Being a budding beat maker has introduced me to the differences between digital audio file formats, and which ones to use for the Internet and to burn on CDs. The two most widely used audio files are MP3s and the .wav file format. As you may already know, MP3 audio files is the file of choice for online listening, selling and downloading to your computer or portable music device. However, Waveform Audio File Format, or WAV for short, has been around since the introduction of Windows 95, and has remained the standard. The WAV format is used during studio recordings and producers should always export to this file format if the are going to burn their song on a CD for distribution to a radio station or studio.
Simplicity:
The reason WAV files have stood the test of time is due to their simplicity. This file type is not compressed like an MPEG or MP3; instead it is comprised of three different segments of data. These three parts or chunks of data are RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format), FORMAT and DATA. Each of these segments serves its own purpose, including identification and containment. This simplicity has been one of the driving forces behind the popularity of this file format.
Uncompressed & Better Quality:
WAV files are not compressed and they provide a higher quality, or fidelity standard for audio tracks, which means they are huge compared to MP3 and other file types. Because of the Internet and people wanting to download songs faster, the WAV format type has taken a backseat to MP3 and other compressed file formats. However, within professional studios and among beat and music producers WAVs are still the go to option. A WAV file is ten to twenty times larger than an MP3 file, which is exactly why CDs have on average only twelve to fifteen tracks.
Widely Used Format:
In addition to music producers, other industries such as gaming and radio utilize WAV files for their far superior quality. Whether it's crisp sound effects for the latest video game or clear music from the radio streaming through your car speakers, WAV files were likely used. Another important component of why this file format is still widely used has to do with how easy it is to edit because of the basic three-part file structure.
Now that you know the basics of this audio file option, you can make more informed decisions about which file types to use under differing scenarios.
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