Opening AC3 files

Did your computer fail to open an AC3 file? We explain what AC3 files are and recommend software that we know can open or convert your AC3 files.

What is an AC3 file?

Files that contain the .ac3 file extension are most commonly used for Audio Codec 3 files. The Audio Codec 3 is a Dolby Digital audio format that allows for up to 6 channels of audio output.

The AC3 file format was created in 1987 by Dolby Labs. This particular file format relies on AC3 compression, which allows users to compress audio streams by a factor of up to 12. This allows for higher compression ratios, saving a user's disc space.

The SPICE simulation program has also been known to use the .ac3 file suffix. These AC3 files contain frequence domain output files that are used by the SPICE program.

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By Prof. Jones (The File Expert)

Chief Content Editor and File Expert

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