So why should you care? Quite simply, hi-res audio files have a lot of extra audio information and thus sound a lot better than compressed audio formats, which lose information in the compression process.
They will take up more storage space but we definitely think it's worth the trade off. When it comes to streaming, MQA is a file packing format used by the likes of Tidal Masters , which helps to bring hi-res audio to streaming services using as little bandwidth as possible.
As for playing hi-res audio, an increasing amount of products now support it. You can find more info on which hi-fi products support hi-res audio here.
The file format you choose will depend on whether storage or sound quality is your key concern, as well as which devices you intend to use for playback.
MP3s became hugely popular when storage was at a premium. Now that phones, music players and laptops have far more storage space, we think you really should be looking to use better-than-CD-quality files. Lossless files strike a good balance between compression and sound quality, allowing you to listen to the best quality digital music without taking up all your storage space. Just make sure your devices are all compatible with your file format of choice.
Becky has been a full-time staff writer at What Hi-Fi? Prior to gaining her MA in Journalism in , she freelanced as an arts critic alongside a year career as a professional dancer and aerialist — any love of dance is of course tethered to a love of music. When not writing, she dances, spins in the air, drinks coffee, watches football or surfs in Cornwall with her other half — a football writer whose talent knows no bounds. What Hi-Fi? Becky Scarrott. See all comments 7. This is a significant distortion sorry Apple had no part whatsoever in the development of the standard.
The standard was established in and was part of the standards for MPEG-2 and subsequently MPEG-4, but was not adopted as an audio-only format until Apple used it as the default standard for iTunes and the iPod. They definitely popularised it, but they did not invent it or even contribute to its development.
With that in mind, the cons of not being able to share this file type to an Apple user, definitely outweighs any minor benefit in audio quality the WMA lossy offers. Although it was originally designed solely for use with Apple products, the coding for ALAC became open-source in — meaning that encoders can be used to make ALAC files easily playable or convertible on other operating systems. Like the lossless WMA file previously mentioned number 8 on our list , the ALAC compresses the audio, but does not discard information — instead it categorizes redundant information, and unpacks it when needed.
This makes it a great option for anyone looking for a better way to store extremely high quality files. The only issue with the file, is the inability for all listeners to instantly play it, regardless of their PC or Mac preference. The MP3 is probably the most popular audio file format on this list. Often times, the terms MP3 and audio file are used interchangeably, regardless of whether the format being used is actually an MP3.
Regardless of the platform, the operating system, or software, an MP3 will most likely play — making it a great choice for anyone looking to have their music instantly playable. Of course, with this flexibility there is a downside — the MP3 is of course a lossy format, but unlike the compression used by other lossy formats, the MP3 is pretty unforgiving with what it chooses to delete. In this regard, providing an MP3 to a client is more of a courtesy than actually delivering the final mix or master.
The AAC lossy file format came out soon after the MP3, and with the intention of becoming a better, more popular version of its predecessor. Regardless, the AAC file format is a great choice for creating and sending small compressed files. Considering it can be played in almost as many ways as the MP3, the AAC is currently the best lossy file format available.
The FLAC lossless file offers the highest quality to file size ratio of any file formats on this list. This means that regardless of being a PC or an Apple user, FLAC files can be sent, received and played without the need for conversion or third-party software.
With that in mind, the FLAC format is a go-to choice for anyone looking to send lossless compressed audio files. Both WAV files and AIFF files represent the highest quality possible in the audio world — they are the files of choice for any mixing or mastering engineer looking to retain the highest quality possible.
This may be due to the fact that it was once exclusive to Apple devices, or maybe because PCs were the first choice of early digital audio engineers. This brings us to the number 1 spot, the WAV uncompressed audio format. As you may already know, the WAV is the go-to file type for recording, mixing, and mastering. Also, it is widely recognized as the professional audio format.
This means that the majority of uploads, be it to Apple Music, Spotify, or any streaming service will support and sometimes even demand a WAV file.
Conclusion :. Although this list does look at the technical factors behind which audio format is best, we recognize that personal preference goes a long way in determining what is best for you. Knowing the different file types, which are best to send, and which may be best to use only for personal preference can help make you a consistent and reliable engineer.
Top 10 Audio File Formats. A codec is a piece of software used to perform the data compression and to decode the data during playback. In other words, a container is where the audio files are stored, while a codec is the tool that makes them smaller and easier to store.
Together, they make up what is called the format. First of all, you need to know that there are three main types of audio formats: uncompressed, lossless compressed, and lossy compressed formats. An uncompressed audio track is essentially a reproduction of the original sound file. It consists of real-world sound signals that have been transformed into a digital audio track. This type of audio format can provide excellent sound quality, but the file will be quite large — be prepared to have plenty of space on your hard drive.
Pulse-Code Modulation is a digital representation of analog soundwaves. In PCM, sampling is used to convert acoustic waves into digital form. PCM is instantiated by two main capabilities: sample rate and bit depth.
Sample rate sizes up the amplitude of the waves in time, and bit depth reflects the number of bits of information in each sample. Lossless compression can provide smaller audio files without loss of quality. FLAC strikes an almost perfect balance between audio quality and size reduction. The format is also compatible with dozens of platforms, thanks to its open-source status.
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