audio format

What is a .RA file?

RA (RealAudio) is RealNetworks' streaming audio format from the early internet, designed for low-bandwidth playback and now obsolete.

Full name
RealAudio
Developed by
RealNetworks
Released
1995
Extension
.ra
MIME type
audio/ra
Transparency
No

How to open a RA file

RA plays in RealPlayer and VLC; convert to MP3 for modern devices.

What RA files are used for

Music & podcasts

Listening on any device or app.

Editing & mastering

Production-quality source audio.

Voice notes & clips

Lightweight recordings to share.

Strengths & limitations

✔ Strengths✖ Limitations
Purpose-built for its nicheNo transparency support
Limited support — may need converting

Need more than a conversion?

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Frequently asked questions

RA (RealAudio) is RealNetworks' streaming audio format from the early internet, designed for low-bandwidth playback and now obsolete.

RA plays in RealPlayer and VLC; convert to MP3 for modern devices.

RA is optimised for its specific use rather than strictly lossless storage.

Use SharkFoto's free tools — upload your RA file and convert it to a more convenient format in seconds. It's free, processed securely and never stored.

No — RA doesn't store transparency; convert to PNG or WEBP if you need it.