CDDA to AVR Converter

Convert CD audio to Audio Visual Research format

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Retro Computing Audio

Transform CDDA into AVR — the Audio Visual Research format native to Atari ST computers and vintage audio research tools.

CD-Quality Source

Starting from uncompressed CDDA ensures the highest fidelity input for AVR encoding — your retro audio starts from the best.

Cloud Processing

No Atari emulator or retro tools needed. Convert CDDA to AVR on our servers from any modern web browser.

How to convert CDDA to AVR

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

CDDA (Compact Disc Digital Audio), known as the Red Book standard, defines audio stored on music CDs. Jointly developed by Sony and Philips and published in 1980, it established parameters that shaped digital audio for decades: 16-bit linear PCM at 44.1 kHz stereo, yielding 1,411.2 kbps uncompressed. Each disc holds up to 80 minutes organized into tracks with index points, sub-channel data for text display, and error correction codes (CIRC) ensuring reliable playback despite minor scratches. When audio is ripped from a CD, the resulting stream is often saved with the .cdda extension as raw PCM before conversion. The most obvious advantage is uncompressed, lossless nature — what reaches your ears is mathematically identical to the studio master at the specified resolution. Robust error correction provides excellent resilience, maintaining audio integrity even when disc surfaces suffer moderate wear. Having sold billions of units since the first commercial release in 1982, CDDA established baseline quality expectations for digital music and remains the reference against which compressed codecs are measured.
Developer: Sony / Philips
Initial release: October 1980
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert CDDA to AVR?

AVR (Audio Visual Research) is used with Atari ST computers and certain retro audio applications. CDDA gives you the best possible source quality.

What reads AVR files?

SoX, Audacity (with import), and Atari ST audio software handle AVR format. Emulators like Hatari can also use AVR audio data.

Does AVR support stereo?

Yes — AVR supports both mono and stereo audio at various bit depths and sample rates, accommodating different Atari hardware capabilities.

Is quality preserved?

At matching bit depth and sample rate settings, AVR preserves CDDA quality. Lower settings reduce quality as expected for older hardware.

Can I batch convert tracks?

Upload multiple CDDA files and convert them all to AVR at once — build your Atari audio library from CD-quality sources.