VMS to MAUD Converter

Transform VMS recordings into MAUD quickly online

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Convert in Bulk

Got a collection of VMS recordings? Upload them in one batch and convert the entire set to MAUD in a single session.

Better Compatibility

Moving from VMS to MAUD transitions your audio from an obscure encoding to Amiga platform audio format — a significant practical improvement.

Any Device

Whether on Windows, Mac, Linux, or mobile — the VMS to MAUD converter works the same in any modern browser.

How to convert VMS to MAUD

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

VMS (Voice Messaging System) is a compressed audio format designed for telephony and voice mail applications, originally used in Germany. Files with the .vms extension encode spoken audio using Continuously Variable Slope Delta modulation (CVSD), a method suited to low-bandwidth voice transmission over telephone networks. The format operates at 8 kHz, matching the standard digital telephony sampling frequency, and produces self-describing files that embed encoding parameters within a short header. This header distinguishes VMS from raw CVSD streams, letting playback tools process recordings without external configuration. The SoX audio toolkit provides native read and write support, making it straightforward to convert VMS recordings into WAV or other modern formats. A practical advantage is the format's small file size — CVSD compression keeps voice mail messages compact enough for systems with limited disk capacity, which was critical in early telephony infrastructure. The encoding degrades gracefully under noisy channel conditions, preserving speech intelligibility even when errors occur. Although VMS has been superseded by modern codecs in current voice messaging platforms, it remains relevant for recovering legacy voice mail archives.
Developer: SoX Contributors
Initial release: 1991
MAUD is an audio file format developed by MacroSystem for the Commodore Amiga platform, introduced in the early 1990s as part of their digital video and audio production tools. Built on the Amiga IFF (Interchange File Format) chunk architecture, MAUD files organize data into clearly delineated chunks — MHDR for the header, MDAT for sample data, and optional annotation chunks for metadata. The format supports mono and stereo layouts with bit depths of 8 or 16 bits and sample rates up to 48 kHz, which represented professional-grade specifications on Amiga hardware. Both signed linear PCM and A-law/mu-law encodings are available, offering a choice between fidelity and file size. MAUD saw primary use in the Amiga video production community, where MacroSystem Retina and VLab Motion boards demanded synchronized audio that the standard 8SVX format could not deliver. Conversion support exists today through SoX and libsndfile, ensuring vintage Amiga productions remain recoverable. Three distinct advantages stand out: clean IFF-based structure that any chunk-aware parser can navigate, 16-bit stereo capability ahead of typical Amiga audio, and lightweight overhead that left maximum CPU headroom for video rendering.
Initial release: 1992

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes MAUD a better choice than VMS?

Since VMS has regional voice mail encoding with very limited compatibility, switching to MAUD provides supports various sample rates.

What can I use to play MAUD?

You can open MAUD with Amiga audio software, SoX, and retro computing tools.

Will I lose audio quality converting VMS to MAUD?

Converting to MAUD is lossless — the audio quality in the MAUD output will be identical to the original VMS recording.

Can I do this conversion from my phone?

Yes. The online converter is platform-independent — use it from any computer, tablet, or smartphone with a web browser.

Are there limits on VMS to MAUD conversion?

Standard conversions work without restrictions for typical use. Premium plans provide additional speed and capacity for large workloads.

Is registration needed for this conversion?

No account is needed for standard conversions. Simply upload your VMS recording, choose MAUD, and download the result.