22 votes
APE File - What is an .ape file and how do I open it?
Learn about .APE files and view a list of programs that open them.
Languages
Overview
What is an APE file? An APE file is a component referenced by the Advanced Visualization Studio (AVS) plugin for the Nullsoft Winamp media player. It stores effect information referenced by the AVS plug to configure visual animations displayed when playing music with Winamp.
More Information Winamp is a free Windows media player that supports various multimedia formats, such as .MP3 , .M4A , and .MP4 . The app also supports plugins to extend its functionality. For example, AVS is a supported plugin that allows you to visualize audio by displaying animations, such as explosions and waveforms, as it plays in Winamp. Location of APE Plugin Effect files If you have installed Winamp and the AVS plugin, you can find APE plugin effect files in the following directory: C:\Program Files (x86)\Winamp\Plugins\AVS
Document Icon
Breadcrumbs
DeveloperMonkey's Audio
Popularity2.9 | 22 Votes
Previous / Next
In-Depth
.APE File Extension
2 file types use the .ape file extension.
AVS Plugin Effects File
| Developer | Nullsoft |
| Popularity |
3.2 | 22 Votes |
What is an APE file?
An APE file is a component referenced by the Advanced Visualization Studio (AVS) plugin for the Nullsoft Winamp media player. It stores effect information referenced by the AVS plug to configure visual animations displayed when playing music with Winamp.
More Information
Winamp is a free Windows media player that supports various multimedia formats, such as .MP3 , .M4A , and .MP4 . The app also supports plugins to extend its functionality. For example, AVS is a supported plugin that allows you to visualize audio by displaying animations, such as explosions and waveforms, as it plays in Winamp.
Location of APE Plugin Effect files
If you have installed Winamp and the AVS plugin, you can find APE plugin effect files in the following directory:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Winamp\Plugins\AVS
How to open an APE file
APE files are not meant to be opened. Instead, Nullsoft Winamp (with the Advanced Visualization Studio plugin installed) references the APE files.
Open over 400 file formats with File Viewer Plus . Free Download
Programs that open or reference APE files
Sort
Pricing
Program Name
Platform
Reset
X
Windows
Nullsoft Winamp with the Advanced Visualization Studio plugin
Free
Category: Plugin Files
Updated: February 17, 2023
Monkey's Audio
| Developer | Monkey's Audio |
| Popularity |
2.9 | 22 Votes |
NEW: Open your .APE file online with File Helper . View Online
An APE file may also be an audio file saved in the Monkey's Audio format. It typically contains a single song or other audio track. APE files are commonly paired with .APL files, which describe an APE file's contents. Typically, users create APE files with the Monkey's Audio compression utility.
More Information
APE file open in VideoLAN VLC media player
Monkey's Audio is a utility that allows users to losslessly compress .WAV , .AIFF , .SND , .W64 , .AU , and .CAF files, to reduce their file sizes while preserving their sound quality. These compressed audio files are saved as APE files.
Using Monkey's Audio, users can decompress APE files to their original format. Additionally, several media players allow users to play the audio that APE files contain (without decompressing the files).
NOTE: Some APE files contain multiple songs, compressed and packaged together. If your APE file contains multiple songs, and you want to play the songs it contains separately, you'll need an associated .CUE file (which media players use to split files that contain multiple audio tracks into separate playable tracks).
How to open an APE file
If you want to decompress an APE file (restoring it to its original audio format), you can do so with Monkey's Audio (Windows).
To play the audio an APE file contains, you can use VideoLAN VLC media player (multiplatform) or MPlayer (multiplatform).
How to convert an APE file
You can use FFmpeg or VideoLAN VLC media player to convert APE files to other audio formats. FFmpeg and VLC can convert APE files to several common formats.
Programs that open APE files
Sort
Pricing
Program Name
Platform
Reset
X
Windows
File Viewer Plus
—
Get it from Microsoft
Free +
Monkey's Audio
Free
VideoLAN VLC media player
Free
MPlayer
Free
FFmpeg
Free
Foobar2000
Free
Nullsoft Winamp with Monkey's Audio plug-in
Free
JMAC
Free
Mac
VideoLAN VLC media player
Free
MPlayer
Free
FFmpeg
Free
JMAC
Free
Linux
VideoLAN VLC media player
Free
MPlayer
Free
FFmpeg
Free
JMAC
Free
Web
FileHelper.com
Free
Category: Audio Files
Updated: October 25, 2023