Free online AVI to PLS converter

What the AVI format is

AVI, or Audio Video Interleave, is a Microsoft container format used to store synchronized video and audio streams. Video capture utilities, older cameras, Windows editing software, and programs using Microsoft's Video for Windows framework commonly create AVI files. An AVI may contain PCM, MP3, AC-3, AAC, or another codec, so the extension alone does not identify its audio format.

Media players such as VLC and MPC-HC can usually open AVI, but some playlist players cannot use an AVI as an audio-only source. Extracting the audio stream is necessary when the target application expects a music file.

What the PLS format is

PLS is a plain-text playlist format used by audio players and internet radio applications, including Winamp-compatible software, VLC, and some car stereos and streaming clients. It stores entries such as filenames or URLs, display titles, durations, and the number of entries; it does not store or encode media.

A PLS file is useful when a player requires a playlist, when several extracted tracks must be played in order, or when a playlist needs to reference local files and streaming URLs. Its small size and human-readable structure make it easy to create or edit, but compatibility depends on the player supporting PLS and resolving the paths in each entry.

How to actually convert AVI to PLS

For a reliable desktop conversion, use FFmpeg to extract the audio and then create the playlist:

1. Install FFmpeg and place the AVI in a working folder.
2. Extract the audio to MP3 with ffmpeg -i input.avi -vn -c:a libmp3lame -q:a 2 extracted.mp3. The -vn option removes video; -q:a 2 requests high-quality variable-bitrate MP3 encoding.
3. Create a plain-text file named playlist.pls in the same folder.
4. Put the following content in the file:
   [playlist]
NumberOfEntries=1
File1=extracted.mp3
Title1=Extracted audio
Length1=-1
Version=2
5. Open playlist.pls in the target player. Use a relative filename such as extracted.mp3 when the playlist and audio stay together; use an absolute path only when the playlist will remain on one fixed computer.

To create multiple entries, add matching lines such as File2=second.mp3, Title2=Second track, and Length2=-1, then set NumberOfEntries=2. Duration values are seconds; -1 tells players that the duration is unknown.

You can also convert the file on the 101convert.com website for free without installing software. Upload the AVI, select PLS as the output when offered, and download the generated playlist together with any extracted audio file. Check that the downloaded PLS points to files that are present and uses paths understood by the intended player.

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

Creating a PLS file does not improve audio quality because it only stores references. Re-encoding the AVI audio to MP3 can reduce quality; if the source codec and the target player are compatible, extracting or remuxing without re-encoding avoids another lossy generation. The FFmpeg command above deliberately converts to MP3 for broad playback compatibility.

Some players accept only forward-slash paths, absolute paths, or local files, while others support HTTP streams in FileN entries. Keep filenames simple, save the playlist as plain text, and test it on the actual device because PLS support and path handling vary.