AU to MKV Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
MKV is ideal for archiving movies with multiple audio tracks and subtitles intact. If your files are still in AU format, this page is the shortcut: AU is the µ-law audio format of old Unix systems and Java applets — tiny mono files from another era.
This converter runs entirely in your browser using WebAssembly — your files never leave your device, nothing is uploaded, and there are no watermarks, sign-ups or queues. Drop in several files at once to convert them as a batch.
How AU compares to MKV
| AU | MKV | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | µ-law or PCM | Any codec inside |
| Quality | Mono voice-grade (µ-law) | Preserved as-is |
| Compatibility | Legacy Unix tools | Players excellent, devices mixed |
| Best for | Old system sounds and recordings | Collections and multi-track video |
How to convert AU to MKV
- 1
Select your files
Select your AU audio file.
- 2
Convert instantly
The engine draws the waveform and syncs it as a video frame to the original audio.
- 3
Download results
Download the MKV — upload-ready for YouTube or Bilibili.
About the AU format
AU is Sun Microsystems' audio format from the Unix workstation age: a small header followed by µ-law (or PCM) samples. Java's applet era shipped it everywhere, and old Unix sound tooling still emits it.
Modern players increasingly skip it. Converting AU to WAV preserves the samples bit-for-bit while moving the file into universal territory — the standard rescue path for system sounds and old recordings.
+ Strengths
- ✓Simple, lossless sample storage
- ✓Native to old Unix/Java tooling
! Limitations
- −µ-law flavor sounds dated and mono
- −Dropped by modern players
About the MKV format
MKV (Matroska) is the open container that refuses to say no: virtually any video codec, multiple audio tracks, multiple subtitle streams, chapters, attachments and menu structure in one file. It became the de facto standard for movie rips, anime releases and personal archives precisely because nothing needs to be thrown away.
The same generosity is its compatibility risk: smart players (VLC, mpv) handle everything, but smart TVs, consoles and car systems choke on exotic codec combinations inside MKV. It is also not a streaming standard, so web delivery runs through its subset, WebM.
+ Strengths
- ✓Unlimited tracks: audio, subtitles, chapters, attachments
- ✓Open specification, no licensing
- ✓Ideal archival container — nothing is lost
! Limitations
- −Device playback is hit-or-miss outside smart players
- −Not web/streaming native
Why convert AU to MKV?
There is a concrete reason this conversion exists: µ-law flavor sounds dated and mono MKV sidesteps that — Unlimited tracks: audio, subtitles, chapters, attachments If that is your situation, the tool above settles it in seconds, entirely on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this AU to MKV converter really free?
Yes — completely free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily conversion limits. The site is supported by advertising.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly, so your files never leave your device — that is what makes it instant and private.
Does it work on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android?
Yes. Anything with a modern browser works: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. No software installation is required.
Is there a file size limit for AU to MKV?
The only limit is your device's memory, since nothing is uploaded. Files up to a few hundred megabytes work fine on a modern desktop browser; very large files simply take a little longer.
Are tags like title and artist preserved?
Tag handling varies between target formats and this conversion focuses on the audio itself. For archival copies where tags matter, keep the original file; the converted copy is for playback and sharing.
Will converting AU to MKV reduce audio quality?
If MKV is lossless, the output contains everything the AU file contains — no further loss is added. If MKV is lossy, one recompression pass is unavoidable; the quality slider controls how much. Loss that already happened in the source file can never be undone by converting.