Audio
What is a .ecw file?
A .ecw file is an Enhanced Compression Wavelet. This is an audio format. Confusingly, this extension has been used by 2 different formats over the years — they're all listed below.
This extension has been used by more than one format
2 different formats have claimed .ecw over the years, so two files with the same extension aren't necessarily the same kind of thing.
How to open a .ecw file
- VLC plays almost every audio format ever made.
- Audacity opens it for editing.
The registry records this extension against Enhanced Compression Wavelet, EclipseCrossword Puzzle File, so software from that family is the most likely match.
How to convert a .ecw file
- Export as .mp3 from Audacity or VLC for maximum compatibility.
The technical record
For archivists, developers and the merely curious: these are the PRONOM registry entries for .ecw.
| Format name | Version | MIME type | PUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhanced Compression Wavelet | — | — | fmt/371 |
| EclipseCrossword Puzzle File | — | — | fmt/1235 |