How to convert a .PCM file online
Three steps, all tab.
Open your file
Drop your .PCM file and every video, audio and subtitle track inside is listed with its codec, resolution, frame rate and language.
Preview
See frames from across your .PCM file before you convert, even when your browser can't play the codec inside.
Convert
Pick MP4, WEBM or MP3, or repack to MKV without re-encoding. Play the result right here, then download it.
What is a .PCM file?
Everything worth knowing about Pulse-Code Modulation audio file (raw/headerless).
A PCM file is raw, uncompressed audio, the same data as inside a WAV, but with no header, so it carries no information about its sample rate, bit depth, or channel count. You cannot double-click it to play. Open it in Audacity via File > Import > Raw Data and supply the settings manually (start with 44100 Hz, Signed 16-bit, little-endian). If it sounds like noise or plays at the wrong speed, the settings are wrong.
Programs that open .PCM files
- Windows
- Awave Studio, Audacity, Adobe Audition, FFmpeg
- macOS
- MPlayer, Audacity, Adobe Audition
- Linux
- MPlayer, Audacity, FFmpeg
| Full name | Pulse-Code Modulation audio file (raw/headerless) |
|---|---|
| Developer | Concept invented by Alec Reeves (1937); no single vendor owns the .pcm container |
| First released | PCM telephony deployed from the 1960s; .pcm raw dumps used since early digital audio editing |
| Category | Audio & Video |
| MIME type | audio/L16 |
Related viewers
Other free tools to open and preview your files.
Is my .PCM file uploaded to a server?
No. Your .PCM file is converted for you. The converted file is created in memory,.
Why is conversion slower than desktop software?
Browsers give web pages a single CPU core for this kind of work and no hardware video encoder. Short clips convert in seconds; for long 4K films a desktop app like HandBrake is faster. Use Start and Length to convert just the part you need.
Which output format should I pick?
MP4 plays on every phone, TV and browser. WEBM is an open format that's great for the web. MP3 keeps only the sound. MKV (no re-encode) is instant and lossless, but only changes the container.
Can I keep all audio tracks and subtitles?
The MKV (no re-encode) option copies every track as-is. MP4 and WEBM keep the first video and audio track, which is what most players use.
Why can't some files be converted?
Files protected with DRM (for example purchased iTunes .m4p songs or some .wmv rentals) are encrypted. We can show what's inside, but nobody can convert them without the key.
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