Convert WMA to AU
Free online WMA to AU converter. No signup required.
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Max file size: 100 MB
Why Convert WMA to AU?
Understand when and why this conversion makes sense for your workflow.
Converting WMA Audio to Sun AU Audio ensures your audio files work across the widest possible range of devices, players, and streaming platforms. Audio formats differ significantly in their compression algorithms, bitrate support, and metadata handling. Whether you're archiving a music collection, preparing tracks for a podcast, or optimizing audio for a mobile app, selecting the right output format is essential for balancing playback compatibility with sound fidelity.
WMA Audio has a known limitation: proprietary Microsoft format with limited cross-platform support. In contrast, Sun AU Audio offers a key advantage: simple, well-documented format with a minimal header. While WMA Audio is commonly used for legacy windows media player libraries and playlists, Sun AU Audio is better suited for unix and solaris system audio and sound effects.
MegaConvert processes your WMA file and delivers a properly encoded AU output, preserving audio quality within the limits of the target format — free, instant, and private.
WMA vs AU: Format Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of the source and target formats.
| Property | WMA (Source) | AU (Target) |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .wma | .au |
| Full Name | WMA Audio | Sun AU Audio |
| Compression | Lossy | Varies |
| File Size | Varies | Varies |
| Best For | Legacy Windows Media Player libraries and pla… | Unix and Solaris system audio and sound effects |
| Browser Support | Varies | Varies |
How to Convert WMA to AU
Follow these simple steps to convert your file in seconds.
Upload your WMA audio
Drop your .wma audio file into the upload zone or browse to select it. Both short voice clips and full-length tracks work — typical WMA Audio files (under 100 MB) upload in seconds even on a slow connection. Album art and metadata in the file are read automatically.
Start the AU encode
Press the convert button to start. The audio stream is decoded from WMA Audio into PCM, then re-encoded as Sun AU Audio at a quality preset that matches the source bitrate where possible. Sample rate, channel count, and bit depth are preserved unless the target format restricts them.
Wait for the audio to finish encoding
Encoding speed depends on the length of the audio and the codec. Short clips finish in a few seconds; full-length albums can take 30 seconds or so. We do not throttle conversions — the limit is just the encoder's natural speed on the underlying hardware.
Download your .au file
When the conversion finishes, click the download link to save the new Sun AU Audio file to your computer. The file is yours — no watermarks, no expiration on the file itself, and no MegaConvert account is required to download it.
Tips for Converting WMA to AU
Practical advice to get the best results from this conversion.
Why this conversion is worth doing
WMA Audio has a known limitation: proprietary Microsoft format with limited cross-platform support. Sun AU Audio addresses this with a key advantage: simple, well-documented format with a minimal header. Converting from WMA to AU is most worthwhile when this specific trade-off matters for the way you intend to use the file.
Match the format to the actual workflow
WMA Audio is most commonly used for legacy windows media player libraries and playlists, while Sun AU Audio is the standard for unix and solaris system audio and sound effects. If your workflow is closer to the second pattern, converting makes sense. If you are still working in a context where WMA is the norm, converting may create unnecessary compatibility friction with collaborators or tools that expect the source format.
Watch for this limitation in the AU output
Sun AU Audio has its own limitation worth understanding before you commit: largely obsolete for general-purpose audio use. After the conversion completes, open the AU file and verify that this limitation does not affect your specific use case — for some workflows it is irrelevant; for others it can be a deal-breaker.
Understand lossy vs. lossless before converting
Converting from a lossy format like MP3 to a lossless format like FLAC or WAV does not restore lost audio data — it only changes the container. If you need true lossless quality, always start from an uncompressed or lossless source. Converting lossless to lossy, however, is a valid way to reduce file size for streaming or mobile playback.
Understanding WMA and AU Formats
Learn about the source and target file formats to understand what happens during conversion.
Source Format
WMA Audio
audio/x-ms-wmaWMA (Windows Media Audio) is a proprietary audio compression format developed by Microsoft as part of the Windows Media framework. It supports lossy, lossless, and voice-optimized encoding profiles. WMA was designed to compete with MP3 and offers comparable quality at lower bitrates, though its usage has declined significantly in favor of more universal formats.
Advantages
- Good compression efficiency, especially at lower bitrates
- Includes DRM support for protected content distribution
- Native integration with Windows Media Player and Windows ecosystem
Limitations
- Proprietary Microsoft format with limited cross-platform support
- Not supported natively on macOS, iOS, or many Linux systems
- Declining usage and relevance compared to MP3, AAC, and Opus
Common Uses
- Legacy Windows Media Player libraries and playlists
- DRM-protected audio content from older music stores
- Windows-centric audio workflows and applications
Target Format
Sun AU Audio
audio/basicAU 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about converting WMA to AU.
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