Export audio in Waveform by selecting your track, choosing File > Export Audio, picking your format and location, then clicking Export

Waveform is a digital audio workstation (DAW) made by Tracktion, and exporting means saving your finished recording or mix as an audio file you can play anywhere — on your phone, share with collaborators, or upload to streaming platforms. The export process takes about 30 seconds once you know where the buttons are, and the format you choose affects file size and sound quality.

This guide walks you through the exact steps, the format choices that matter, and what to do when export settings confuse you.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the File menu, select Export Audio, choose your format (WAV for lossless, MP3 for smaller files), and click Export to save your track.
  • WAV files preserve all audio detail but create large files; MP3 files are smaller and work everywhere but lose some sound information.
  • You can export a single track or your entire mix by selecting what you want before you open the export dialog.
  • The export window shows you where the file will save and lets you rename it before you finish.

The basic export steps in Waveform

Start by opening your project in Waveform. Make sure you have finished editing and are ready to save the final version. If you want to export just one track instead of everything, click on that track to select it — the track header will highlight when it is selected.

Go to the top menu and click File. A dropdown list appears. Click Export Audio. A new window opens showing export options. At the top, you will see a field with the current filename — you can change this to anything you want. Below that is a dropdown menu showing the current format, usually set to WAV by default.

Choose where you want to save the file by clicking the folder icon or the path shown at the bottom of the window. Navigate to your Desktop, Documents folder, or wherever you keep finished audio. Once you have picked the location and filename, click the Export button. Waveform processes the audio and saves it. A progress bar appears while this happens — depending on your track length and your computer speed, this can take a few seconds to a minute.

Understanding WAV versus MP3 and other formats

The format you choose changes how the file sounds and how big it is. WAV is the standard for music production and mastering because it stores every bit of audio information without throwing anything away — this is called lossless compression. A WAV file of a three-minute song is usually 30 to 50 megabytes. Use WAV when you are sharing with other producers, sending to a mastering engineer, or keeping your own archive.

MP3 is smaller and plays on every device, phone, and streaming app. It removes audio information your ear probably will not notice, which is why a three-minute MP3 is usually 3 to 5 megabytes instead of 30. The trade-off is that once you export to MP3, you cannot get that detail back. Use MP3 when you are sharing on social media, sending to friends, or uploading to platforms like SoundCloud or YouTube.

Waveform also offers FLAC (lossless but smaller than WAV), OGG (similar to MP3 but less common), and AIFF (similar to WAV, used mainly on older systems). For most people, WAV and MP3 cover everything you need.

Exporting a single track versus your entire mix

By default, Waveform exports everything you hear — all tracks playing together. If you want to export just one instrument or vocal, click on that track's header to select it before you open the export dialog. The track will show a highlight or border indicating it is selected. Then go to File > Export Audio as usual. Only that track will export.

If you want to export multiple tracks but not all of them, you have to export them one at a time. Select the first track, export it with a clear name like "vocals.wav". Then select the second track and export it as "drums.wav". This is useful when you are sending stems (individual instrument tracks) to a mixing engineer or collaborator.

To export your full mix again after exporting individual tracks, click somewhere empty in the track area to deselect everything, then export normally.

Choosing quality settings and bit depth

When you click on the format dropdown in the export window, you often see options for quality or bit depth. For WAV files, you will usually see choices like 16-bit or 24-bit. 16-bit is the standard for CDs and streaming and is fine for almost everything. 24-bit preserves more detail and is used in professional studios, but the file is larger and most people cannot hear the difference on consumer speakers or headphones.

For MP3, you will see a bitrate option, usually measured in kilobits per second (kbps). 192 kbps or 256 kbps is high quality and sounds good on any device. 128 kbps is lower quality and noticeably compressed, but files are smaller. Unless you have a reason to go lower, stick with 192 or 256 kbps.

If you are unsure, use the default settings Waveform suggests — they are designed for the format you picked and will work for almost any purpose.

What to do if the export fails or sounds wrong

If you click Export and nothing happens, or you see an error message, the most common cause is that Waveform cannot write to the folder you picked. Try saving to your Desktop or Documents folder instead — these almost always have write permission. If the error mentions a filename, make sure you are not using special characters like asterisks or forward slashes in the filename.

If the exported file plays but sounds distorted, clipped, or too quiet, the issue is usually the volume level of your mix. Before you export, look at the master fader (the rightmost vertical slider in most DAWs) and make sure it is not in the red. If it is, turn it down and export again. A good mix should peak around -3 to -6 decibels on the master meter, leaving headroom so nothing clips.

If you exported to MP3 and the sound quality seems poor compared to your WAV, that is normal — MP3 compression removes detail. If it bothers you, export to WAV instead, or try a higher MP3 bitrate like 320 kbps.

Exporting at different sample rates

Sample rate is how many times per second Waveform records the audio — measured in kilohertz (kHz). Most projects run at 44.1 kHz (the CD standard) or 48 kHz (the video standard). When you export, Waveform uses whatever sample rate your project is set to.

You do not usually need to change this. If you are exporting for YouTube or video, 48 kHz is standard. If you are exporting for streaming or CD, 44.1 kHz is standard. Waveform handles this automatically based on your project settings. If you need a different sample rate, you can change your project sample rate in the project settings before you export, but this is rare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I export just a section of my track instead of the whole thing?

Yes. Before you open the export dialog, use your mouse to click and drag across the timeline to select only the part you want. The selected region will highlight. Then go to File > Export Audio. Waveform will export only the highlighted section. Make sure nothing is selected if you want the entire track.

What format should I use if I am uploading to YouTube or Spotify?

YouTube and Spotify both accept MP3 files. Export to MP3 at 192 kbps or higher, and the platform will handle the rest. If you want to keep a high-quality version for yourself, export to WAV as well and keep that as your master copy.

Why is my exported file so much larger than I expected?

You probably exported to WAV instead of MP3. WAV files are 10 to 15 times larger because they store all audio information. If file size matters, use MP3 instead. If you need both, export one of each — keep the WAV as your archive and use the MP3 for sharing.

Can I export multiple tracks at once without exporting them separately?

Not in a single file. Waveform exports either one selected track or all tracks mixed together. If you need individual tracks as separate files, you have to export each one by itself. Some DAWs have a "batch export" feature, but Waveform does not.

What happens if I export over a file that already exists?

Waveform will ask you to confirm before it overwrites the old file. You can click yes to replace it or no to cancel and pick a different filename.