
  • Sample Rate: Samples per second.
    • 48000 Hz: Professional.
    • 44100 Hz: CD quality, standard.
    • 22050 Hz: Half quality.
    • 16000 Hz: Enough for speech.
    • 8000 Hz: Telephone quality.

Examples

Archive a podcast: Add stereo podcasts, Balanced profile, run. Files drop by around 60%.

Email a big WAV: Add the WAV, Aggressive profile, run. Output is very small.

Shrink recordings for transcription: Add the recordings, manual Bitrate 64, Sample Rate 16000, run. Tiny files, still enough for AI transcription.

Trim down a music collection: Add the MP3s, Bitrate 192, Sample Rate 44100, run.

Watch out

  • Compression is permanent, keep the originals.
  • Very aggressive settings (like 32 kbps) noticeably hurt the sound.
  • This tool does not even out loud and quiet sections. You need audio-engineering software for that.
  • Lossless formats (FLAC) become lossy in the output, that's expected.
  • Picking a sample rate lower than the original lowers quality, picking a higher one does not improve it.

License

Free tier has a monthly compression cap. Office plan removes it.