Free online TTA to AU converter

Source format: TTA

TTA stands for True Audio, a lossless audio format designed to compress music without removing any sound data. It is used by audiophiles, archivists, and anyone who wants to preserve original audio quality while reducing file size. TTA files are less common than FLAC or ALAC, but they are still found in music collections, backups, and audio archives where exact preservation matters.

Target format: AU

AU is a classic audio container format originally associated with Sun Microsystems and Unix systems. It is widely recognized by older software, Unix-like operating systems, and some audio tools. AU is simple and broadly compatible, but it is usually less efficient than modern formats and may store audio as uncompressed or lightly compressed data depending on the codec used. It is often chosen for compatibility with legacy systems, basic audio exchange, or technical workflows.

How to perform the conversion

The most reliable way to convert TTA to AU is with a desktop audio tool such as FFmpeg. Because TTA is lossless, the conversion can preserve audio quality as long as the AU output uses a compatible PCM encoding. If you only need a quick conversion without installing software, you can also convert the file on 101convert.com for free.

1. Install FFmpeg if it is not already available on your system.
2. Open a terminal or command prompt in the folder containing the TTA file.
3. Run a command such as ffmpeg -i input.tta output.au.
4. If needed, specify a standard PCM format for better compatibility, for example ffmpeg -i input.tta -c:a pcm_s16be output.au.
5. Open the resulting output.au file in your target player or editor to verify playback.

If you prefer a graphical workflow, some audio editors and converters can open TTA and export AU through File → Export or File → Save as, but support for TTA is less common than for FLAC or WAV. In that case, FFmpeg is usually the most dependable option.

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

TTA is lossless, so the source audio quality is preserved during decoding. However, the final AU file may be much larger than the original TTA because AU is often used with uncompressed PCM audio. Also, AU support varies by player: modern tools usually handle it, but some software expects specific sample formats or byte order. For best compatibility, use a standard PCM encoding such as 16-bit big-endian when creating AU files.

Another limitation is that AU is an older format, so it is not ideal if you want maximum compression or broad support across consumer devices. If your goal is long-term archiving or everyday playback, formats like FLAC or WAV are often more practical. Still, for legacy Unix workflows or systems that specifically require AU, this conversion is straightforward and dependable.