Convert WAV to captions

Create accessible closed captions from your WAV audio with maximum accuracy. Professional-quality captions for accessibility compliance from uncompressed source audio.

ADA compliant
5-min turnaround
Accessible
Audio
Video
DOCX
SRT/VTT
PDF
53+ Languages
About This Format

Understanding WAV files

What is a WAV file?

Uncompressed audio standard for professional recording

WAV files are audio files saved in the ‘Waveform Audio File Format,’ a highly standardized digital audio format created by Microsoft and IBM. It is the most popular way of storing audio waveform data on computers. WAV files can be saved with different sampling and bitrates. WAV files usually contain raw, uncompressed audio data and their file sizes can be quite large. It is normally saved for CD quality audio with 44.1 KHz, 16-bit, stereo format. WAV files are similar to .AIF files, but they are based on the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF), rather than the Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF). Hence, WAV files are more popular on the Windows platform while AIF files are more popular on MacOS systems.

Common Uses

  • Professional audio recording
  • Music production
  • Sound design
  • Broadcast audio
  • Audio mastering

Audio Quality

Lossless, uncompressed - maximum audio fidelity

Transcription Tips for WAV

  • Best possible quality for transcription
  • No compression artifacts to interfere with speech
  • Large files may take longer to upload
  • CD-quality WAV (44.1kHz/16-bit) is ideal

Where WAV Files Come From

  • Professional recording studios
  • Audio interfaces
  • Windows Sound Recorder
  • DAW exports
  • Broadcast equipment
10x
Faster than real-time
Get your WAV captions in minutes
99%
Accuracy rate
Industry-leading AI for WAV files
53+
Languages
Captions in any language
30+
Export formats
SRT, VTT, SCC, and more
How It Works

Create captions from WAV in 6 steps

Step 1

Create account

Sign up for Sonix's free trial. Includes 30 minutes free.

Step 2

Upload file

Upload your WAV file from your computer or cloud storage.

Step 3

Select language

Choose from 53+ languages spoken in your file.

Step 4

Auto-transcribe

Sonix AI transcribes your WAV with word-level timestamps.

Step 5

Edit captions

Fine-tune timing and formatting for accessibility.

Step 6

Export

Download closed captions in SRT, VTT, or SCC format.

Common Questions

Everything about WAV captions

Why use WAV for professional captions?

WAV's uncompressed audio provides the clearest source for caption transcription. For broadcast, accessibility compliance, or any application where accuracy is critical, WAV source files deliver the best results.

Are WAV-to-caption conversions ADA compliant?

Sonix generates captions meeting ADA and Section 508 requirements. WAV's high quality helps achieve accuracy levels exceeding professional captioning standards.

Can I add sound descriptions to WAV captions?

Yes! After transcription, add non-speech descriptions like [music], [applause], or [door closes] in Sonix's editor. This creates fully accessible captions for deaf viewers.

How accurate are AI captions from WAV?

Sonix achieves 99%+ accuracy on clear WAV audio, often exceeding this due to WAV's pristine audio quality. For professional captioning, a quick human review ensures perfection.

What caption format works for broadcast WAV?

For broadcast television, export to SCC or STL formats which meet FCC requirements. Sonix supports all professional broadcast caption formats.

Can I caption WAV files with multiple speakers?

Yes! Speaker detection works excellently with WAV audio. Each speaker gets labeled captions, making multi-person content easy to follow.

Why Sonix

Accessible captions from WAV files

Accessibility First

Create captions that make your content accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.

ADA Compliant

Meet accessibility requirements with properly formatted closed captions.

Sound Descriptions

Add non-speech elements like [music] and [applause] for full context.

SEO Benefits

Captions make video content searchable and improve discoverability.

Related

More ways to convert WAV files

Other WAV conversions

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Other file formats

M4A to text
WMA to text
AIF to text
OGA to text
MPGA to text
OPUS to text
CAF to text
GSM to text
XSPF to text
MP2 to text
See all supported file formats
Reviews

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4.98 rating from 211 reviews

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TG
Thomas G.
Boston, Massachussettes
Sonix is the best transcription program I have worked with.
VQ
Vitalyia Q.
Tomsk, Russia
So fast, so easy. This has saved me hours for every 20 minutes of recording.
WS
Wendy S.
Danvers, MA USA
I heard about you from my friend. I found my transcription to be almost exactly what is in the audio file. Love it...continue what you are doing. Sonix is excellent. I appreciate t...
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Hardik G.
Ottawa, Canada
What I was able to do with Sonix was amazing. Transcribed and translated in minutes on remote Guatemalan WiFi!
EO
Emily O.
Guatemala City, Guatemala
The transcription was fast and accurate.
JT
John T.
Chanthaburi, Thailand
It's simply an amazing resource for anyone working with the spoken or written word.
DW
Dennis W.
Daly City, CA, USA
The speech to text was fast and very accurate.
JG
Janine G.
Cape Town, South Africa
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