Audio/Music File Formats
WHAT IS AN AUDIO FILE?
An audio file is used to store audio data in a digital format on a computer system. The process of converting analog audio into a digital form is known as audio encoding and is done by using small software programs called audio codecs. The encoded data is then stored in a kind of a container file format known as the audio coding format, or simply, the audio file format.
An audio file contains waveform data and can be in an uncompressed as well as compressed form. Most commonly, audio data is stored in a compressed form using lossy compression to save storage space.
In total, there are three major groups of audio file formats:
- Lossy Compression Formats (MP3, WMA Lossy, AAC)
— These audio formats compress data using lossy compression methods. - Lossless Compression Formats (WMA Lossless, MPEG-4 SLS, Shorten [SHN])
— These audio formats compress data using lossless compression methods. - Uncompressed Formats (AIFF, WAV, PCM)
— These audio formats store data in uncompressed form.
HOW ARE AUDIO FILES USED?
Audio file formats are used almost everywhere today, from music, video games, movies, and more. Most video file formats also support storing an audio format inside the video container. Although audio files are widely-used across many usage applications, primarily these formats are used by the music industry to store songs and music.
Search File Types
What Are Popular Audio Files Extensions?
| MP3 The MP3 file format is one of the most popular audio file formats in use today and stores audio data in a compressed form (through lossy compression). Released in 1993, it is very small in size as compared to other formats and uses a bit-rate compression model. The higher the bit rate, the higher the quality of the sound, and the bigger the size of the file. | |
| AAC The AAC, or Advanced Audio Coding file format, was developed as a successor to MP3 with several improvements including higher coding efficiency and better handling of higher frequencies. As a compressed format, it uses a better compression algorithm than MP3 files, offering higher quality audio at the same bit rate. | |
| WAV The WAV or Waveform Audio file format is a container audio format, commonly used to store audio in an uncompressed form. Although they can contain compressed audio as well, WAV files are most commonly used to store audio in uncompressed form (in PCM format). | |
| AIFF AIFF or Audio Interchange File Format has been developed by Apple primarily for Macs and acts as a container for uncompressed audio file formats. It can contain different kinds of audio and, like WAV, can also store compressed audio. Similarly, AIFF files are commonly used to store audio in an uncompressed form (using PCM format). | |
| WMA The WMA or Windows Media Audio file format is used to store audio data in the ASF (Advanced Systems Format), a proprietary format by Microsoft. Similar to MP3, WMA files compresses audio data, but in a higher quality form. |
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Newsletter