TAK to AU Converter

Decode TAK lossless audio to Sun AU format online

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Unix Standard

AU is the native audio format for Solaris, Linux CLI tools, and Java — converting from TAK prepares audio for Unix ecosystems.

Cross-System Use

While TAK is Windows-only, AU files work across Unix, Linux, and any platform with Java audio support.

Browser Conversion

No Unix command-line tools needed — convert TAK to AU entirely through your web browser on any operating system.

How to convert TAK to AU

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

TAK (Tom's lossless Audio Kompressor) is a high-performance lossless audio codec created by German developer Thomas Becker, with the first public release arriving in 2007. Originally called YALAC, the project was renamed before launch and quickly earned recognition for delivering compression ratios that rival or exceed FLAC while decoding noticeably faster. TAK supports PCM audio up to 24-bit depth and 192 kHz sample rate, covering everything from CD-quality to high-resolution studio masters. One of its strongest selling points is encoding speed: even at maximum compression, TAK encodes faster than most competing lossless codecs at their default settings. The decoder is similarly efficient, making real-time playback straightforward on modest hardware. Error detection through CRC-32 checksums ensures bit-perfect integrity, important for archival purposes. TAK also supports embedded cue sheets and APEv2 tags for organizing multi-track albums. The primary trade-off is that TAK remains closed-source and Windows-only, limiting cross-platform adoption. For users who prioritize compression efficiency and speed on Windows systems, TAK stands among the best lossless options available.
Developer: Thomas Becker
Initial release: 2007
AU is an audio file format introduced by Sun Microsystems for its Unix workstations and the NeXT platform. It features a minimal 24-byte header specifying data offset, size, encoding type, sample rate, and channel count, followed by the audio payload. AU supports numerous encodings, including uncompressed linear PCM at various bit depths, mu-law and A-law companding (logarithmic compression used in telephone systems), and several ADPCM variants. This versatility made AU a workhorse across early Unix environments, web audio (Java applets defaulted to AU), and telephony applications. One advantage is simplicity: the compact header and straightforward structure make it trivial to parse, generate, and stream programmatically. The built-in mu-law option provides another benefit, delivering reasonable voice quality at just 8 KB per second — half the rate of 16-bit uncompressed audio — invaluable when storage and bandwidth were scarce. Although modern formats have largely supplanted AU in consumer applications, it retains a foothold in scientific computing and audio processing pipelines where minimal overhead and reliable cross-platform behavior are valued.
Developer: Sun Microsystems
Initial release: 1992

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the AU format?

AU is a simple audio format developed by Sun Microsystems. It is widely used in Unix/Linux systems and Java audio applications.

Why convert TAK to AU?

AU is the native audio format for many Unix tools and Java javax.sound APIs. Converting from TAK makes audio Unix-ready.

What plays AU files?

Most Unix/Linux audio tools, Java applications, VLC, Audacity, and SoX support AU playback and processing natively.

Does AU support high quality?

AU supports various encodings including uncompressed PCM at high bit depths and sample rates, preserving your TAK quality.

Is the conversion secure?

TAK uploads are deleted immediately. AU output files are removed from our servers within 24 hours.