SHN

SHN is a .wav file compression process that helps to improve the way audio source files are stored. The following is some background on the concept of SHN and some suggested applications.

What SHN does

SHN is used in audio compression processes. The idea behind SHN (or Shorten) is to compress an audio .wav file without losing any type of data associated with the source file. This can be contrasted with the MP3 file, which usually discards some information associated with the source file; this lost information cannot be recovered when the file is decompressed. The information is gone. With SHN, when an audio .wav file is decompressed, all the original information is still intact and accessible.

The fact that no information is lost as part of the compression process makes SHN ideal when it comes to storing files or even transferring files from one user to another. This can also eliminate the need for digital audio extraction software, since the SHN-compressed file has everything saved in one neat bundle.

How to use SHN

SHN is a viable solution when transferring audio files by email, uploading them to protected FTP sites, and using other means of electronic transfer. Compressing the original audio file allows for faster transfers, especially with slower Internet connections. After saving the received SHN file to the hard drive, the next step is to decompress the file. Free SHN software that will work with versions of Windows going back as far as Windows 98 can be downloaded for free on the Internet. The software is not large so downloads do not take long, even on dial up connections. Once the software is installed on the hard drive, the user can simply decompress and SHN files.