Convert AVI to Opus
We turn AVI into Opus right in your browser — the file never goes to a server.
What you will lose
- Compression becomes lossy: the original quality cannot be restored
How they differ
| AVI | Opus | |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | yes | no |
| Lossy | yes | yes |
| Multichannel | yes | yes |
| Tags | no | yes |
| Released | 1992 | 2012 |
| Author | Microsoft | Xiph.Org, IETF |
AVI
Good at
- Opens where nothing else does any more: nineties hardware, old players
- People put uncompressed video inside, so some archives are still masters
- Simple enough that a damaged file can often be read at least in part
Awkward about
- Several times heavier than modern containers at the same quality
- Neither browsers nor phones will play it
- Keeps no titles or cover art, and handles subtitles and extra tracks badly
Use it when
- The file came out of an old archive and just needs to open
- Some program insists on it and understands nothing newer
- In every other case it is worth turning into MP4
Opus
Good at
- The best quality at low bitrates — speech stays clear at 24 kbps
- The standard for voice: messengers, calls, streams
- Free, with no licensing fees
Awkward about
- Older devices and editors do not know it
- Car stereos and consumer players usually refuse it
- Lossy — not a master format
Use it when
- Voice: a podcast, an interview, a voice message
- You need the smallest size that still sounds clear
- The file is listened to in a browser or a messenger
Common questions
- Does the file get uploaded to a server?
- Yes, this pair needs the server: browsers cannot encode that format. The file and the result are deleted within a couple of hours and never shared.
- Will surround sound survive?
- Yes, Opus carries more than two channels — 5.1 stays 5.1.
- Can I get the original quality back afterwards?
- No. Opus is lossy, and the discarded detail cannot be recovered. Keep the original if you may still need it.
- How many files, and how large?
- Up to 5 files at a time, 500 MB each. No sign-up, no watermarks.