Hello,
I am trying to convert a wav "normal" file into the WAV a-law format (for answering machine system - CCITT 8000hz, 8 bit, mono). I tried everyhting, form Sound Forge to Audacy from online free converters to 400$ demo software;
Everytime, the 8-bit file is "transformed" into a 32 float bit file...
The convertion is very easy to do using Windows XP or 7, just use the internal magneto.... but is it impossible to do on MacOs X ???
Thanks for ideas or solution !!

 

Check there: http://sox.sourceforge.net/

 

a-law is a compander curve, not necessarily tied to bit depth or sample rate.

I'm using sox myself all the time, and to convert a 16bit mono WAV file with 44100Hz to 8bit/8kHz/a-law you need something like this command:

sox infile_mono_16bit_44k1.wav --encoding a-law --rate 8000 -b 8 outfile_mono_8kHz_alaw.wav

To be able to do this on the command line, you'll have to install the sox for Mac binaries from
https://sourceforge.net/projects/sox/files/sox/

sox comes with a detailed man page too.

If you don't know at all how to use the command line on MacOS, then I'm sorry I can't help.

Bonne chance!

 

You wouldn't believe how much of this old stuff is still alive in production environments

 

I second that I still do it on regular basis 5-6 times a year. Using Adobe Audition for that as it has built-in presets for CCIT A-Law and CCIT U-Law audio files.

 

believe me I know,
my point is, you can use literally anything you need, in virtualized environment, in the long run it's a more convenient and reliable solution for enterprise target area ;)

 

Thanks for your answers.