AMB File

What are AMB files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening an AMB 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 AMB files.

What is an AMB file?

AMB files have multiple uses, and Ambios AMB is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

Ambios AMB

We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

How to open AMB files

Important: Different programs may use files with the AMB file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your AMB file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

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

Last updated: August 18, 2026

All known file formats using extension .AMB

While Ambios AMB is a popular type of AMB-file, we know of 5 different uses of the .AMB file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Ambisonic B-Format Audio

Ambisonic B-Format Audio stores a full-sphere sound-field representation using a set of related audio channels instead of just left and right stereo. It represents sounds with respect to three-dimensional space by encoding omni-directional sound pressure plus directional gradients, so that later decoding can recreate how audio would arrive from any direction in a speaker setup or for VR/AR.

This format is used for first-order and higher-order Ambisonics following the Furse-Malham (FuMa) convention. The channels are ordered FuMa-style (W, X, Y, Z, then higher orders as needed) and W (the omni-directional component) is scaled by 1/√2 ( - 3 dB) relative to the rest. It is built on Microsoft's WAVE_FORMAT_EXTENSIBLE structure so channel count, sample rate, and integer or floating-point encoding are all explicitly specified. Files using this format typically have the file name extension .amb and are limited to third order Ambisonics.

Technical signature includes use of the WAVE‐EX form with a specific GUID in the header to denote Ambisonic B-Format, either for integer PCM or IEEE float subtype. The header must also set the channel mask field (dwChannelMask) to zero. Common internal markers include ASCII strings like "RIFF$" at file start and "WAVEfmt…data" aligned with WAVE file structure.

Amoeba Data

We know that one AMB format is Amoeba Data. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Ancient Machines Book Hypertext Archive

Ancient Machines Book Hypertext Archive files are digital ebook containers designed to store simple hypertext documentation that can run on very limited or old computers, including DOS systems. They package a collection of plain-text articles with minimal formatting commands and internal hyperlinks, allowing technical manuals, books or hypertext help systems to be read even where resources like memory, screen width, or advanced graphics are severely constrained. The format is ideal for authors who want lightweight, portable ebooks viewable via small reader programs named "AMB," and for creating documentation that is robust across platforms with very basic text display capabilities.

The files are produced by placing one or more source files (called AMA files), along with optional metadata like a title, codepage mapping, or full-text index, into a directory and then converting (packing) the whole directory into a single AMB file using the "AMBPACK" tool. The reader program "AMB" then opens such a file, starts by loading "index.ama," and navigates among linked AMA articles. AMA files use control codes beginning with a percent sign to mark headings, links, warnings, or muted ("boring") text; line lengths are limited (typically 78 characters), filenames inside the archive must follow old-style constraints (8+3 max, 7-bit ASCII), and there is optional support for a Unicode-mapping file to handle non-ASCII characters.

A file of this format begins with the ASCII signature "AMB1" at its very start. Inside, a 16-bit little-endian count of how many files are included, followed by a list of file entries each describing a filename (zero-padded to 12 characters), file offset, size, and checksum, precedes the actual file data. Filenames are case-insensitive. The archive must include "index.ama" among its files; a special file named "title" can supply a display title. Optional files include "unicode.map" for codepage mapping and "DICT.IDX" for a full-text word index.

Modular V Preset

Modular V preset files store sound settings for the Modular V virtual synthesizer by Arturia, letting users save, share or reuse specific sounds ("presets") created with its modules and signal routing. They are used to preserve everything needed for a patch - oscillator settings, filters, envelopes, modulators, effects - and allow recall of a complete sound in future sessions.

These preset files are created and manipulated directly within Modular V. Users can export a single preset, part of a preset sub-bank, or an entire bank (collection) of presets. They can also import banks from other machines or users, which then appear in the synthesizer's preset browser. Early versions of the software used this file format; newer versions now favor a newer format named "modux."

Each file begins with a specific byte signature located at the very start of the file: bytes 0x4D4F4F4700043030303042414E4B, which correspond in ASCII to "MOOG..0000BANK". This signature identifies it as a Modular V sound bank file.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of AMB files. Remember, different programs may use AMB 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 AMB file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.