How to Download YouTube Audio as WAV

By Side A · Published 1 November 2026

Need a WAV file for an audio project? Side A can export a full prepared track or a selected clip as 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo WAV. Here is how to choose it—and what the format change does to your audio.

Understand the source first

Side A prepares a 320 kbps MP3 from the available source audio, then decodes that MP3 when you request WAV. The WAV download contains uncompressed PCM audio, but it is not a lossless copy of an original studio recording. It cannot restore information missing from the YouTube source or the MP3.

Choose WAV because your workflow needs that format, not because a larger download automatically sounds better. If you simply want a smaller listening copy, MP3 may be the better fit.

Download the full track as WAV

1. Copy the link to a public YouTube video you own or have permission to process.
2. Open Side A, paste the link, and select Get my audio.
3. Wait for the result card, then listen to the preview to confirm the recording.
4. In Full track format, choose WAV · 16-bit.
5. Edit Save as if you want a different filename. The extension changes to .wav automatically.
6. Select Save WAV and check your browser’s Downloads list for progress.

The initial button prepares the audio; the format selector in the finished result determines what you save. You do not need to submit the video again just to switch formats.

Download only a section as WAV

Select Trim audio beneath the track title. Set your start and end times, preview the selection, then choose WAV in Clip format and select Download clip. The full-track and clip format selectors are separate: changing one does not change the other.

Our audio trimming walkthrough explains the waveform handles, time fields, and loop preview.

How large will the WAV file be?

At Side A’s output settings, WAV audio uses about 176,400 bytes per second, plus a small file header. A one-minute export is approximately 10.6 MB; a three-minute export is approximately 31.8 MB. A 10-second clip is about 1.76 MB. These are decimal megabytes; browsers and devices may display different numbers when using binary units.

Allow enough device storage and download time. On a slower mobile connection, saving a short clip or choosing MP3 can substantially reduce the transfer size.

What if the download does not finish?

Check the browser’s download status before requesting another file. A message saying the download was requested means the transfer has been handed to your browser; it does not prove the file has finished saving. Confirm that the completed file opens and has the expected duration.

If an export fails, check your connection and available storage. Keep the result page open while retrying. If the temporary source has expired, prepare the video again. See download troubleshooting for other common causes.

Can I choose 24-bit or a different sample rate?

Not in the current interface. WAV exports use 16-bit PCM, 44.1 kHz, and two channels. Creating a stereo file does not add stereo detail to a mono source, and changing the sample rate cannot recreate missing frequencies.