How to convert a .SHN file online
Three steps, all tab.
Open your file
Drop your .SHN 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 .SHN 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 .SHN file?
Everything worth knowing about Shorten Compressed Audio File.
An SHN file is a losslessly compressed audio recording created with the Shorten codec (1993). It was the standard format for concert-taping communities in the late 1990s and early 2000s, now largely replaced by FLAC. On Windows, open it with foobar2000 plus the foo_input_shorten plugin. To convert, use ffmpeg: ffmpeg -i input.shn output.flac.
Programs that open .SHN files
- Windows
- Winamp, Foobar2000, SUPER (eRightSoft)
- macOS
- Cog
- Linux
- xine, shorten (CLI)
- Web
- AnyConv SHN to FLAC
| Full name | Shorten Compressed Audio File |
|---|---|
| Developer | Tony Robinson / SoftSound Ltd |
| First released | 1993 |
| Category | Audio & Video |
| MIME type | audio/x-shorten |
| Signature | 61 6A 6B 67 (ajkg) |
Related viewers
Other free tools to open and preview your files.
Is my .SHN file uploaded to a server?
No. Your .SHN 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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