You can think of it like the number of tickmarks on a ruler-the more closely spaced they are, the less often the measurement will fall in between the two marks. The higher the sample rate and bit depth used, the more information is captured in the conversion process.īit depth represents the precision of the AD/DA converter for measuring amplitude, or the volume level of the signal. These are based on the accuracy and precision with which the analog audio signal was converted to digital. Uncompressed audio files are the type most often used for recording and mixing music in a DAW.Įven so, uncompressed audio files also come in different quality levels. These are the largest files to work with, but they provide the highest level of detail in the audio information. These file types act as a container for raw audio data without reducing its size or quality in any way. These are called uncompressed audio formats. There are other audio file formats where no data compression is used. Some information is thrown away using this method, so these are known as lossy compressed formats. Other compression types work by eliminating data in the audio that doesn’t make a big impact on the sound. These are known as lossless compressed formats. Some methods of data compression make the file smaller but still preserve 100% of the information in the raw audio stream. It’s not the same as the dynamic range compression used in music production. The difference between the two has to do with data compression.ĭata compression means making the files take up less space on a hard drive. There are two main types of audio file-lossless file formats, and lossy file formats. In addition to that, some audio file formats carry metadata that supplies information about the file or its content. PCM audio needs to be organized into a file so you can work with it, or play it back in a system.ĭifferent audio file formats use different containers and varying methods of data compression to organize the PCM stream.ĭepending on which you choose, each format represents the same information in different storage sizes or quality levels. The raw data in a stream of audio from the analog-to-digital converter in your audio interface is encoded using a technique called PCM or pulse code modulation. In this article I’ll explain everything you need to know about audio file formats and how to choose the right one for the job.Īudio file formats are digital standards for storing audio information. How do you know which audio file type to use and how to get the best results?
Digital audio files are the raw material of music production.įrom streaming platforms to sample packs, all the audio you work with has to be stored somewhere in a file.īut there are many types of audio format that are used in different situations.
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