[2023] 4 Ways to Change Audio Bitrate on Windows/Mac/Online

Melissa Lee updated on May 24, 2024 to Video Editing Tips

Bitrate has determined the size and quality of video and audio files. And the bitrate is higher, the larger file size and the better of the quality. So, do you know to change the bitrate to make an audio file small? On this page, I will show you how to change audio bitrate on Windows/Mac/Online. May the guide will help you.

Bit Rate refers to the audio quality of the stream. Generally speaking, the bit rate determines the size and quality of video and audio files, and the bitrate is higher, the quality and file size is better and large. So, it may come to some problems like:

  • Files taking up too much computer space
  • The speed of transfer is too slow
  • Upload files to the Internet need to spend a lot of time
  • The best way to solve these problems is to change the file bitrate.

How to Change Audio Bitrate on Windows

If you want to find powerful video editing software, EaseUS Video Editor will be the best choice. This program provides a lot of video editing tools that are enough to satisfy your editing needs. So, whatever you are a beginner or a pro, you can easily use this tool to make a perfect video. This software allows you to add text effects, music, transition, overlays, elements, and filters, and also supports converting video/audio formats and changing bitrate.

Key Features:

  • Combine multiple audios, and overlay audios on each other in a non-linear time zone
  • Support changing audio and video bit rate
  • Support plenty of formats, such as MP3, AAC, WMV, and more
  • Support 300+ effects and transitions

The steps of changing audio bitrate using EaseUS Video Editor:

Step 1. Open EaseUS Video Editor, add the target audio files into the media section. And then drag it into the timeline.

Step 2. If you need it, you also can edit your audio file. At first, select the audio file, and then click on the pencil icon that you can change the audio's speed, fade-in, fade-out, and change volume level.

Step 3. when you finish editing, click the "Export" button, and then tap "Output setting" you will see a new window, in "Bitrate" setting you can change the file bit rate. Select the one you need, click the "OK" button to apply it, and then export it and save your audio file.

How to Change Audio Bitrate on Mac

iTunes is a media player, media library, and Internet radio broadcaster developed by Apple Inc. This software is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital music multimedia, on personal computers running the macOS and Windows operating systems. Except for the basic operation, you also can use this software to change your audio bitrate.

Key Features:

  • Support changing the audio bit rate
  • Support 4K, 4K HDR, 4K Dolby Vision

The steps of changing audio bitrate using iTunes:

Step 1. Launch iTunes and import a sound.

Step 2. And then click the "Preferences" button to go to the "General" tab, and then click the button where it says "Import Setting".

Step 3. Change Import Using to WAV Encoder, and then click to change Setting to Custom.

Step 4. And then, in the Custom window, click the "Sample Rate" setting to change the audio bitrate.

Step 5. When you finish editing, click the "OK" button to apply it.

How to Change Audio Bitrate Online

If your computer has limited storage space or does not want to download or install any software on your device, why not try online tools? In this part, I will show you two online audio bitrate changers, they are:

#1. 123APPS

123APPS is a powerful online free audio converter software. You can use this website to cut audio, convert audio and video, voice recorder, and other more functions. This program nearly supports over 300 types of different audio formats, including video formats, converting them to MP3, FLAC, AMR, and others more. Using this software, you also can set the audio quality, bitrate, frequency, and other audio operations. And you even do not need to create an account that you can free to change your audio bitrate.

Key Features:

  • Support extracting an audio track from a video
  • Support changing audio bitrate
  • Support simultaneously converting several files
  • Support free to use

The steps of changing audio bitrate using 123APPs:

Step 1. Click the "Open file" button to upload your target audio files. You can also import files from Google Drive, Dropbox, or directly paste links into the main screen.

Step 2. You can select the file format like MP3, WAV, M4A, and more if you need it. In the quality setting button, you can choose the different audio bitrates, such as 64kbps, 128kbps, 192kbps, 320kbps.

Step 3. when you finish editing, click the "To convert" button to convert and export your files.

#2. Aconvert

Aconvert is another online audio converting software, which supports vast conversions, such as converting OGG to MP3, M4A to MP3, MP3 to AAC, etc. And you also use this website to convert documents, e-book, images, videos, audio, and many other files. Using this program, you even do not create an account that you can directly use. It is really convenient and powerful software!

Key Features:

  • Support changing the file bit rate
  • Support converting multiple files at once
  • Support online free to use

The steps of changing audio bitrate using Aconvert:

Step 1. Click the "Choose Files" button to select the target files on your computer. And you also can choose the online file from URL, Google Drive, or Dropbox.

Step 2. In the "Target Format" setting button, you can select the file formats, such as MP3, WAV, AAC, and more, if you need them.

Step 3. And then, adjust the audio bitrate, in the "Audio bitrate" setting button, click it, you will see a list of audio bit rate, select the one you need, and apply it.

 

Conclusion

To sum up, on this page we are talking about the four best ways to change audio bitrate on Windows, Mac, and Online. While these plenties of tools have their won advantage, EaseUS Video Editor still is the best of the lot. It is because it not only can change audio bit rate easily, but also support converting plenty of file formats, and has a number of editing functions. So, EaseUS Video Editor is a worthy choice that you do not miss!

FAQs About Changing Audio Bitrate

1. Does changing bitrate affect sound quality?

Reducing bitrate will affect sound quality, but the file size will reduce at the same time. Think about it this way: when it was converted from the original media (let's say a CD), it was compressed to fit the "content" in a smaller "box", and by doing so, an amount of data has been lost. That is a kind of loss compression. On the other hand, you may not get a higher sound quality by increasing the audio bitrate.

2. What is a good Bitrate for audio?

For music, 64 (AAC)/96 (MP3) kbps is a good general-purpose setting that will sound good to most listeners. This is the standard bitrate for podcasts, and it sounds great on most contemporary devices, including smart speakers and mobile devices.

3. Does bitrate affect quality?

Bitrate is the number of bits per second. The symbol is bit/s. It generally determines the size and quality of video and audio files: the higher the bitrate, the better the quality and the larger the file size because of File size = bitrate (kilobits per second) x duration.