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XSB MP3
File conversion

Convert XSB to MP3

Verified by Adam B.· reviewed by FE Editorial ·updated Sep 8, 2026
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Is it possible to convert XSB to MP3?
Yes - XSB converts to MP3.

The .xsb contains only sound cue definitions; the audio lives in the matching .xwb. Use unxwb to extract WAV files from the .xwb, then encode with ffmpeg or Audacity. If the wave bank stores XMA-compressed audio, encoding to MP3 adds a second lossy pass - use a high bitrate to minimize quality loss.

Also to MP3: CAF · STS · OGA

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Tested on macOS, Windows & Linux
Last verified Oct 2026

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Why convert XSB to MP3?

Games built with Microsoft XACT/XNA (roughly 2004-2013) ship both an .xsb and .xwb; fans and modders want .mp3 files of sound effects or music to use outside the game. MP3 is widely supported and compact, though WAV is preferable when lossless preservation matters.

How to convert XSB to MP3

unxwb + ffmpeg FREE

Extract WAV files from the .xwb with unxwb, then encode each WAV to MP3 with ffmpeg. Both tools are free.

unxwb + Audacity FREE

Extract WAV files from the .xwb with unxwb, then open each WAV in Audacity and use File > Export > Export as MP3.

towav + ffmpeg FREE

Use towav as an alternative .xwb extractor if unxwb fails on a specific XACT version, then encode the output WAVs to MP3 with ffmpeg.

About these formats

.XSB XACT Sound Bank

An XSB file is an XACT Sound Bank created by Microsoft's game-audio tool. It holds sound and cue definitions for games built with XACT or XNA, but contains no actual audio data. To get the…

Open .XSB details →
.MP3 MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer III

An MP3 file is a compressed audio recording - a song, podcast, audiobook, or ringtone. Almost every device plays it without extra software: double-click on Windows to open Media Player, on…

Open .MP3 details →

Quality & what to watch

  • The .xsb has no audio; you need the matching .xwb from the same game folder - both files are required.
  • If the wave bank uses XMA compression (Xbox 360 audio), encoding to MP3 introduces a second lossy pass; use 192 kbps or higher to minimize artifacts.
  • Extracting game audio may violate the game's EULA or copyright; check before distributing the resulting MP3 files.

Frequently asked questions

Can I convert just the `.xsb` to MP3?
No - the .xsb is metadata only; you must use the matching .xwb wave bank to get audio.
What bitrate should I use for MP3 encoding?
192 kbps or higher is recommended, especially if the source audio was already compressed (XMA), to minimize cumulative quality loss.
Where do I download unxwb?
From Luigi Auriemma's site at aluigi.altervista.org - download only from that source to avoid adware bundled on third-party sites.
What if I only have the `.xsb` and not the `.xwb`?
Without the .xwb there is nothing to extract; both files ship together in the game's audio folder.