Audio formats - why so many?

[bbrown]

I save my recordings as wav and mp3 files. I have the option with the Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) "Audacity" to also save my recordings in aiff, ogg, wma, m4a, GSM, ASM, FLAC, and AMR. And the list of options seems to be growing.

I have no idea what these other formats are used for, but should one save into any of these for some potential future use? It's not that much extra effort, but it does take time and all the files start to take up space. I'd rather keep it simple if there is no need for other formats.

Thanks,

--Bill

[Rudy4]

Simple answer, someone's always trying to make a better mouse trap.
If you're going to do any work later you should archive as wav, it's the only accepted standard as far as I know. Archive in the highest resolution that you have (that will be what you recorded at...).

All of the other formats have characteristics for more compact storage or easier distribution.

Memory is cheap and keeps getting cheaper. There's no reason to archive a compressed format file.

[DupleMeter]

There's a long history to digital audio so there is support for older formats (aiff, sd2, et al) and there are so many groups trying got make the "be all, end all" standard (ogg-vorbis, FLAC, et al).

Broadcast Wave (bwf/wav) is the industry standard, stick with that and you'll be fine. Then export to mp3 as needed...though, m4a (aac) is on it's way to replacing mp3s. It does sound better, so I see that one. I don't see the ogg & FLAC and all that. The way I see it you have your full quality (PCM) file format (Broadcast Wave) and you have your compressed format (mp3 or m4a). No need for an in-between (the lossless compression formats). But that's me.

[MikeBmusic]

aiff is an Apple thing, and acceptable as WAV due to it being a lossless format. FLAC is lossless but smaller than WAV/AIFF.

[rick-slo]

If you record at a greater resolution than 16 bit and 44,100 sample rate (probably in a WAV or AIFF format) you may want to save that on your computer. You can convert to certain compressed but lossless formats such as FLAC or WMV to save space (and without loss of data). I just stick with WAV files myself for storing music. For sharing music on the internet I use mp3 at 320 bit rate (there is loss of data but it's pretty hard to hear the effect of it).

[Bob Womack]

The main reasons DAWs offer multiple formats are compatibility and quality. As mentioned, the "How we got there" is because of 1) people try to improve storage quality or reduce storage size and 2) brand/format wars. BTW, the above advice about specific formats is good.

When I am recording for albums, I save my sources within my project to the highest resolution possible. The storage size is a cost of doing business. The mixes are done in two formats: 1. highest resolution possible to go to the mastering house (or resolution requested by the mastering engineer), 2. working "listening" resolutions such as .mp3 128k for the client. I am also often asked to do a rough mastering job to CD for my clients. As long as the clock is whirling I'll export as many formats as they want!

Bob

[bbrown]

Appreciate the replies and great info. Y'all know a lot more about this stuff than I do, so the input and opinions really help.

[muscmp]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Simple answer, someone's always trying to make a better mouse trap.
If you're going to do any work later you should archive as wav, it's the only accepted standard as far as I know. Archive in the highest resolution that you have (that will be what you recorded at...).

All of the other formats have characteristics for more compact storage or easier distribution.

Memory is cheap and keeps getting cheaper. There's no reason to archive a compressed format file.

rudy: my sentiments exactly!

play music!

[DupleMeter]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

aiff is an Apple thing, and acceptable as WAV due to it being a lossless format. FLAC is lossless but smaller than WAV/AIFF.

Actually, AIFF started with the Amiga system in the '80s & stands for Audio Interchange File Format. Apple adopted it as their format of choice after crushing the Amiga.

[KevWind]

I would agree that WAV is probable the most universally used for uncompressed audio. AIFF is also very common and the two are virtually always interchangeable and easily convertible with most DAWs

And it should be noted that although FLAC is lossless it too is compressed and often you have to install additional software to encode and decode it.

For my personal use I record in WAV and export (for archive) in the WAV file size recorded, and also export in 320 bit MP3

While 128 bit MP3 is now arguably the standard (working) MP3 format, for example for streaming on line @ Soundcloud the files will be compressed to 128 MP3. However for my portable listening , after participating in two critical listening tests through Berklee Collage Music we found that almost to a person ( understanding the average age was 24 ) that the defining point between obviously not CD quality was 256 bit. That files at 128 and below were noticeable as compressed on good sound systems. Where 256 and 320 were much less noticeable.

[MikeBmusic]

Originally Posted by KevWind

While 128 bit MP3 is now arguably the standard (working) MP3 format, for example for streaming on line @ Soundcloud the files will be compressed to 128 MP3.

Which is why you should upload WAV or AIFF to soundcloud, if possible - uploading a 320k MP3 will then get compressed a second time, and I've heard a lot of people complain about what happens to their sound when that happens.

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

Which is why you should upload WAV or AIFF to soundcloud, if possible - uploading a 320k MP3 will then get compressed a second time, and I've heard a lot of people complain about what happens to their sound when that happens.

Hadn't heard that, interesting

[MikeBmusic]

Originally Posted by KevWind

Hadn't heard that, interesting

Can only assume that is the cause (double compression). As the soundcloud uploader is automatically converting to thier own MP3 format, why would you NOT use the best quality file to start?

[RedJoker]

Originally Posted by MikeBmusic

Can only assume that is the cause (double compression). As the soundcloud uploader is automatically converting to thier own MP3 format, why would you NOT use the best quality file to start?

I have slow internet upload speeds so I tend to use something at least a little compressed.

[muscmp]

i have a couple of mp3 songs on soundcloud and a couple of friends each asked why i mixed them that way. i then sent them the same songs in wav format and both stated that it was night and day difference. so, yes, i believe that they go thru the original mp3 conversion and then the upload compression turning the songs into mush. hopefully as computers get better, we can get rid of mp3 and just use wav files.

play music!