APL File – What is .apl file and how to open it?
APL File Extension
Monkey’s Audio Track Information File – file format by Matthew T. Ashland
APL is a file extension associated with Monkey’s Audio Track Information File. It stores metadata about audio tracks, including artist, album, title, and other information. APL files are typically used by Monkey’s Audio, a free and open-source lossless audio codec.
APL File Format
An APL file is a Monkey’s Audio Track Information File, a specialized file format designed to store information about audio tracks ripped from CDs or other sources using Monkey’s Audio. It contains metadata related to the track, such as its title, artist, album, track number, and duration, as well as specific information about the encoding and compression used to create the corresponding Monkey’s Audio (.APE) file.
Features and Advantages
APL files are small in size, typically only a few kilobytes, making them easy to store and transfer alongside the associated APE audio files. They are text-based, allowing for easy editing and parsing using standard text editors or programming tools. The standardized format ensures compatibility with various audio software and playback devices that support Monkey’s Audio, facilitating seamless playback and management of audio collections. Metadata included in APL files enhances the user experience by providing descriptive information about the tracks and streamlining library organization, making it convenient for browsing, searching, and identifying specific tracks.
Opening APL Files with Monkey’s Audio
An APL file is a text file format used by Monkey’s Audio, a free and open-source lossless audio codec. It contains metadata about the audio track, such as the length, bitrate, and sampling frequency. You can open APL files using Monkey’s Audio software, which is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
To open an APL file in Monkey’s Audio, navigate to the File menu and select “Open”. A file explorer window will appear, allowing you to browse for the APL file. Once you have selected the file, click on the “Open” button to load it into the Monkey’s Audio interface. You can view the metadata about the audio track in the information panel on the right-hand side of the window.
Alternatively, you can drag and drop APL files onto the Monkey’s Audio interface to open them. This method is particularly useful if you have multiple APL files that you want to open at once. Monkey’s Audio will automatically load the files and add them to the playback queue.
APL Format and Features
The APL file format, an acronym for Monkey’s Audio Track Information File, is an ancillary file created by the Monkey’s Audio lossless audio codec. It stores metadata associated with an encoded audio track, including track number, title, artist, album, genre, year, comments, and tags. Unlike the corresponding MAC file, which contains audio data, the APL file serves as a text-based placeholder for the track information. This separation allows for easy editing and retrieval of track metadata without affecting the audio content.
Usage and Compatibility
APL files are typically embedded within Monkey’s Audio encoded files (.APE). When a compatible media player accesses an APE file, it automatically reads the corresponding APL file to retrieve the track metadata. The APL file format is widely supported by various audio software, including Monkey’s Audio itself, foobar2000, Winamp, and MediaMonkey. This compatibility ensures seamless handling of track information across different applications and devices. Additionally, APL files can be standalone text documents, allowing for manual editing and sharing of track metadata.