Quick answer: To send a large WAV file, upload it to Share Large Video Files (up to 20 GB, no account) and share the download link: the file arrives unchanged. A song's multitrack stems is about 800 MB, more than most email providers accept.
What is a WAV file?
WAV is the standard uncompressed audio format for recording, mixing and mastering. Studios, podcasters, field recordists and video editors use it because it is lossless and every DAW supports it. Broadcast WAV (BWF) adds timecode and metadata.
WAV size is exact arithmetic: sample rate times bit depth times channels. CD-quality stereo (44.1 kHz, 16-bit) is about 10 MB per minute, and 48 kHz 24-bit stereo is about 16.5 MB per minute. A multitrack session multiplies this by every track.
Extensions: .wav, .bwf.
How big are WAV files?
| File | Typical size |
|---|---|
| 1 minute of CD-quality stereo (44.1 kHz, 16-bit) | about 10 MB |
| 1 minute of 48 kHz 24-bit stereo | about 16.5 MB |
| 1 minute of 96 kHz 24-bit stereo | about 33 MB |
| A 4-minute song as 24-track stems at 48 kHz 24-bit (mono) | roughly 800 MB |
| A 1-hour podcast, 48 kHz 24-bit stereo | about 1 GB |
Which apps can send one?
Can you send a song's multitrack stems (about 800 MB) as an attachment?
| App | Limit | Fits? |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| Outlook.com | 20 to 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| WhatsApp (document) | 2 GB per file | Yes |
| Telegram | 2 GB per file | Yes |
| Facebook Messenger | 100 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Discord (free) | 20 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Slack | 1 GB per file | Yes |
| WeTransfer (free) | 3 GB per transfer | Yes |
| Share Large Video Files | 20 GB per transfer | Send the link anywhere |
Limits from our file size limits by app table, checked against each service's help pages.
How to send WAV files without changing them
- Open Share Large Video Files in any browser and choose Get a link (or Send by email).
- Drop WAV files on the upload box, or pick a whole folder. Up to 20 GB and 1000 files per transfer.
- Optional: add a password, a download limit or an expiry under More options.
- Copy the link (or show the QR code) and send it by chat or email. The recipient downloads the original file, byte for byte.
Tips for sending WAV files
- Name stems clearly and start them all at the same point so they line up in any DAW.
- Tell the recipient the sample rate and bit depth, for example 48 kHz 24-bit.
- Zip stems into one download. WAV compresses a little in a zip, but mainly it keeps them together.
- A single WAV cannot exceed 4 GB; very long recordings use RF64 or are split by the recorder.
How to open a WAV file
WAV plays almost everywhere: Windows Media Player, Mac QuickTime and Music, the iPhone Files app and Android music players and VLC. Every DAW (Logic, Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Reaper, Audacity) imports it.
On our download page: a WAV plays in the browser with a waveform, and the listener can leave comments at an exact time, which suits mix and voice-over reviews. The download is the original file.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a WAV file per minute?
About 10 MB for CD-quality stereo and about 16.5 MB for 48 kHz 24-bit stereo. Higher sample rates and more channels increase it proportionally.
Should I send WAV or MP3 to a mixing engineer?
WAV. Engineers need lossless audio. MP3 is fine for a quick listening reference.
How do I send all my stems at once?
Put them in one folder, zip it or upload the folder, and share the link. Keep the total under 20 GB per transfer.
Ready to send?
Drop your files, get a link, done. Free up to 20 GB — no account needed.
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