Audio tools

Audio Bitcrusher

Upload an audio file and crush its bit depth and sample rate for a gritty, lo-fi 8-bit sound. Preview instantly and download the result as a WAV.

Upload an audio file to see its waveform here.

How to use the audio bitcrusher

  1. Upload your audioChoose a file. It decodes in your browser and its waveform is drawn to a canvas.
  2. Set bit depth and hold amountLower the bit depth for a grittier sound, and raise the sample & hold amount for a lower effective sample rate.
  3. Apply, preview and downloadPress Apply bitcrush, listen to the result, then download it as a WAV file.

How the bitcrusher works

This tool applies two purely mathematical operations directly to the decoded audio samples: amplitude quantization and sample-and-hold downsampling. Both are classic techniques behind retro, lo-fi and chiptune-style audio effects, and both happen entirely in JavaScript with no external plugins.

Bit-depth quantization

Each sample's amplitude is rounded to the nearest of only 2^bit-depth possible levels, turning smooth waveforms into a coarse, stair-stepped shape.

Sample-and-hold

Instead of updating every sample, the output holds the last sampled value steady for a set number of samples, simulating a much lower sample rate.

Bit depth control

Lower values from 1 to 4 bits sound extremely crushed and noisy; higher values around 8 to 12 bits give a milder, classic retro-game texture.

Sample & hold control

Higher hold amounts make the audio sound more clipped, robotic and low-fidelity, similar to an old low-sample-rate recording.

Audio Bitcrusher FAQ

How does bit depth reduction change the sound?

Digital audio normally stores each sample as one of millions of possible amplitude levels. Lowering the bit depth quantizes every sample down to a much smaller number of levels, which adds a rough, stair-stepped, gritty texture to the sound.

What does the sample-and-hold amount do?

It holds each sample's value steady for a number of samples before updating, which simulates playing the audio back at a lower effective sample rate. Higher values sound more clipped and robotic, the classic low-sample-rate lo-fi effect.

Is this the classic 8-bit video game sound?

Yes, this combination of low bit depth and sample-and-hold downsampling is the same basic technique used to create retro 8-bit and lo-fi chiptune-style audio effects.

Will this work on any audio file?

Yes, upload any format your browser can decode, including MP3, WAV, M4A and OGG. The crushed result is exported as a WAV file.

Is my audio uploaded to a server?

No. Decoding, crushing and WAV encoding all happen locally in your browser using plain JavaScript math on the decoded audio samples. Your file never leaves your device.

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