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Knowledge base Formats

Audio format guide: WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP3, M4A, and OGG

Learn when to use uncompressed, lossless, and lossy formats, how containers differ from codecs, and why delivery format depends on the destination.

Practical guide Creator focused Preview-first workflow
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Study goals

What you will understand

This guide is written for creators who want practical audio decisions, not abstract engineering theory.

01

Choose a source format that preserves quality before processing.

02

Understand why WAV and AIFF are large, why FLAC is smaller, and why MP3/AAC are delivery formats.

03

Avoid re-encoding lossy files more than necessary.

Formats map

Quick reference

Use this table as the first pass before choosing a profile or export path.

FormatTypeBest useTradeoff
WAVUncompressed PCMEditing, mastering, archive handoffLarge files, broad support
AIFF / AIFUncompressed PCMMac-centric production and archival handoffLarge files, excellent metadata support
FLACLossless compressedArchival delivery, high quality downloadsSmaller than WAV, not universal in every editor
MP3Lossy compressedPodcast, web preview, lightweight sharingSmall files, throws away data permanently
AAC / M4ALossy or lossless containerMobile and video workflowsGood quality at lower bitrates, container can be confusing
OGGOpen containerWeb and open workflowsGreat for compatible players, less universal in pro delivery
Field notes

Lessons

Short, practical guidance you can apply while comparing previews and preparing a master.

01

Start with the best source you have

Processing cannot recreate information that was removed earlier. If you have WAV, AIFF, or FLAC, upload that instead of an MP3. If MP3 is all you have, avoid converting it through multiple lossy steps.

  • Use WAV or AIFF when the file is headed to more editing or mastering.
  • Use FLAC when you want lossless quality with smaller storage.
  • Use MP3 or AAC when the priority is fast sharing, compatibility, or small downloads.
02

Codec, container, and extension are different ideas

A file extension tells you how the file is wrapped. The codec tells you how the audio is encoded. A container such as M4A can hold different encoding choices, so inspect the file before assuming what is inside.

  • Codec: the compression method, such as PCM, MP3, AAC, or FLAC.
  • Container: the wrapper, such as WAV, AIFF, M4A, or OGG.
  • Bitrate: how much data per second a compressed file uses.
Before export

Practical checklist

Use these checks while comparing previews and preparing a full master.

  • Upload the highest quality original you can access.
  • Use MP3 for fast previews and delivery, not as an intermediate archive.
  • Keep a lossless copy when the master may need future revisions.
Related profiles

Good starting points

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Music

Music Master

Balances tone and loudness for finished mixes.

Best for: Finished songs and mixes that need polish.

  • Smooths peaks and keeps loudness consistent.
  • Adds a finished, release-ready feel.
  • Keeps metadata and artwork attached where available.
low-cutcompressionlimiterrelease loudness
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Music

Audio Upscale

Upsamples audio for high-resolution delivery.

Best for: Higher-resolution delivery and upsampled masters.

  • Resamples to higher sample rates for high-res delivery.
  • Adds clean loudness polish.
  • Useful for restoration or archive-adjacent masters.
96 kHz resamplingloudness polishpeak control
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Delivery

Streaming Ready

Consistent loudness for web and streaming platforms.

Best for: Web video, live streams, and platform-ready audio.

  • Prevents clipping and harsh peaks.
  • Delivers a consistent listening level.
  • Targets streaming-friendly loudness around -14 LUFS.
compressiontrue-peak limiting-14 LUFS target
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