Free online AU to WAVE converter

1. Source format: AU

AU is an older audio file format originally associated with Sun Microsystems and early Unix systems. It is commonly found in legacy software, older web content, and archived audio collections. AU files may contain uncompressed PCM audio or compressed audio data, and they are often used for simple sound clips, system sounds, and compatibility with older Unix-based tools.

2. Target format: WAV

WAV is one of the most widely supported audio container formats, developed by Microsoft and IBM. It is commonly used on Windows systems, in audio editing software, and for general-purpose audio exchange. WAV is valued for its broad compatibility, straightforward structure, and support for high-quality uncompressed audio, making it a strong choice when you need a format that works across many devices and applications.

3. How to perform the conversion

The easiest way to convert AU to WAV is to use a desktop audio tool such as Audacity or FFmpeg. If you want a quick browser-based option, you can convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing any software.

Using Audacity

1. Open Audacity.
2. Choose File → Import → Audio and select your .au file.
3. Check that the audio plays correctly.
4. Choose File → Export → Export as WAV.
5. Select the desired WAV settings, then save the file with a .wav extension.

Using FFmpeg

1. Install FFmpeg if it is not already available.
2. Run a command such as ffmpeg -i input.au output.wav.
3. If needed, specify a codec or sample format for compatibility, for example ffmpeg -i input.au -c:a pcm_s16le output.wav.

Using 101convert.com

1. Open the AU to WAV converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload your .au file.
3. Start the conversion.
4. Download the resulting .wav file.

4. Notes on quality, compatibility, or limitations

AU to WAV conversion is usually straightforward because both formats can store audio without changing the content itself. However, the output quality depends on the source AU file: if the AU file is already compressed or low quality, the WAV file will not improve it. In many cases, WAV output is larger than AU because WAV often stores uncompressed audio.

Some AU files use older or less common encodings, so not every editor can open them reliably. If a program fails to import the file, FFmpeg is often the most compatible fallback. Also note that WAV files are excellent for editing and playback compatibility, but they are not ideal for long-term storage when file size matters.