MMegaConvert

Convert AU to FLAC

Free online AU to FLAC converter. No signup required.

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Max file size: 100 MB

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How to Convert AU to FLAC

Follow these simple steps to convert your file in seconds.

  1. 1

    Upload your .au file

    Drag and drop your .au file into the upload area, or click "Browse" to select it from your device. Your file is uploaded securely and processed on our servers.

  2. 2

    Click "Convert to FLAC"

    Once your file is uploaded, press the convert button to start the AU to FLAC conversion process.

  3. 3

    Wait for the conversion to complete

    The conversion usually takes just a few seconds. You can see the progress in real time while your file is being processed.

  4. 4

    Download your converted .flac file

    When the conversion is finished, click the download button to save your new .flac file. The file is ready to use immediately.

Understanding AU and FLAC Formats

Learn about the source and target file formats to understand what happens during conversion.

Source Format

Sun AU Audio

audio/basic

AU is an audio file format introduced by Sun Microsystems and commonly associated with Unix and NeXT systems. It supports various encodings including uncompressed PCM, mu-law, and A-law compression, with a simple header structure. AU was one of the earliest audio formats supported on the web and remains used in Unix-based audio programming.

Advantages

  • Simple, well-documented format with a minimal header
  • Native support in Unix, Solaris, and Java audio APIs
  • Supports multiple encoding types including mu-law for telephony

Limitations

  • Largely obsolete for general-purpose audio use
  • Limited metadata support and no modern compression options
  • Poor support in consumer audio software and devices

Common Uses

  • Unix and Solaris system audio and sound effects
  • Java application audio playback (javax.sound)
  • Legacy telephony and voice processing systems

Target Format

FLAC Audio

audio/flac

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is an open-source lossless audio compression format that typically reduces file sizes by 40-60% compared to uncompressed WAV. It preserves the complete original audio data bit-for-bit, allowing perfect reconstruction of the source. FLAC supports high-resolution audio up to 32-bit depth and 655,350 Hz sample rate with embedded metadata and album art.

Advantages

  • Completely lossless compression preserving bit-perfect audio quality
  • Open-source and royalty-free with broad software and hardware support
  • Typically 40-60% smaller than equivalent WAV files

Limitations

  • Still significantly larger than lossy formats like MP3 or AAC
  • Not supported by all portable devices and car audio systems
  • Encoding and decoding requires more CPU resources than uncompressed formats

Common Uses

  • Audiophile music collections and high-fidelity playback
  • Lossless music archival and library preservation
  • Source format for transcoding to lossy formats for distribution

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about converting AU to FLAC.

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