Fixing corrupted .wav files easily using the free VLC media player

We had some problems after recording raw 4K footage, where the .wav sidecar file wouldn't import into video editing apps like Premiere Pro, Avid or Final Cut Pro.

We fixed the file by importing it into the VLC Media Player and converting it. No other media player could import the file for some reason, so it was pretty impressive VLC fixed it. It's quick, easy, and, since it's open source software, it's free.

This should work for any .wav file, not just ones for video.

[AdamLoboTV]

Go Bless you, my friend! You are such a savior for creating this video; even in the year 2022 it's super useful!

[clarkkegley]

Saved me from reshooting! Thanks dude. Still works in 2022

[robertcampbell]

Saved the day. This worked for me.
My ZOOM H6 recorder ran out of batteries at an event. Luckily I noticed and changed them before missing anything important but it left the file I was recording corrupted and this method fixed it.
Thank you Digital Anarchy from the CCS Video team.

[rdmotivate]

God bless you man you saved me i had a heart attack realizing that over an hour of an interview wasn't playing for a client of mine, found your video and it worked like gold. you are my saving angel. thank you so much for making this video. it saved my life.

[head]

This video was posted some seven years ago and it reverberates to this very day. Thank you. I had just finished two important interviews and while one was pristine on my Zoom equipment, the other was not available, despite the file showing over 300 mb in data. I worked a long while and finally found that I could listen to it on VLC but was so tired I could figure out on how to export it for use in my editing software. Your video from seven years ago has helped me set up everything for the final edits tomorrow and good night's sleep tonight. It is not a small thing on how much you have help me tonight. Thank you.

[BRAINR]

Even after 6 years this video is relevant, thank you so much for your tutorial

[alecsyogacorner]

Came here to say the same thing as everything else - this tutorial saved my life!!! Thank you so much, from a podcast producer who didn't have to break any bad news to his hosts!

[bazmo]

Thank you for posting this video, a desk recording of a gig was failing to open, whereas Adobe Audition was able to repair the file last time this happened. Using VCL Media player worked a treat.

[octoinkjet]

Just to add to the litany of "Thank-you!" comments. This saved me from a terrible "forgot to stop the recording before popping the memory card" failure. Small note in that VLC didn't seem to allow me to recover to a WAV file but MP3 worked just fine so much relief and money saved from the cuss/swear jar. Thanks again.

[LIOTBs]

THANK YOU! Exactly what I needed! VLC player was the only thing that could play it and save it!

[maxone]

Thank you so so much. I had 1.5hr long speech file, which for no reason got corrupted. With this trick using VLC, no other paid program, I restored the file and it works perfectly. You saved my life!!!

[woodvineandco]

You're the bloody best! Tried a few other videos with no luck. Thankyou!!!

[tlwilliamsbr]

THE POINT. 3 minutes in and all you have done is reviewed the situation which we all already encounter ourselves in.

[Zebra_Paw]

I tested with a wav file from a GarageBand project... in VLC it was giving an error playing it, saying that the output file already existed and that keeping recording would shrink it, which made no sense to me so I selected keep existing file.
Going to my documents folder, the file VLC made also had no audio.
The file still appears to have the data in it, like yours

[sciencequeen]

Thank you so much! I already had VLC, so I was happy that this worked to repair my .wav file! Your instructions were clear and easy to follow and the new file worked when I opened it with Audacity.

[billseng]

You're a life saver! Never thought to use VLC!  Works perfectly!  I actually had to run CHKDSK (Windows) on my thumb drive (recorded directly from soundboard) to create FILE000[0-2].CHK files.  I was able to convert FILE0002.CHK to WAV file.  Prior to this I was deleting the audio files.  Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

[omonser]

Heyy! It's 2021 and your 2015 vid helped me a lot. So I just wanted to say thank you!

[brotherhoodfilms]

God bless you! You saved me as well! I filmed an important scene and lost a key audio clip but you brought my project back to life! Thank you. I will pray for you, man!

[dominicvadim]

I've just saved a dj mix i have recorded. 1 hour long, i thought it was lost. Thank you !!

[tyjackson]

OMG THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU... I filmed a 3 day event, and 2 1 hour sessions of day 3 were messed up... I had no idea what to do... You just saved me... You ROCK dude...BAM