Free online DSS to AU converter

Source format: DSS

DSS is a compressed audio format associated with digital speech recorders, especially devices and software from Olympus and Philips. It was designed primarily for voice recording, not high-fidelity music playback. DSS files are commonly used in dictation, transcription, legal, medical, and office workflows because they keep file sizes small while preserving speech clarity.

Because DSS is optimized for spoken word, it is often encountered when recordings need to be archived, edited, or played back in software that supports speech-oriented formats.

Target format: AU

AU is an older audio container format originally associated with Unix systems. It can store uncompressed or simple encoded audio and is widely recognized by many audio tools and operating systems. AU is useful when you need a simple, broadly readable audio file for legacy compatibility, testing, or Unix-based workflows.

Compared with DSS, AU is generally less specialized and may be easier to open in standard audio editors and players, but it is not as compact for speech recordings unless the source is converted to a compressed AU-compatible encoding.

How to perform the conversion

The most reliable way to convert DSS to AU is to use a desktop audio converter or editor that can open DSS and export AU. If your DSS file comes from a supported recorder or transcription package, first make sure the file can be decoded correctly.

1. Open the DSS file in a compatible program such as Audacity with the appropriate import support, or the recorder’s own software if it can export to a standard audio format.
2. Verify that the recording plays correctly and that the speech is intelligible.
3. Choose File → Export or File → Save As, depending on the application.
4. Select AU as the output format. In some tools, this may appear as Sun AU or .au.
5. Adjust audio settings if available. For speech, a lower sample rate may be acceptable, but keep settings consistent with your intended use.
6. Save the converted file with a .au extension.

If you prefer a simple browser-based workflow, you can convert the file on 101convert.com for free, without installing any software.

For batch conversion or command-line workflows, a tool such as FFmpeg may help if your DSS file is already readable by the system or by a decoder plugin. In that case, the general pattern is to decode the DSS input and write AU output, for example with a command shaped like ffmpeg -i input.dss output.au. Actual DSS support depends on the build and available codecs.

Notes on quality and compatibility

DSS is speech-focused, so converting it to AU does not improve audio quality; it only changes the container and encoding. If the DSS source is low bitrate, the AU output will preserve that limitation.

Compatibility can be the main challenge. Many modern audio tools do not natively support DSS, especially older recorder variants. If the file will not open, you may need the original recorder software or a transcription application that can decode DSS before export.

AU is widely recognized but dated. It is suitable for legacy systems and Unix environments, but some consumer players and editors may have limited support compared with WAV or MP3. If broad playback compatibility is important, consider whether AU is truly the best target format for your workflow.