SPH to PRC Converter

Online SPH to PRC audio format conversion

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

Remote Engine

The SPH to PRC conversion runs remotely in the cloud. No local resources are consumed — your device stays fast.

Private Conversion

Security matters. SPH recordings are removed once conversion finishes, and PRC files are cleared from servers within 24 hours.

Universal Tool

The SPH to PRC converter is platform-neutral. Use it on any internet-connected device with a modern web browser.

How to convert SPH to PRC

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

SPH is the file extension for audio stored in the NIST SPHERE (SPeech HEader REsources) format, a standard created by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology around 1990. Built for speech research, SPH files carry a 1024-byte ASCII header packed with metadata — database identifiers, channel counts, sample rates, byte ordering, and compression type — making every recording self-describing. The underlying audio is typically 16-bit linear PCM sampled at 16 kHz, though other configurations are permitted. Researchers at NIST, DARPA, and universities worldwide rely on SPH for distributing speech corpora such as TIMIT, Switchboard, and the LDC collections that underpin modern automatic speech recognition systems. A key advantage is that the human-readable header lets scripts parse recording metadata without binary decoding. The format's strict standardization also eliminates ambiguity when sharing datasets across institutions and platforms. Because SPH files store uncompressed PCM, they preserve full audio fidelity — critical when training acoustic models where even small artifacts can skew results.
Initial release: 1990
PRC is an audio file format associated with Psion) handheld organizers, particularly the Series 3 and Series 5 lines from the 1990s. These pocket computers included built-in microphones and basic voice recording capabilities, storing captured audio in the PRC container. The encoding is typically ADPCM-based (Adaptive Differential Pulse-Code Modulation), balancing file size against audio intelligibility given the severe storage constraints of early PDAs — the original Psion Series 3 had just 256 KB of RAM doubling as storage. PRC audio is generally mono at low sample rates (often 8 kHz), optimized for speech rather than music. One advantage was tight integration with the EPOC operating system (later evolving into Symbian), letting users embed voice notes directly in agenda entries and database records. The compact file sizes — a minute of speech consumed only a few kilobytes — made it feasible to store dozens of memos on devices with minimal memory. While PRC audio is a legacy format today, conversion tools exist for extracting recordings from archived Psion devices, which remain collectible among retro computing enthusiasts.
Developer: Psion PLC
Initial release: 1993

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert SPH to PRC?

SPH data has no telephony system compatibility. PRC provides Dialogic-format audio for IVR, call centers, and voice automation.

What can open PRC audio?

Open PRC with SoX or Dialogic telephony and IVR voice processing systems.

Does the SPH to PRC converter need installation?

No — the converter operates entirely online. Open the page, upload your SPH file, and download the PRC output. No plugins required.

How quickly does SPH to PRC conversion finish?

SPH to PRC conversion is swift. Optimized cloud servers process most speech recordings in a matter of seconds.

What devices can I use for SPH to PRC conversion?

No device restrictions. The SPH to PRC converter works in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, or any standards-compliant browser.

Can I change audio settings before converting SPH to PRC?

You can customize sample rate, bit depth, and channel layout in the settings panel before converting SPH to PRC.