The Most Popular Audio File Types You Should Know. There are a lot of audio file types in this world. Each type has its uniqueness that makes it different from one to another. Although the basic sound is the same, having different types of files may have a huge impact on audio quality.
Audio can be defined as a term usually used to portray any noise or sound in a range that can be heard by human ears. It is generally measured in Hertz while being generated by speakers or headphones within an audio card. Any sound is basically a kind of analog signal that is converted to digital using a microchip.
It is usually compressed to generate file format to deliver a streaming sound. The most popular one is the MP3 format that can be easily found in your browser and application. Meanwhile, the type of audio format is not just about MP3. Several popular types are included in the list below.
MP3 and MP4
Based on the most popular audio file types list, MP3 and MP4 win this competition in a perfect score. In MP3 files, the compression becomes an important feature to save valuable space. By the compression process, the file size will automatically be minimized but still having near-flawless quality in its sound.
Rather than that, an MP3 will continue its existence in the digital landscape since it can compatible with any kind of device. It may be the best to extensive sound due to its fickle manageable size. MP3 audio works well to file sharing and websites.
The upgraded type of MP3 is MP4 that completely different from its predecessor. People may identify MP4 to video files rather than audio files. That’s true because the format includes both audio and visual files. It contains data instead of code like in MP3.
M4A and FLAC
Basically, M4A is like a MPEG-4 version of an audio file. This audio-compressed file is commonly used in modern settings, thanks to increased-cloud storage and wider hard drive space in computers. Mostly, music download software use M4A that has a smaller size and better quality, like in Apple iTunes. Unfortunately, not every device can recognize this one of the best audio file types.
Meanwhile, FLAC or abbreviation of Lossless Audio Codec can be categorized as an audio-compressed file that has a smaller size rather than the original. Truthfully, it is important to people that need to save size without decreasing the sound quality of the original audio. But, people don’t use it frequently because it needs special software to download to make it works.
WAV and WMA
As its name, WAV belongs to Waveform Audio Files which has waveform data stored. It conveys an image demonstrating strength in its volume. The WAV file can transform one to another using comprehension and typically belongs to almost every Windows system.
Besides, WMA or Windows Media Audio potentially becomes more popular than the MP3 file. It is a Windows-based alternative that has so many benefits within; lossless compression and retaining audio quality by restructuring processes. But, it is inaccessible non-Windows-users.
To know what type of audio you need, master your understanding by reading this list. Finding the right audio file will help to optimize it and boost efficiency. Each kind of audio file types certainly has its own plus and minus to consider.