ALB File

What are ALB files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an ALB file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your ALB files.

What is an ALB file?

ALB files have multiple uses, and Cubase Arrangement File Backup is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Cubase Arrangement File Backup

Files that contain the .alb file extension are commonly used by the Cubase music software. Cubase is used to produce and record music tracks and is a type of Digital Audio Workstation.

Cubase uses the .alb extension to create backups of musical arrangement files created within the software application.

In version 5.0r6 the backup naming scheme of Cubase changed. Previously the file extension was changed so that the last letter was changed to a 'b' (for "backup"). For instance, a backup of an arrangement file (*.ALL) would be a (*.ALB) file. Now it will be a '*.ALLB' file.

How to open ALB files

We have identified one ALB opener that is compatible with this specific type of ALB file.

Programs that open Cubase Arrangement File Backup files

Last updated: August 17, 2026

All known file formats using extension .ALB

While Cubase Arrangement File Backup is a popular type of ALB-file, we know of 5 different uses of the .ALB file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Power Up! Album Project

We know that one ALB format is Power Up! Album Project. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different ALB openers which you will find listed below.

Seattle FilmWorks / PhotoWorks Photo Album

Seattle FilmWorks / PhotoWorks creates album files that store how images are organized in a photo album, not the photos themselves. These are used by Seattle FilmWorks' PhotoWorks desktop program when users design an album containing images, captions, layout settings, and display order.

PhotoWorks writes this album format alongside its image and metadata formats so that when you reopen the album project, the program knows which photos go where, and with what text, captions or layout features. The album file does not hold the full image data but references photos stored elsewhere on disk. All images and settings must still be present for the album to display correctly.

Files in this album format begin with a specific ASCII signature: the first bytes are "SFW_ALB" at offset zero.

SJGPlay Album Info

SJGPlay Album Info files are text cue sheets that store track‐listing metadata for musical albums created by the SJGPlay audio CD player software under DOS. They accompany a user's CD project, listing song titles, track boundaries, possibly lyrics, and order, so the player knows how to display and locate tracks when a CD is loaded.

These cue‐sheets are written and updated by SJGPlay itself. When a user adds or edits tracks (for example, editing lyrics, naming songs, or defining "start of track" points), SJGPlay writes the album info file so that it can later recall that configuration for display, lyric synchronization, or printing track listings. The info is read when the user browses or plays a CD with SJGPlay to restore song labels and layout options.

Inside the file, the very first bytes are the ASCII header "@ALBUM:" at offset 0. The content also include textual markers such as "SONG" for each track entry, and the keyword "ENDTRACKS" marking the end of the track-list section. These keywords help SJGPlay parse the file and identify each track's information.

VCOM Web Easy Album

The .alb extension is also used by the VCOM Web Easy image application. The VCOM software uses the ALB files to store clipart and photos, thus allowing users to create web pages from various templates.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of ALB files. Remember, different programs may use ALB files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about ALB file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.