Exploring the Different Audio File Formats
We've all heard of MP3, WMA, WAV, and AAC files and they often are mentioned in electronic devices that play audio. We may likely understand them on the surface but what differences does one audio format actually make from another and how does it affect the quality of the sound it carries? To know more about them, let's dig more into their basic aspects to differentiate one from another and also explore their function.
File Size Large data simply takes up too much space on media playback devices and so technology gave birth to the compression method of such large data, allowing them to be reproduced as files with much smaller sizes.
The Waveform Audio File format, popularly known as WAV is the standard uncompressed audio format used by Microsoft operating systems (its Mac OS counterpart is the AIFF). Clearly, this file is bigger than the lossless compressed WMA and lossy compressed MP3 and AAC formats and it even reaches up to 12 times bigger.
Quality of Audio and Compression The two types of compressed data are the lossless and the lossy data. The former denotes that the compressed data keeps the original quality of the uncompressed one and is only a little smaller.On the other hand the latter, "loses" some of its portions (mostly inaudible to humans) in exchange for a much greater compression rate. As a result, its size is comparatively smaller, however, its quality may also affected.
Most good quality after market car stereos and many of the newer factory head units will play many of these formats. We have done a few reviews on some stereos that play some or all of these formats. Just take a look at the double DIN JVC KW-XR810, and the DVD playing AVH-P3200DVD.
The Windows Media Audio format (WMA) created by Microsoft originally utilizes lossy compression, but further development has provided for lossless as well (WMA Lossless), whereas the MPEG-2 Audio Layer III (MP3) and the Advanced Audio Coding format (AAC) are lossy compression audio files.
The MP3 format is widely known and used, since it became a standard to most established software and hardware companies like Microsoft and IBM. Using set bit rates or what is known as the amount of data to be used per second, the MP3 format can be structured to offer a higher quality audio at higher bit rates and then at greater compressed sizes.
The latest format which is the AAC format is not yet well-known but it provides a better quality at a specific bit rate than an MP3 file with the same bit rate. The distinction is more significant since lower bit rates are utilized. This audio format is the standard utilized by Apple.
The Common Uses and Their Benefits Every format has its own advantages over the other and each format is favored in distinct instances. Files in WAV format which has a large size is not practical in file sharing and transfer. However, they continue to be preferred in instances when storage capacity is of no concern and simple-structured, high-quality audio editing is.
WMA formats are a major competitor of MP3 format. Debates are still going on among audiophiles about the quality, if it really overpowers that of the MP3. However, as compressed files go, both of these formats are highly reliable and popular, playable in most programs such as Windows Media Player, Winamp, RealPlayer, VLC, etc.
The AAC format is the growing standard for quality compressed audio files. With its significant edge in audio quality over the MP3 format, it won't be long before popularity will shift to it for as we speak, Apple - the leading promoter for the AAC audio format - continues to gain momentum in its domination over the world of digital technology.
File Size Large data simply takes up too much space on media playback devices and so technology gave birth to the compression method of such large data, allowing them to be reproduced as files with much smaller sizes.
The Waveform Audio File format, popularly known as WAV is the standard uncompressed audio format used by Microsoft operating systems (its Mac OS counterpart is the AIFF). Clearly, this file is bigger than the lossless compressed WMA and lossy compressed MP3 and AAC formats and it even reaches up to 12 times bigger.
Quality of Audio and Compression The two types of compressed data are the lossless and the lossy data. The former denotes that the compressed data keeps the original quality of the uncompressed one and is only a little smaller.On the other hand the latter, "loses" some of its portions (mostly inaudible to humans) in exchange for a much greater compression rate. As a result, its size is comparatively smaller, however, its quality may also affected.
Most good quality after market car stereos and many of the newer factory head units will play many of these formats. We have done a few reviews on some stereos that play some or all of these formats. Just take a look at the double DIN JVC KW-XR810, and the DVD playing AVH-P3200DVD.
The Windows Media Audio format (WMA) created by Microsoft originally utilizes lossy compression, but further development has provided for lossless as well (WMA Lossless), whereas the MPEG-2 Audio Layer III (MP3) and the Advanced Audio Coding format (AAC) are lossy compression audio files.
The MP3 format is widely known and used, since it became a standard to most established software and hardware companies like Microsoft and IBM. Using set bit rates or what is known as the amount of data to be used per second, the MP3 format can be structured to offer a higher quality audio at higher bit rates and then at greater compressed sizes.
The latest format which is the AAC format is not yet well-known but it provides a better quality at a specific bit rate than an MP3 file with the same bit rate. The distinction is more significant since lower bit rates are utilized. This audio format is the standard utilized by Apple.
The Common Uses and Their Benefits Every format has its own advantages over the other and each format is favored in distinct instances. Files in WAV format which has a large size is not practical in file sharing and transfer. However, they continue to be preferred in instances when storage capacity is of no concern and simple-structured, high-quality audio editing is.
WMA formats are a major competitor of MP3 format. Debates are still going on among audiophiles about the quality, if it really overpowers that of the MP3. However, as compressed files go, both of these formats are highly reliable and popular, playable in most programs such as Windows Media Player, Winamp, RealPlayer, VLC, etc.
The AAC format is the growing standard for quality compressed audio files. With its significant edge in audio quality over the MP3 format, it won't be long before popularity will shift to it for as we speak, Apple - the leading promoter for the AAC audio format - continues to gain momentum in its domination over the world of digital technology.
About the Author:
JustHeadUnits.com provides articles and reviews on a variety of car stereo head units. If you are looking to purchase a car stereo give us a visit.
0 nhận xét:
Đăng nhận xét