Free online TAK to AU converter

Source format: AU

AU is a simple audio file format originally associated with Sun Microsystems and early Unix systems. It is often used for basic sound clips, legacy audio archives, and older software or hardware that still expects this format. AU files may contain uncompressed PCM audio or compressed variants, and they are commonly encountered in technical environments, embedded systems, and older media collections.

Target format: TAK

TAK is a lossless audio compression format created by Thomas Becker. Its main advantage is very high compression efficiency while preserving the original audio data exactly. TAK is mainly used by audio enthusiasts and archivists who want to reduce file size without losing quality. Compared with more widely supported formats, TAK offers excellent compression, but playback support is more limited.

How to perform the conversion

The most practical way to convert AU to TAK is to use a desktop audio converter that supports both formats, or a workflow based on FFmpeg plus a TAK encoder if your tools support it. Because TAK is less common, the exact conversion path depends on the software you have installed.

1. Open your audio conversion software.
2. Import the .au file.
3. Choose TAK as the output format if it is available.
4. Set the desired quality or compression level if the program offers it.
5. Start the conversion and save the resulting .tak file.

If your converter does not support TAK directly, first convert the AU file to a lossless intermediate format such as WAV or FLAC, then encode that file to TAK with a TAK-capable encoder. In many audio tools, this is done through File → Open, then File → Export or Convert, followed by selecting the output format.

You can also convert the file on 101convert.com for free, without installing any software.

Notes on quality, compatibility, or limitations

This conversion is lossless only if the source AU file is uncompressed PCM or otherwise preserved through an intermediate lossless step. If the AU file already uses a lossy codec, the conversion will not restore lost audio data. Another important limitation is compatibility: AU is relatively old but widely readable by audio tools, while TAK support is much narrower, so the resulting file may not play in standard media players without additional codec support.

Also note that some AU files may use uncommon sample rates, bit depths, or channel layouts. If the target encoder does not accept those settings directly, you may need to resample or reformat the audio before encoding to TAK.