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LAP

Common Filetypes

To be able to work with and preserve sound, we need a medium to store it. There is a whole world of physical (analog) audio preservation systems, but in the context of this foundation, we are mostly talking about the digital way of storing audio in computer files. Therefore, it’s good to list some of the common formats to familiarize yourself with them:

  • WAV (.wav) Uncompressed, high-quality audio format. Often used in professional audio recording and editing.
  • MP3 (.mp3) Compressed format with smaller file sizes. Widely used for music streaming and general listening.
  • AAC (.aac) Similar to MP3 but with better sound quality at the same bit rate. Commonly used by Apple devices and YouTube.
  • FLAC (.flac) Lossless compression, meaning no audio quality is lost. Popular among audiophiles and for archiving music.
  • AIFF (.aiff) Uncompressed format developed by Apple. Similar to WAV but more common on macOS systems.
  • OGG (.ogg) Open-source compressed format. Often used in games and some streaming platforms.
  • ALAC (.m4a) Apple’s Lossless Audio Codec. Offers CD-quality audio in a compressed format for Apple users.
  • DSD (.dsf or .dff) High-resolution audio format used in Super Audio CDs (SACDs). Preferred for high-end audio playback systems.