SHN to DVMS Converter

Encode Shorten audio as DVMS voicemail online

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up
to
Facebook Amazon Microsoft Tesla Nestle Walmart L'Oreal

Telephony Format

DVMS serves telephony voice systems — lossless SHN gives clean speech input for the encoding process.

Server Encoding

Our servers handle SHN to DVMS conversion — no telephony tools needed on your machine.

Secure Processing

SHN uploads are erased immediately. DVMS results are purged within 24 hours.

How to convert SHN to DVMS

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

Shorten (SHN) is a lossless audio compression codec created by Tony Robinson at SoftSound and first published in 1993, making it one of the earliest practical lossless compressors. The algorithm uses linear prediction to estimate each sample from predecessors, then encodes residuals with Huffman or Golomb-Rice codes. Compression ratios typically fall between 2:1 and 3:1, with the guarantee that decoded output is bit-identical to the original. Shorten gained cultural significance in the late 1990s as the preferred format for trading live concert recordings online — communities like etree.org built entire distribution networks around SHN files, and bands like the Grateful Dead and Phish tacitly endorsed the practice. One advantage was the format's simplicity: encoding and decoding ran fast even on modest Pentium-era hardware. Another strength was deterministic output — the same input always produced the same bytes, making checksums reliable for verifying integrity across thousands of traders. While FLAC eventually superseded Shorten with better compression, seeking support, and embedded metadata, SHN retains historical importance and extensive live music archives in the format still circulate today.
Initial release: 1993
DVMS (Dutch Voice Messaging System) is a telephony-grade audio encoding born from the Netherlands' early push toward digital voicemail infrastructure. Deployed through KPN (formerly PTT Telecom) in the mid-1980s, the format stores mono voice data at a narrow 8 kHz sample rate, prioritizing compact message size over sonic breadth. Audio is compressed with a proprietary variant of logarithmic companding similar to European A-law encoding, squeezing recordings to roughly 8 kbit/s while keeping speech intelligible. Each file carries a small header identifying sample rate, compression type, and message metadata, which made automated routing across early PBX and voicemail systems straightforward. Although DVMS never gained traction outside Dutch telecom circles, it influenced how European carriers designed later voice messaging protocols. Tools like SoX and several legacy telephony libraries still read and write DVMS files, allowing archival playback of decades-old messages. Among its practical advantages: extremely small file sizes (a one-minute message occupies roughly 60 KB), reliable speech clarity despite aggressive compression, and a simple container layout that is easy to parse programmatically.
Developer: Dutch PTT Telecom
Initial release: 1984

Frequently Asked Questions

What is DVMS?

DVMS is a specialized audio encoding used in telephony and voice processing applications.

Why convert SHN to DVMS?

Telephony systems may require DVMS audio. Lossless SHN provides clean voice recordings for accurate encoding.

What processes DVMS?

SoX, telephony platforms, and voice processing development tools handle DVMS format audio.

Is DVMS for music?

No — DVMS is designed for voice at telephony quality. Use MP3, FLAC, or AAC for music content.

Is it secure?

SHN uploads are deleted immediately. DVMS results are removed within 24 hours.