GSM to SD2 Converter

Re-encode GSM speech into Sound Designer II format online

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Pro Tools Legacy Format

Move GSM telephony audio into Sound Designer II — the classic Digidesign format for legacy Pro Tools sessions on Macintosh.

Custom Audio Settings

Set sample rate and bit depth for the SD2 output to match your legacy production session requirements.

Secure Conversion

All GSM uploads are erased after processing. SD2 results are cleaned from servers within 24 hours.

How to convert GSM 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

GSM 06.10 (Full Rate) is the foundational speech codec of the Global System for Mobile Communications standard, ratified by ETSI in 1991 and deployed across hundreds of cellular networks worldwide. Operating at a fixed 13 kbit/s, the algorithm applies Regular Pulse Excitation with Long-Term Prediction (RPE-LTP) to compress 20 ms frames of 8 kHz mono speech into just 33 bytes each. This approach models the vocal tract as a linear predictive filter, encodes the excitation signal, and leverages pitch periodicity for further reduction — tuned to deliver intelligible voice under the bandwidth constraints of early digital mobile channels. The codec powers not only GSM telephony but also many VoIP applications, voicemail systems, and IVR platforms that benefit from its low bitrate. Three concrete advantages stand out. First, extraordinary compression: one minute of speech fits in roughly 100 KB, enabling efficient storage and transmission. Second, universal tooling — libraries such as libgsm and SoX handle encoding and decoding on every major platform. Third, a royalty-free patent landscape that has encouraged adoption across open-source telephony projects like Asterisk and FreeSWITCH.
Initial release: 1991
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

What is SD2?

SD2 is the Sound Designer II format developed by Digidesign, historically used in Pro Tools sessions on classic Macintosh systems.

Why convert GSM to SD2?

SD2 may be required when importing audio into legacy Pro Tools sessions or Digidesign-based production environments from older eras.

Does modern Pro Tools use SD2?

Current Pro Tools versions have moved to WAV and AIFF. SD2 is primarily needed for opening and maintaining legacy session archives.

What tools read SD2?

Older Pro Tools versions, Audacity, and SoX can handle SD2 files. Modern DAWs may need conversion to WAV first.

Are my recordings kept private?

GSM uploads are deleted after conversion. SD2 outputs are removed from our servers within 24 hours.