# Convert Audio Files

Any recording you plan to upload as a music-on-hold track or a custom prompt has to be in a format that Cloud Voice accepts. When an existing file doesn't match those specifications, run it through an audio editor to re-encode it first. This page walks through two ways to do that: a browser-based converter and the WavePad desktop application.

:::note
Before you convert anything, check the [audio file requirements](/pbx/administrator-guide/audio-files-requirements/#requirements-of-custom-audio-files__file-format) so you know which output settings to target.
:::

## Convert audio files online

If you'd rather not install anything, the G711 File Converter handles the job entirely in your browser.

1. Open [g711.org](http://g711.org/).
2. Click **Browse** and select the audio file you want to convert.
3. Choose an **Output Format**.

   ![The G711 converter with file upload and output format options](/images/pbx/g711-converter.png)

   :::note
   Pick any one of the following (all three are accepted, so a single choice is enough): **u-law WAV (8Khz, Mono, u-law)**, **a-law WAV (8Khz, Mono, a-law)**, or **Standard Definition WAV (8Khz, Mono, 16-Bit PCM)**. "u-law" and "a-law" are the two standard telephone audio codecs, and PCM is plain uncompressed audio. "8Khz, Mono" is the sample rate and single-channel format that phone systems expect.
   :::
4. Click **Submit** to convert the file.

## Convert audio files via WavePad

WavePad is a desktop editor you install locally. Download it from the [WavePad site](https://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/download-now.html), then follow these steps.

1. Start WavePad and open the file you want to convert.
2. Go to **File > Save File As**.

   ![WavePad File menu with the Save File As command highlighted](/images/pbx/wavepad-save-file-as.png)
3. In the **Save as type** list, choose `Wave(*.wav)`, `MPEG Layer-3(*.mp3)`, or `GSM(*.gsm)`, then click **Save**.

   ![WavePad save dialog showing the file type dropdown](/images/pbx/save-as-wav.png)
4. When you save as `Wave(*.wav)` or `MPEG Layer-3(*.mp3)`, set the encoder options and click **OK**.

   :::note
   Use any one of these encoder configurations (CCITT A-law and CCITT u-law are the same telephone codecs described earlier, just under their formal standards names):

   - PCM Uncompressed, Mono, 8000 Hz, 16 bits Integer
   - CCITT A-law, Mono, 8000 Hz, 8 bits Integer
   - CCITT u-law, Mono, 8000 Hz, 8 bits Integer
   :::

   ![WavePad encoder options set to a mono 8000 Hz configuration](/images/pbx/wave-encoder-options.png)