CVX File

What are CVX files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a CVX 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 CVX files.

What is a CVX file?

A .CVX file is a Covox ADPCM Encoded Audio file.

Covox ADPCM Encoded Audio is a lossy digital audio format using adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM) developed by Covox as part of its line of audio output devices. It was created to compress 8-bit unsigned pulse-code modulation (PCM) audio by encoding differences between samples, with fewer bits per sample than raw PCM. Covox provided DVR- and DOS-based utilities to encode audio into this format, typically for playback through Covox hardware or compatible emulators.

The format stores audio in single (mono) channels, using variable bit-sizes such as 1, 2, 3, or 4 bits per sample (and sometimes 8 bits) depending on desired compression level. It also supports optional "silence encoding", which inserts markers to indicate runs of silent samples instead of storing each silence explicitly. After files are encoded, they are decoded by a Covox ADPCM decoder to reconstruct approximate versions of the original 8-bit signal for playback.

Files begin with a 16-byte header. The first eight bytes are the fixed magic code FF 55 FF AA FF 55 FF AA, which never occurs elsewhere in the data. The next byte specifies the encoding type (e.g. 0x01 for 1-bit ADPCM, 0x02 for 2-bit, 0x03 for 3-bit, 0x04 for 4-bit, with high bits used to indicate presence of silence-encoding). Following that is a byte for the playback rate, then four bytes for the (often unused) unpacked size field, and two zeros.

How to open CVX files

Important: Different programs may use files with the CVX file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your CVX 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 CVX openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: September 19, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

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

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