SHN to MP2 Converter

Encode Shorten audio into broadcast MP2 online

Drop files here. 1 GB maximum file size or Sign Up
to

Settings

Set the overall output MP2 audio bitrate. If set to "Custom", the recommended range is ≥320 kbps with a maximum value of 384 kbps.
Set the number of audio channels. This setting is most useful when downmixing channels (e.g., from 5.1 to stereo).
Set the sample rate of the audio. Music with a full spectrum (20 Hz — 20 kHz) requires values not lower than 44.1 kHz to achieve transparency. More info can be found on the wiki.

shn

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 While FLAC eventually superseded Shorten with better compression, seeking support, and embedded metadata, SHN retains historical importance and extensive live music archives in the format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.
read more

mp2

MP2 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer II), also known by its original project name MUSICAM, is a perceptual audio codec standardized as part of ISO/IEC 11172-3 in 1993. While its successor MP3 captured the consumer spotlight, MP2 carved out a durable niche in professional broadcasting that it holds to this day. The codec splits audio into 32 sub-bands via a polyphase filter bank, applies a psychoacoustic model to determine masking thresholds, then quantizes and Huffman-codes each sub-band accordingly. Typical broadcast deployments use 192-384 kbps for stereo, yielding transparent quality with lower encoder complexity and better error resilience than Layer III. These properties explain why DVB television, DAB digital radio, and the HDV camcorder standard all mandate or prefer MP2. Encoder latency is shorter too, an important trait for live broadcasting where lip-sync matters. Three advantages keep MP2 relevant decades after standardization: graceful degradation under transmission errors vital for over-the-air signals, minimal encoding delay that suits real-time broadcast chains, and entrenched regulatory acceptance across European and Asian broadcast frameworks.
read more
Facebook Amazon Microsoft Tesla Nestle Walmart L'Oreal

Broadcast Grade

MP2 is required for digital radio and TV — lossless SHN gives the encoder optimal source material.

Archive to Broadcast

Transform SHN concert archives into broadcast-ready MP2 for radio stations and digital TV.

Bulk Processing

Convert entire SHN collections to MP2 — efficient for preparing large broadcast archives.

How to convert SHN to MP2

1

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

2

Choose mp2 or any other format you need as a result (more than 200 formats supported)

3

Let the file convert and you can download your mp2 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
MP2 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer II), also known by its original project name MUSICAM, is a perceptual audio codec standardized as part of ISO/IEC 11172-3 in 1993. While its successor MP3 captured the consumer spotlight, MP2 carved out a durable niche in professional broadcasting that it holds to this day. The codec splits audio into 32 sub-bands via a polyphase filter bank, applies a psychoacoustic model to determine masking thresholds, then quantizes and Huffman-codes each sub-band accordingly. Typical broadcast deployments use 192-384 kbps for stereo, yielding transparent quality with lower encoder complexity and better error resilience than Layer III. These properties explain why DVB television, DAB digital radio, and the HDV camcorder standard all mandate or prefer MP2. Encoder latency is shorter too, an important trait for live broadcasting where lip-sync matters. Three advantages keep MP2 relevant decades after standardization: graceful degradation under transmission errors vital for over-the-air signals, minimal encoding delay that suits real-time broadcast chains, and entrenched regulatory acceptance across European and Asian broadcast frameworks.
Initial release: 1993

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert SHN to MP2?

MP2 is mandatory for DAB radio and DVB broadcasting. Lossless SHN provides clean source for broadcast encoding.

Is MP2 different from MP3?

Yes — MP2 predates MP3 and remains preferred in broadcasting for its error resilience and lower latency.

What plays MP2?

VLC, broadcast equipment, DVD players, and professional media servers handle MP2 natively.

Is the quality good?

At 256+ kbps, MP2 delivers excellent quality — especially from lossless SHN source material.

Can I batch-convert?

Yes — upload multiple SHN files and convert them all to MP2 in a single session.