Convert Audio & Video to RA Online — Free RealAudio Converter
Use this free online tool to convert audio and video files to RealAudio (RA) format — simply upload a file from your device or provide a remote URL, and download the converted RA file in seconds, with no software installation or account needed.
What is the RA (RealAudio) format?
RA, short for RealAudio, is a proprietary audio compression format developed by RealNetworks in the mid-1990s. It was one of the first formats designed specifically for streaming audio over low-bandwidth internet connections, making it a pioneering technology in the era of dial-up internet. RealAudio files use the .ra or .ram file extension and are associated with the RealPlayer media player. The format supports several internal codecs ranging from highly compressed speech-quality audio to near-FM-quality stereo sound, depending on the bitrate chosen.
While RealAudio is largely a legacy format today, it remains in use in certain broadcasting archives, older streaming infrastructures, and media libraries that were built during the late 1990s and 2000s.
Why convert files to RA?
There are specific scenarios where converting to RealAudio is still practical:
- Legacy compatibility: Playing back audio on older systems or media players that only support RealAudio natively.
- Archive preservation: Maintaining consistency within an existing RealAudio-based media archive or broadcast library.
- Low-bandwidth streaming: RA files can be encoded at very low bitrates, making them compact for situations where file size is a strict constraint.
- Institutional or broadcast use: Some radio stations and educational institutions that built their streaming infrastructure around RealPlayer still distribute content in RA format.
Supported input formats
The converter accepts a wide range of common audio and video source formats, including MP3, WAV, AAC, OGG, FLAC, WMA, M4A, AIFF, OPUS, MP4, AVI, MKV, MOV, and many more. You can upload a file directly from your computer or provide a public remote URL pointing to the source file.
Frequently asked questions
Is this RA converter free to use?
Yes, the tool is completely free. There is no subscription, no signup, and no software to install — conversions are done entirely in your browser session.
What audio and video formats can I convert to RA?
You can convert from a wide range of formats including MP3, WAV, AAC, OGG, FLAC, WMA, M4A, AIFF, OPUS, and many video formats such as MP4, AVI, and MKV. The audio track is extracted and re-encoded to RealAudio.
Can I convert a file from a URL instead of uploading it?
Yes. In addition to uploading a local file, you can paste a direct URL to a remote audio or video file and the converter will fetch and process it for you.
What happens to my files after conversion?
Uploaded and converted files are processed on the server and then deleted automatically. They are not stored permanently or shared with third parties.
Will I be notified when a large conversion is done?
If you are logged in to your Conversion-Tool.com account, you can opt in to receive an email notification once your conversion has finished — useful for larger files that take more time to process.