Convert PAF to MP3 Online — Recover Legacy Ensoniq PARIS Audio
Convert legacy PAF files from Ensoniq PARIS DAW to universally compatible MP3.
Drop up to 50 files at once — no install, no sign-up required.
Drop PAF Files Here
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How it works
- 1 · Drop your files
Drag & drop or choose PAF files. No account required — paid plans unlock bigger batches, higher limits, and priority queues.
- 2 · We convert securely
Processed on our dedicated servers. Encrypted in transit & at rest. We never store filenames — only file types & sizes for accounting.
- 3 · Download & auto-delete
Grab your MP3 files in seconds. Files delete automatically after 1 hour. Delete anytime after downloading with one click.
PAF (PARIS Audio File) is a proprietary audio format from the Ensoniq PARIS digital audio workstation — winner of Electronic Musician's 1999 Editor's Choice Award for Best DAW. Released in 1997, PARIS was revolutionary: a DSP-based system using dedicated processors (not the computer's CPU) that could handle up to 128 tracks with four-band parametric EQ on each channel.
Learn more: Ensoniq PARIS on Wikipedia
PARIS earned a devoted following in professional studios for its exceptional audio quality — engineers described it as "the best kept secret of 90's pro studios" and compared its sound to 2" analog tape. At ~$3,000 for a complete system, it made professional-grade recording accessible to project studios worldwide.
Ensoniq was acquired by Creative Labs in 1998, and PARIS development slowed as Pro Tools dominated the market. The original software only runs on legacy Windows (9x/2000/XP), but many engineers still have archived PAF sessions from albums, demos, and productions recorded during PARIS's heyday.
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) revolutionized digital audio when it was standardized in 1993 by the Fraunhofer Society. Using psychoacoustic compression, MP3 removes audio frequencies that humans typically cannot perceive, achieving 10:1 compression or better while maintaining excellent subjective quality. MP3 supports sample rates from 8-48 kHz and 16-bit audio. At 256 kbps, most listeners cannot distinguish MP3 from the original source in blind tests.
Learn more: MP3 on Wikipedia
MP3 remains the most universally compatible audio format, supported by every music player, smartphone, computer, and web browser. While newer codecs like AAC and Opus offer marginally better compression efficiency, MP3's ubiquitous support makes it the safest choice for sharing audio. The format's patents expired in 2017, making it completely free to use without licensing concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PAF file?
Why can't I open my PAF files?
Will I lose audio quality converting PAF to MP3?
Can I convert multiple PAF files at once?
What sample rates and bit depths are supported?
What if my PAF file won't convert?
Are my files private?
What are the limits for this converter?
| Tier | Max File Size | Max Files/Batch | Parallel Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guest/Free | 50 MB | 50 files | 3 at once |
| Pro | 2048 MB | 1000 files | 6 at once |
Note: File size limits are specific to this converter. Batch and parallel processing limits apply to all images converters site-wide. See all converter limits →
How are credits calculated for this conversion?
Cost: 1 credit per 5 minutes
How it works:
- Files up to 5 minutes: 1 credit
- 6-10 minutes: 2 credits
- 11-15 minutes: 3 credits
- 16-20 minutes: 4 credits
Example: A 10-minute file = 2 credits. A 180-minute (3h) audiobook = 36 credits.
Why per-minute? Audio conversion time scales with content duration, not file size. Longer audio requires proportionally more processing.
What are my daily and monthly credit limits?
Credit allocations vary by account tier:
| Tier | Daily Limit | Monthly Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Guest | 100 credits/day | — |
| Free | 100 credits/day | — |
| Pro | — | 12,000 credits/month |
Daily credits (Guest & Free tiers) reset every day at midnight UTC. Monthly credits (Pro) reset on your billing cycle date.
Note: With 1 credit per 5 minutes, audio files under 5 MB cost 1 credit each. Pro users can convert 12,000 audio files per month.
Answers at a Glance
Quick answers to common questions.
- Are my files secure?
- How long do you keep my files?
- What metadata do you keep?
- What happens after I drop a file?
- Why are conversions so fast?
- How do you measure performance?
- What are the exact limits for each plan?
- Can I process files in bulk?
- Why did my file fail to convert?
- Do you use my files to train AI?
What's New in PAF to MP3
Latest improvements to this converter
Initial release of PAF to MP3 converter for legacy Ensoniq PARIS audio conversion.
Need to get more done? Pro starts from $5.
No subscription required.