Properties of AVS Files and How to Open a File with .avs Extension

AVS files exist as 6 different types. Please find information about each of them below.

Type 1: AVS Preset File

AVS files contain settings for animations in Winamp's Advanced Visualization Studio plugin. The animations visualize the music played in Winamp based on beats and transitions. Winamp supports various ...

General Information

Title	AVS Preset File Extension
Extension	.avs
Full Form	Advanced Visualization Studio Preset
File Type	Preset File
Developer	Nullsoft
MIME Type	application/x-avs-preset

File Function

Primary Function	Store presets
Additional Functions	Visual effects configuration
Features	Customizable, Extensible

File Characteristics

Quality	Visual quality
Supports Layers	Yes
Supports Transparency	Yes
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

Music Visualization	Yes
Media Playback	Yes
Custom Graphics	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Script execution
Best Practices	Safe source download

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Late 1990s
Latest Version	N/A

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.milk, .sps

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Winamp	Free	Windows
AVS Editor	Free	Windows

Type 2: Avid Project Preferences File

General Information

Title	AVS File Extension
Extension	.avs
Full Form	Avid Project Preferences File
File Type	Preferences File
Developer	Avid Technology
MIME Type	application/octet-stream

File Function

Primary Function	Store preferences
Additional Functions	Store settings
Features	Non-media, Configurable

File Characteristics

Quality	Text-based
Supports Layers	N/A
Supports Transparency	N/A
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

Video Editing	Yes
Project Configuration	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Low risk
Best Practices	Backup, Version control

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	1989
Latest Version	Corresponds to Avid software release

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.avb, .avp, .avs

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Avid Media Composer	Paid, Subscription	Windows, Mac
Avid Pro Tools	Paid, Subscription	Windows, Mac

Type 3: Application Visualization System File

Files with AVS extension contain digital video and audio content compressed by the Audio Video Coding Standard. AVS files are used in TV, streaming, and media. Winamp stores Advanced Visualization Studio plug-in presets in AVS files. These include animation settings for visualizations during audio playback.

The AVS file extension has five file types, primarily being Adobe Photoshop Variations. Although categorized as data files, AVS can also be settings or video files. AVS files are found on Windows, Mac, and Android. They have a low popularity rating, meaning not commonly found on devices.

This discusses opening and using AVS files for: Avid Video Scripts, Advanced Visualization Studio Presets, and Application Visualization System Scripts. Avid Video Script AVS files store non-linear video editing data like clips, transitions and effects.

AVS was originally by Stardent computer for visualization. The AVS format description is not available. It is a graphic file used by XnView.

Adobe Photoshop AVS files are Adobe Photoshop Variations Data. Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editor by Adobe Systems. The AVS format description is not available. It is a data file used by Photoshop.

The AVS specification has configuration files applied by Advanced Visualization Studio for Winamp audio playback. It has animation and beat settings visually reproduced from music played. AVS files are predefined preset effects saved as plugins to load and edit.

There are free online AVS file apps to view, edit, convert, merge, split, and compare without installing anything.

The avs extension relates to the old Application Visualization Software (AVS) from Stardent in the 90s. The avs file is a bitmap image created in AVS. Note the format assumes byte ordering as per SGI/Macintosh/Motorola processors. Appropriate byte swapping is required if reading an AVS image from a machine with the opposite byte ordering.

If AVS files do not open, double-check the file extension was not misspelled or changed. This can make the file unrecognizable to operating systems and applications.

General Information

Title	AVS File Extension
Extension	.avs
Full Form	Application Visualization System File
File Type	Data Visualization File
Developer	Stardent Computer, Inc.
MIME Type	text/plain

File Function

Primary Function	Store visualization
Additional Functions	Data analysis, Scripting
Features	3D graphics, Scientific data

File Characteristics

Quality	High resolution
Supports Layers	No
Supports Transparency	Yes
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

Scientific Research	Yes
Data Analysis	Yes
Educational Purposes	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Script vulnerabilities
Best Practices	Validate scripts, Update software

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Late 1980s
Latest Version	Varies by software

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.dx, .vtk, .xmdv

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
AVS/Express	Paid	Windows, Unix
OpenDX (Open Data Explorer)	Free	Windows, Linux, AIX

Type 4: AviSynth Script

AVS is a script file format for AviSynth software. AviSynth acts as video editor controlled by scripts. It links digital video files like AVI or MPEG to media players or encoders. On its website find ...

General Information

Title	AVS File Extension
Extension	.avs
Full Form	AviSynth Script File
File Type	Script File
Developer	Ben Rudiak-Gould, AviSynth Team
MIME Type	text/plain

File Function

Primary Function	Video processing
Additional Functions	Non-linear editing, Frame serving
Features	Script-based, Frame-accurate

File Characteristics

Quality	Lossless
Supports Layers	Via plugins
Supports Transparency	Via plugins
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

Video Editing	Yes
Post-Production	Yes
Video Filters	Yes
Encoding	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Script injection
Best Practices	Validate plugins, Update regularly

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	2000
Latest Version	AviSynth+ 3.7.0 (2021)

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.vpy, .py, .txt

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
AviSynth+	Free	Windows
VirtualDub	Free	Windows
FFmpeg	Free	Windows, Mac, Linux

Type 5: AVS Workgroup of China Video

A file extension is a set of characters at the end of a filename indicating the file type. The .avs extension tells Windows that the file conforms to the Chinese AVS1 video coding standard. Most playe...

General Information

Title	AVS File Extension
Extension	.avs
Full Form	AVS Video Editor Project File
File Type	Video Project File
Developer	Online Media Technologies
MIME Type	application/octet-stream

File Function

Primary Function	Store video editing project
Additional Functions	Preserve edits, transitions
Features	Non-linear editing, Multiple tracks

File Characteristics

Quality	Depends on source
Supports Layers	Yes
Supports Transparency	Yes
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

Video Editing	Yes
Movie Making	Yes
Home Videos	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Malicious code
Best Practices	Regular updates, Project backups

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Unknown
Latest Version	Refer to developer

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.vep, .vpj, .imovieproj

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
AVS Video Editor	Commercial	Windows

Type 6: Adobe Photoshop Variations File

The .avs file extension is used by 6 file types. The primary type is the Adobe Photoshop Variations File format developed by Adobe Systems. AVS files are settings that contain adjustments applied to i...

General Information

Title	AVS File Extension
Extension	.avs
Full Form	Adobe Photoshop Variations File
File Type	Settings File
Developer	Adobe Systems
MIME Type	application/vnd.adobe.photoshop

File Function

Primary Function	Store color adjustments
Additional Functions	Preserve variations settings

File Characteristics

Quality	Lossless
Supports Layers	N/A
Supports Transparency	N/A
Editable	Yes

Use Cases

Image Editing	Yes
Color Management	Yes

Security and Practices

Security Risks	Low risk
Best Practices	Backup, version control

Historical/Version Information

Initial Release	Circa Photoshop 5.0
Associated With	Variations command

Associated Types

Similar Extensions

.psd, .asl, .aco

Software Compatibility

Software	Usage Policy	OS Compatibility
Adobe Photoshop	Subscription	Windows, Mac