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WAV file checker: sample rate, bit depth and length of any WAV

Check a WAV's sample rate, bit depth, length and peak before you send it.

Free · no accountRuns in your browser · nothing is uploaded

Type the project BPM to check the loop lands on whole bars of 4/4.

Results appear here: format, sample rate, bit depth, length, peak level and a send-readiness checklist.

How it works

A WAV file starts with a short header that states its format: how many channels, how many samples per second, how many bits each sample uses. The checker reads that header in your browser, lists every other chunk it finds (INFO tags, sampler loop points, an ACID tempo, broadcast metadata), and works out the length from the size of the audio data.

It then reads the samples themselves to find the peak level in dBFS and a rough RMS, and counts samples sitting at full scale. A single touch of full scale is a loud peak. Three or more in a row is a flattened wave, which is what clipping is, and the checklist flags only that.

The “Ready to send?” list compares the result with what a collaborator wants and with ColabLoop’s loop rules. Type your project tempo and it also checks the loop lands on whole bars of 4/4, within 10 milliseconds. It measures the file, not the music, so a pass means the numbers are fine, not that the loop is. For why those numbers matter, read the guide to checking a WAV before sending.

Questions

Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read inside this browser tab and nothing is sent, stored or logged. You can turn off your connection after the page loads and it still works.
What counts as clipping here?
Three or more consecutive samples at full scale in one channel. That means the wave was flattened when it was exported, and the lost detail cannot be recovered. One or two samples touching full scale is reported as a peak, not clipping.
Why does it say my 32-bit float file is over 0 dBFS?
Float files can store levels above full scale without damage, so a peak over 0 dBFS in a float file is not yet distorted. It will clip as soon as it is converted to an integer format or played through a converter, so lowering the level before you send is still the safer choice.
Why can it not open my MP3 or FLAC?
This tool reads uncompressed WAV only. A compressed file renamed to .wav is detected from its header and reported as not being a WAV. Export a real WAV from your DAW and check that one.
What are the ColabLoop length and size limits?
A loop must be 10 to 60 seconds long and no larger than 30 MB. The checker uses the same numbers the upload form does.

The full guide

How to check a WAV file before sending it: format, clipping and headroom →

What to check in a WAV before you send it to a producer: format, sample rate, bit depth, clipping, headroom, length and metadata, and how to fix each one.

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