I can’t upload my file. Why not?
First of all, please make sure that the file you are trying to upload meets our uploading requirements:
Maximum file size: 20 MB, or recording length up to 10 minutes
Supported formats: m4a, mp3
16 Bit, 44100, or 48000 Hz Sample Rate
Mono or stereo files only
Maximum compression: 64kbps (mono) and 128kbps (stereo)
How do I convert my file to an accepted file format?
Most Audio File Editors and Digital Audio Workstations will enable you to save your file in mp3 or m4a file formats. Paid programs such as Apple GarageBand, Adobe Audition, Reaper, Apple Logic Pro, Motu Digital Performer, Avid Pro Tools, Ableton Live, and Propellerhead Reason will all allow this function, but although they are widely available, they may be too expensive, and overpowered to purchase for this function alone.
A couple of great FREE alternatives are VLC and Audacity (available for Windows, Mac, and Linux here: https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ and http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/, respectively).
An excellent step-by-step guide for using VLC for this can be found here.
iTunes is also able to convert between these file types; there’s an easy how-to guide here: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1550.
Please note that to export mp3 files from Audacity, you will need to separately download and install the LAME mp3 audio codec, following the instructions found on the Audacity Wiki here.
And to export m4a files from Audacity, you will need to separately download and install the FFMPEG audio codec, following the instructions found on the Audacity Wiki here.
A more complete list of alternatives may be found here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_audio_conversion_software
My file is too big. How do I make it smaller?
If your file is too big, you’ll have to try recompressing it with lower-quality settings or shortening its duration with the above tools. Perhaps try a lower compression bitrate (96kbps instead of 128kbps, 48kbps instead of 64kbps) or, if you don’t need stereo (2-channel left and right), try saving as mono instead.