SHN to CAF Converter
Processing entirely on your device — large files may take a moment.
Convert CAF files to WAV or MP3 for use outside the Apple ecosystem. If your files are still in SHN format, this page is the shortcut: SHN (Shorten) is the granddaddy of lossless audio — the format of every live-concert trade archive from the 1990s.
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 SHN compares to CAF
| SHN | CAF | |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Fixed 32KB frames, minimal header | caff header + chunk table |
| Types / schema | Lossless, 16-bit PCM | PCM/ALAC/AAC in CAF |
| Compatibility | ffmpeg, shorten, etree tooling | afconvert, Logic Pro, ffmpeg |
| Best for | Concert trade archives | Apple pro-audio workflows |
How to convert SHN to CAF
- 1
Select your files
Drag & drop your SHN files onto the area above, or click to browse. You can add multiple files at once for batch conversion.
- 2
Convert instantly
Click "Convert to CAF". The conversion runs entirely inside your browser using WebAssembly — no upload, no queue, no waiting.
- 3
Download results
Download each converted CAF file individually, or grab everything at once as a ZIP archive.
About the SHN format
Shorten (SHN) is the 1993 lossless codec that made live-music trading possible: etree.org and the tape-trading community distributed entire concert recordings as SHN before FLAC existed. Its 32KB fixed frames and minimal header made it robust on FTP, its native habitat.
Converting SHN to FLAC is the standard modernization — sample-identical output, proper tags finally possible, and seeking that does not require decoding from the start of the file.
+ Strengths
- ✓Foundational live-music archive format
- ✓Extremely simple and stable
- ✓Decodes losslessly via ffmpeg
! Limitations
- −No seeking support
- −No tagging
- −16-bit PCM only
About the CAF format
CAF (Core Audio Format) is Apple's container for pro audio: 64-bit file offsets for recordings of any length, any codec as payload (PCM, ALAC, AAC), and time-stamped MIDI-style event chunks. Logic Pro exports it and macOS system sounds ship in it.
ffmpeg decodes the common PCM/ALAC payload variants, converting CAF to WAV or MP3 for use in any non-Apple DAW, player or web player.
+ Strengths
- ✓64-bit offsets — no size ceilings
- ✓Native to Logic Pro pipelines
- ✓Flexible codec payload
! Limitations
- −Apple-centric — rare outside macOS
- −Some CAF variants (UUID chunks) unsupported
- −Tag metadata Apple-specific
Why convert SHN to CAF?
Think of it as moving your file to the container that fits the job. No seeking support CAF works differently: 64-bit offsets — no size ceilings If any of that sounds like your task, run the conversion — it takes seconds and nothing leaves your device.
Frequently asked questions
Is this SHN to CAF 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 SHN to CAF?
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.
Can I convert a whole folder of SHN files?
You can select many files at once and they are processed in a single batch. Output files land in one ZIP download when there is more than one result.