AU to AIFF Converter
Convert AU to AIFF online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.
Maximum file size is 1GB
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Three steps to your converted file
Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.
Upload your file
Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.
Choose an output format
Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.
Convert & download
Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.
What is an AU file?
The AU file format is a simple container format introduced by Sun Microsystems and NeXT for UNIX-based systems. It typically contains μ-law (mu-law) logarithmic encoded audio data (G.711 standard) stored in a big-endian byte order, identified by the hexadecimal magic number 0x2e736e64 ('.snd'). The file structure consists of a minimal 24-byte header specifying data offset, sample rate, and encoding type, followed by an optional annotation block and the contiguous audio data, making it a standard for early Web audio (Java applets) and SPARCstation workstations.
How to open an AU file
Modern operating systems often lack direct associations for AU files due to their obsolescence. While some Linux distributions and macOS (via Core Audio) may support basic playback, Windows requires third-party software. The VLC media player is the primary recommendation for opening AU files across all platforms; alternatively, Audacity can be used to import the raw data and convert it to modern PCM formats like WAV.
AU Technical Info
- Full Name
- Sun Microsystems Audio
- Developed By
- Sun Microsystems / NeXT
- Initial Release
- 1988
- MIME Type
- audio/basic
What is an AIFF file?
The AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format) is a lossless audio container format developed by Apple Inc., functioning as the standard uncompressed audio format for the Macintosh platform. Based on the EA IFF 85 standard, AIFF files store data in Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) format using big-endian byte ordering. It is functionally analogous to the WAV format used on Windows but differs in its header structure and byte sequence. AIFF is widely used in professional audio recording and editing due to its lack of compression artifacts and high-fidelity signal retention.
How to open an AIFF file
AIFF is the native uncompressed audio format for macOS, allowing files to be opened immediately in QuickTime, Apple Music, and Logic Pro. Windows users can open AIFF files using Windows Media Player, though some metadata may not render correctly. For professional manipulation or playback on Linux and Windows systems, VLC Media Player and Adobe Audition are the industry-standard recommendations, ensuring accurate interpretation of the big-endian PCM data streams.
AIFF Technical Info
- Full Name
- Audio Interchange File Format
- Developed By
- Apple Inc.
- Initial Release
- 1988
- MIME Type
- audio/x-aiff
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Convert AU to AIFF in seconds
Every AU to AIFF conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.
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No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.
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Developer API
Convert AU to AIFF via API
Automate AU to AIFF conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.
# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"tag": "au-to-aiff",
"tasks": {
"upload-file": {
"operation": "import/upload"
},
"convert": {
"operation": "convert",
"input": "upload-file",
"output_format": "aiff"
},
"export-result": {
"operation": "export/url",
"input": "convert"
}
}
}'
# 2. Upload your file (use upload_url from the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" --upload-file input.au
# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.