How to Use an Audio Bitrate Converter

To change the bitrate of your audio, follow these simple steps:

  1. Download and install Movavi Video Converter.
  2. Add your files to the program and choose the desired output and bitrate.
  3. Start the conversion.
Edited by Ben Jacklin
21,183

What is bitrate? Bitrate is the number of bits per second. It’s the parameter that 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.

Below you’ll find guides to changing the audio bitrate with Movavi Video Converter and using an online conversion tool.

How to use the MP3 bitrate converter from Movavi

You can use Movavi Video Converter as a bitrate changer for both audio and video files. Thanks to extensive media format support and a user-friendly interface, Movavi Video Converter will help you change audio or video bitrate quickly and easily.

To change the bitrate of your audio files, just download the necessary version of Video Converter and follow these five easy steps.

Step 1. Install Movavi’s bitrate converter

Download and run the installation file for Movavi Video Converter. Follow the instructions on your computer screen to install the software.

Step 2. Add the files you want to convert

To add audio files to the program, click the Add Media button and choose the Add Audio option. Locate the file(s) you want to convert on your computer and click Open. You can also drag and drop the files into Movavi Video Converter right from the folder they're stored in.

Step 3. Choose the audio format

Open the Audio tab and click on your desired audio format. Now select the preset with the desired bitrate from the list (this option is not available for FLAC, OGG, WAV, and M4A files). If you chose a preset with a specific bitrate and don't want to customize it, you can skip the next step and proceed to the conversion (Step 5) right away.

Step 4. Specify the new bitrate value

Click the Cogwheel button next to the Output format field. In the window that opens, you have the option to change audio parameters such as sample rate, number of channels, and bitrate (settings vary depending on the format you choose). Here we describe how to change bitrate for an MP3 file.

To set a specific bitrate, select the Custom option under Bitrate type. Then specify the bitrate in the Bitrate (kbps) box and click OK to confirm the changes.

Step 5. Change the bitrate of your MP3 file

Before launching the conversion, specify the folder where your converted files should be saved. Click the Save to button and choose an existing folder on your computer or create a new one. You can also stay with the default destination folder.

How to use an audio bitrate converter online

If you don’t want to install desktop software, you can change the bitrate of your media file online. Try videoconverter.com – a free online bitrate converter. It’s a good option if your media file is not too large, since the file size is limited. One other thing to mention is that this online converter can process only one file at a time, so you can’t convert a batch of files simultaneously. Read our short guide below to learn how to change the bitrate of MP3 online.

To upload your audio file, click Add Your Media, choose the file, and click Open. The default output format is MP4, so click that to open the list of formats and select Audio. Pick MP3 and click the Settings icon on the right. Open the list of bitrates in the Audio quality field and pick the bitrate you need. Hit Convert; when the process is complete, you will be able to download the file to your computer.

Popular reasons for making the bitrate lower

You may sometimes need to change the audio bitrate in a media file, most likely to a lower rate. Here are the most popular reasons for making the bitrate lower.

Files taking up too much space

Files with a high bitrate can be very large. To reduce the size of your file, convert it to a lower bitrate, but remember that this will lower the quality. The best solution is to find a balance between size and quality that gives you the best of both worlds.

File transfer is too slow

When you upload a large file to your mobile device, the transfer can take a long time. Lowering the bitrate of the media file will reduce the file size, and you will be able to upload it much faster.

Uploading files to a website takes too long

You can upload your audio to a website faster if you reduce the file size. To make the file smaller, try lowering the bitrate with special bitrate alteration software.

Frequently asked questions

What is bitrate in audio?

Bitrate in audio refers to the amount of data processed per second in a digital audio file, typically measured in kilobits per second (kbps). A higher bitrate generally means better sound quality but also larger file sizes, while a lower bitrate reduces file size but may compromise audio clarity.

If you need to adjust the bitrate of your audio files, Movavi Video Converter makes it easy to customize settings to balance quality and file size according to your needs.

What is a good audio bitrate?

A good audio bitrate depends on the desired balance between quality and file size. For high-quality audio, 320 kbps is ideal for MP3 files, while 256 kbps offers a good compromise between quality and storage space. For streaming, 128–192 kbps is typically sufficient, while lossless formats like FLAC or WAV maintain the highest quality at much higher bitrates (usually above 1000 kbps).

No matter the option you prefer, Movavi Video Converter will provide an easy way to adjust the bitrate whether for high-fidelity listening or efficient storage.

Is higher bitrate better for audio?

Yes, a higher bitrate generally results in better audio quality, as it allows for more detail and clarity in the sound. However, this also increases the file size. The best bitrate depends on your needs – if you prioritize sound quality, a higher bitrate is ideal, but if storage space is a concern, a lower bitrate may be more practical.

The whole process might sound overly technical, but with Movavi Video Converter you will be surprised how easy it actually is to adjust the bitrate to suit your preferences.

Have questions?

Have questions?

If you can’t find the answer to your question, please feel free to contact our Support Team.

Join for how-to guides, special offers, and app tips!

1.5M+ users already subscribed to our newsletter

By signing up, I agree to receive marketing emails from Movavi and agree to Movavi's Privacy Policy.