AVR to SD2 Converter

Transform Audio Visual Research AVR into Sound Designer II

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Research Audio Rescue

Extract audio from the legacy AVR format and convert to SD2 — make Atari ST research recordings accessible in a supported format.

No Emulator Required

Convert AVR files without an Atari ST emulator or SoX command line. The entire process runs in your web browser.

Secure Processing

Uploaded AVR files are deleted immediately after conversion. Output files are purged within 24 hours.

How to convert AVR to SD2

1

Select files from Computer, Google Drive, Dropbox, URL or by dragging it on the page.

2

Choose sd2 or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your sd2 file right afterwards

About formats

AVR (Audio Visual Research) is an audio format that originated on the Apple Macintosh around 1989, created by the Audio Visual Research company for their editing and synthesis tools. It stores raw audio samples preceded by a fixed-length header containing sample rate, bit depth (8 or 16 bits), channel configuration, and loop point markers. Unlike complex container formats, AVR uses a flat binary structure with no compression, preserving the full waveform quality at the expense of larger files. The format served professional Macintosh audio workstations during the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the Mac platform dominated creative computing. One advantage is uncompressed storage guaranteeing zero artifacts and perfect signal integrity through editing operations. Native loop markers represent another feature, letting sound designers define seamless repetition points within the file — ahead of its time for sample-based music production. Tools like SoX maintain AVR support, ensuring archivists can access and convert these legacy recordings. While eclipsed by WAV and AIFF, AVR remains a notable piece of early digital audio history.
Initial release: 1989
Sound Designer II (SD2) is a professional audio format created by Digidesign around 1988 as the successor to the original Sound Designer format. For over a decade, SD2 was the standard interchange format in professional recording studios, especially those on Macintosh systems. It stores uncompressed linear PCM audio at up to 24-bit resolution with sample rates used in professional production (44.1, 48, 88.2, and 96 kHz). A distinctive technical trait is its reliance on the classic Mac OS resource fork for critical metadata — sample rate, bit depth, and channel configuration — while audio data resides in the data fork. This design worked elegantly within the Mac ecosystem but created portability challenges when files moved to Windows or Unix. A key advantage was SD2's support for multiple channels in a single file and tight integration with the Pro Tools editing environment, enabling non-destructive region-based editing. The format also carried loop points and markers, making it valuable for sample libraries. As Avid Technology shifted Pro Tools toward WAV and AIFF, SD2 usage declined, but millions of legacy session archives still contain SD2 files needing occasional conversion.
Initial release: 1988

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert AVR to SD2?

SD2 was the native Pro Tools format. Converting AVR integrates research audio into legacy Pro Tools sessions.

What can open SD2 files?

Pro Tools (legacy), Audacity, and SoX read SD2.

What is the AVR format?

AVR (Audio Visual Research) is an audio format developed for the Atari ST computer. It was used in academic and research audio applications.

Is AVR widely supported today?

AVR is a niche legacy format. SoX and Audacity can read it on modern systems, but mainstream media players do not support it.

Can I convert multiple AVR files at once?

Yes. Upload several AVR recordings and batch-convert them all simultaneously — efficient for processing research audio libraries.