What is a APE file
APE files are commonly associated with the audio encoding and compression program Monkey's Audio. They are created via lossless compression with no loss of quality during the compression process. APE files can be regarded as bit-for-bit perfect copies of the source file. Since Monkey's Audio is an open source audio encoder, it can be incorporated in a variety of software. It is thus possible that other programs than Monkey's Audio produce APE files.
Next to the compressed audio data, APE files include error detection and tag support. The latter allows to store information about the audio file in the APE file. Sometimes, other files are created alongside with the APE file. These can either be CUE files that contain an audio CD image, or APL files containing metadata.
Here's a small, but not exhaustive list of programs that can open APE documents:
- Adobe Audition CC 2015
- AIMP
- Cog
- Monkey's Audio
- MPlayer
- NCH WavePad
- Nullsoft Winamp with Monkey's Audio Plugin
