The Au file format introduced by Sun Microsystems is a simple audio format. It was common on NeXT systems and early Web pages. Originally headerless, being 8-bit μ-law-encoded data at an 8000 Hz sample rate.[1] Hardware often used higher sample rates, integer multiples of video frequencies. Newer files have a 6 unsigned 32-bit word header, optional non-zero sized information chunk, then big-endian data. Although it now supports many formats, it remains associated with the μ-law logarithmic encoding.
An AU Audacity file is created by Audacity, a cross-platform audio editor. Saved in a proprietary format used only by Audacity. AU files are part of Audacity projects, saved as .AUP files. When importing audio into an Audacity project, Audacity converts the file into an AU file. Each project’s AU files stored in that project’s myproject_data folder, which also contains the AUP file, named myproject.aup. When opening the AUP file in Audacity, Audacity searches for and loads the included AU files. If an AU file was moved from the myproject_data folder, Audacity shows an error when opening the AUP file.
Fortunately, free applications available easily convert AU files to common formats like WAV. Sun Microsystems AU files should not confuse with Audacity AU files. Audacity is a popular free, cross-platform audio editor. When importing audio data into an Audacity project, this data saved as AU files when saving the project. The AU files here represent Audacity Audio Blocks, not Sun Audio files, and not compatible with applications providing playback to standard AU files.
Below sample .au audio files for download. Details like size help decide which fits needs.
sample4.au. 00:04:04, 41.13 MB.
sample3.au. 00:01:46, 17.79 MB
The AU file extension a Sun Microsystems data format. AU files store data in three parts: a 24 byte header, variable length annotation block, the audio data. Used primarily on Sun or Unix-based machines. Adopted by programs like Adobe Audition, Java and QuickTime. Known as Unix audio files or audible files used to embed, play audio on Web pages. AU files small, poor quality. Convertible to MP3, WAV using Cool Music Converter, Switch, CyberPower’s Free Converter.
We hope explaining what the AU file is and how to open, view, convert it helps.
Audacity
WavePad
VLC Media Player
Adobe Audition