The file extension APE can be associated with Monkey’s Audio or Winamp, which are both audio programs that can create or open APE files in a compressed file format. Monkey’s Audio is a lossless audio compression program that provides a way to compress digital music without sacrificing quality. Winamp is a media player which provides encoding, file management, and support for mobile devices in addition to creating APE files in a compressed format.
If the APE files are created by Monkey’s Audio, the files are an audio file type which contains music, tags, and audio CD images commonly known as CUE files. APE files are compressed using the algorithm provided by Monkey’s Audio lossless codec program. Since Monkey’s Audio is available as freeware, the files it creates can be used with other audio and media applications.
APE files that are associated with Winamp are a plugin file type which is used to extend the capabilities of the Winamp Media Player. APE plugin files are an AVS (Advanced Visualization Studio) plugin which is capable of delivering visual animations that are related to music tracks played with the Winamp Media Player.
How to Open APE Files
Since APE files can be used by multiple media programs and applications, double click on the file to see if it will automatically open in a default program you have installed on your PC. APE files consist of different file types, so you may already have a program which will open them.
If the APE file is created by Monkey’s Audio and you use Windows, you can open the file using Monkey’s Audio, which is available on the relevant website, or SoftRM Ape Ripper, which is available as a free download on the SoftRM website. You can also use Foobar 2000, Lightning UK! ImgBurn, or Adobe Audition CS6 or open APE files in Windows.
For Mac OS X, you can open APE files using Adobe Audition CS6, which is available for download on the Adobe website or Cog available on the CogX website. You can also use ShedWorx Smart Converter or Max to open APE files on a Mac PC.
If you use the Linux operating system, APE files can be opened using MPlayer or JMAC, both of which are open source and work with Windows and Mac OS X as well. Mplayer can be accessed on the MPlayer website. JMAC is the Java implementation of the Monkey’s Audio decoder and encoder and is available on the SourceForge website.
APE files which serve as a plugin file for the Winamp Media Player can be opened using the Nullsoft Winamp Media Player when installed on the Windows operating system. Winamp is freeware and can be downloaded from the CNET website.
