VQF to VOC Converter

Decode TwinVQ into Creative VOC format online

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The codec to encode the audio track. Codec "Without reencoding" copies the audio stream from the input file into output without re-encoding if possible.
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.

vqf

VQF is the file extension for audio encoded with TwinVQ (Transform-domain Weighted Interleave Vector Quantization), a lossy compression technology developed by NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) in 1994 and later commercialized by Yamaha under the SoundVQ brand. The codec claimed a 30 to 35 percent size advantage over MP3 at equivalent perceptual quality — a 96 kbps VQF file was said to match a 128 kbps MP3 — generating considerable excitement during the late-1990s format wars. TwinVQ supports constant bitrate encoding at 80, 96, 112, 128, 160, and 192 kbps, and the underlying algorithm was incorporated into the MPEG-4 Audio standard (ISO/IEC 14496-3) as one of its defined object types. Despite strong technical merits, VQF never achieved widespread adoption: encoding was slow compared to MP3, hardware player support was scarce, and the proprietary licensing discouraged third-party development. In 2009, the FFmpeg project reverse-engineered the TwinVQ decoder, bringing playback support to VLC and other open-source players. VQF stands as a notable case study in codec history — technically ambitious yet eclipsed by MP3's ecosystem momentum and the later rise of AAC.
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voc

VOC (Creative Voice) is a digital audio container developed by Creative Technology and introduced alongside the original Sound Blaster card in 1989. It served as the native audio format for the Sound Blaster family during the DOS era, when Creative's hardware dominated PC audio. VOC files are block-based: each file consists of typed data blocks that can carry 8-bit unsigned PCM, 4-bit and 2.6-bit Creative ADPCM, 16-bit signed PCM, as well as A-law and mu-law encoded audio. This block structure also supports silence intervals, repeat loops, and marker points, giving game developers fine-grained control over sound playback. A notable advantage was hardware-level decoding — Sound Blaster cards could play VOC data directly via DMA transfer, freeing the CPU for other tasks in an era when processor cycles were precious. The format saw extensive use in DOS games from id Software, Sierra, and LucasArts. With the rise of Windows and the WAV format, VOC gradually fell out of mainstream use, yet it remains important for retro gaming preservation and for anyone working with vintage PC audio archives.
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Retro Computing

Both VQF and VOC are relics — but VOC actually works in DOS and retro applications.

Online Tool

No legacy software needed — decode VQF and encode VOC through your browser.

Secure Files

VQF uploads are erased immediately. VOC outputs are purged within 24 hours.

How to convert VQF to VOC

1

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

2

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

3

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

About formats

VQF is the file extension for audio encoded with TwinVQ (Transform-domain Weighted Interleave Vector Quantization), a lossy compression technology developed by NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone) in 1994 and later commercialized by Yamaha under the SoundVQ brand. The codec claimed a 30 to 35 percent size advantage over MP3 at equivalent perceptual quality — a 96 kbps VQF file was said to match a 128 kbps MP3 — generating considerable excitement during the late-1990s format wars. TwinVQ supports constant bitrate encoding at 80, 96, 112, 128, 160, and 192 kbps, and the underlying algorithm was incorporated into the MPEG-4 Audio standard (ISO/IEC 14496-3) as one of its defined object types. Despite strong technical merits, VQF never achieved widespread adoption: encoding was slow compared to MP3, hardware player support was scarce, and the proprietary licensing discouraged third-party development. In 2009, the FFmpeg project reverse-engineered the TwinVQ decoder, bringing playback support to VLC and other open-source players. VQF stands as a notable case study in codec history — technically ambitious yet eclipsed by MP3's ecosystem momentum and the later rise of AAC.
Initial release: 1996
VOC (Creative Voice) is a digital audio container developed by Creative Technology and introduced alongside the original Sound Blaster card in 1989. It served as the native audio format for the Sound Blaster family during the DOS era, when Creative's hardware dominated PC audio. VOC files are block-based: each file consists of typed data blocks that can carry 8-bit unsigned PCM, 4-bit and 2.6-bit Creative ADPCM, 16-bit signed PCM, as well as A-law and mu-law encoded audio. This block structure also supports silence intervals, repeat loops, and marker points, giving game developers fine-grained control over sound playback. A notable advantage was hardware-level decoding — Sound Blaster cards could play VOC data directly via DMA transfer, freeing the CPU for other tasks in an era when processor cycles were precious. The format saw extensive use in DOS games from id Software, Sierra, and LucasArts. With the rise of Windows and the WAV format, VOC gradually fell out of mainstream use, yet it remains important for retro gaming preservation and for anyone working with vintage PC audio archives.
Initial release: 1989

Frequently Asked Questions

What is VOC?

Creative Voice File is an audio format by Creative Labs for Sound Blaster — used in DOS-era computing.

Why convert VQF to VOC?

Both VQF and VOC are legacy formats — but VOC still has retro computing applications where VQF has none.

What plays VOC?

VLC, SoX, DOSBox, and retro computing tools support Creative Voice files.

Does VOC preserve quality?

VOC supports 8/16-bit PCM — decoded VQF audio is adapted to fit VOC capabilities.

Is it secure?

VQF uploads are deleted immediately. VOC results are removed within 24 hours.