Audio format
The RA format
RA is streaming audio from the dial-up web. RealNetworks launched RealAudio in 1995, the format that streamed radio and interviews over dial-up.
When to use RA
Convert RealAudio archives to MP3 so they stay listenable.
It is best for nothing today; convert old archived broadcasts, and it opens on VLC and RealPlayer.
How to open it: VLC plays most RealAudio files.
| Full name | RealAudio |
|---|---|
| Extensions | .ra, .ram |
| MIME type | audio/vnd.rn-realaudio |
| Introduced | 1995 |
| Compression | Lossy |
| Typical quality | 8–64 kbps |
| Support | Legacy format |
| Typical size | Very small, sized for modems |
Good at
- Streamed over 28.8k modems
Not so good at
- Low quality
- Nothing modern plays it
The common mistake
A .ram file is only a text link to a stream, not the audio itself; you need the .ra or .rm file it points to.
Questions
What is an RA file?
RA (RealAudio) is streaming audio from the dial-up web. RealNetworks launched RealAudio in 1995, the format that streamed radio and interviews over dial-up.
How do I open an RA file?
VLC plays most RealAudio files.
How do I convert RA to another format?
Pick the target on this page, or open the Audio Converter, drop the RA file and choose a format. It converts in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.