AUD vs WAV: Westwood Studios Game Audio vs Uncompressed Linear PCM
Compare Westwood Studios AUD sound files from Command & Conquer and Red Alert with standard RIFF WAV. Understand WS-ADPCM compression, sample rates, and DAW playback.
Westwood Studios AUD is the proprietary compressed sound and voice container developed for Command & Conquer, Red Alert, and Dune 2000 in the 1990s. It packages 4-bit WS-ADPCM and IMA-ADPCM voice streams into chunks. WAV is the universal uncompressed RIFF container that delivers lossless linear PCM playback across all modern DAWs, audio editors, and web browsers.
| FEATURE | AUD | WAV |
|---|---|---|
| Compression Algorithm | Westwood WS-ADPCM / IMA-ADPCM | Uncompressed Linear PCM |
| Bit Depth | 4-bit ADPCM (expands to 16-bit) | 16-bit or 24-bit PCM |
| Typical Sample Rate | 22,050 Hz or 11,025 Hz | Any (44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, etc.) |
| DAW & Browser Playback | Unsupported natively (requires converter) | Universal native playback |
- Compact 4:1 ADPCM compression designed for 1990s CD-ROM throughput limitations
- Chunked architecture allowed real-time streaming alongside DOS CD gameplay
- Iconic sonic heritage containing legendary video game voice acting and unit lines
- Native asset container for Command & Conquer engine modding and reverse engineering
- Universal native playback across all modern operating systems, DAWs, and browsers
- Uncompressed 16-bit or 24-bit linear PCM fidelity with zero decoding artifacts
- Full compatibility with audio workstations (Ableton, FL Studio, Logic, Audacity)
- Preserves standard RIFF container chunks with flexible channel and sample rate definitions
AUD is a nostalgic video game audio format from the golden era of PC real-time strategy gaming. Convert Westwood AUD files to standard RIFF WAV to listen to, sample, remix, or preserve iconic C&C and Red Alert sound effects on modern systems.
Converting files between AUD and WAV frequently? The convrtr Chrome Extension lets you right-click any image on any webpage or open the Side Panel to convert assets instantly using local WebAssembly with zero server uploads.