Convert AIFF to AC3 on Mac.

Local file processing, by renaming the file in Finder. No converter window and no upload queue.

Finder rename

report.aiffreport.ac3

How the rename works

  1. 1

    Start with report.aiff

    Put the AIFF file in a folder RenameTo watches, such as Desktop or Downloads.

  2. 2

    Rename it to report.ac3

    In Finder, change .aiff to .ac3, then press Return. The rename is the command.

  3. 3

    Find the AC3 beside it

    RenameTo produces the requested output and keeps a restorable backup of the original.

What happens under the hood

RenameTo reads the AIFF with the appropriate local macOS media or document framework, then writes a new AC3 beside it. The file itself is not sent to a conversion server.

About the formats

AIFF is Apple's uncompressed audio format. AC3 is Dolby Digital audio.

Questions, answered

Does my file get uploaded anywhere?

No. File processing happens on your Mac. RenameTo does use the network for license validation, trial activation, and update checks, but your source files are not part of those requests.

What happens to the original AIFF file?

RenameTo keeps a backup before processing. Undo restores the original alongside a format-changing output and does not delete that output. If the original name is already occupied, the restored copy gets “(restored)” in its name.

Can I convert a whole folder?

Yes. Rename multiple selected files in Finder and RenameTo queues each supported conversion, with a separate result and backup for every file.

Can I run the same conversion from a script?

Yes. The CLI command is: renameto ac3 *.aiff

Related conversions

Convert AIFF to AAC

report.aiff → report.aac

Convert AIFF to CAF

report.aiff → report.caf

Convert AIFF to EAC3

report.aiff → report.eac3

Convert AIFF to FLAC

report.aiff → report.flac

Convert 3GP to AC3

report.3gp → report.ac3

Convert AAC to AC3

report.aac → report.ac3

Convert AVI to AC3

report.avi → report.ac3

Convert CAF to AC3

report.caf → report.ac3

Looking for another format? Browse every conversion.