Everything musicians need to know about audio file formats pArt 3
WAV is at the top of the sound quality pyramid. So to speak, WAV is a Cadillac luxury car audio format. WAV files sound cleaner and sharper than other compressed formats.
If you want to submit your demo sound source to a label, sell it to a publisher, or publish it in a medium like a blog, I recommend WAV. In such a case, you will need a mastered WAV file.
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WAV files represent the highest quality sound you can produce and signify your own sound.
Always use WAV (input sound source) file material when mastering your own music.
WAV can be converted to other file formats at a later time, so WAV can meet the needs of any file format.
The only downside to WAV is that its large file size quickly fills up free space on your hard drive. If you only use WAV when listening to music, it means that the capacity of your computer, smartphone, iPod and Dropbox will soon be exhausted.
But when it comes to your own music, you’ll need to archive all your tracks to WAV.
Most music distribution platforms require WAV for the music upload file format they offer. For example, iTunes and Amazon MP3 require high quality WAV upload.
320MP3
The 320kbps MP3 is probably the most widely used file format. The reason is that 320 MP3 has good sound quality and file size.
320 MP3s are compressed into manageable file sizes. However, when I play it, it sounds rich.
If you’re streaming online, around 320kbps will be a good balance. For example, Spotify’s high-quality mode streams at 320 kbps.
The 320 MP3 is an excellent choice for saving hard drive space and loading time and sharing your music with realistic, high-quality sound.
192MP3
192 kbps MP3 is used instead of geta. If you need a sense of speed and want to make sharing easier, this fast and slightly grainy MP3 will come in handy.
The 192 MP3 is useful for quickly finding and sharing sound sources when sending a large number of files at once or listening to the entire back catalogue.
Bitrates below 320 kbps make sound quality even worse, but you may not even notice a difference. Test to see if you can tell the difference with your ears.
The 192MP3 is the perfect tool for musicians to share and stream music efficiently and quickly.
Tip: If you have a streaming player on your site, using a 192kbps MP3 will make it load faster.
What is the best way to use each file format?
Each format has its own uses, and the choice of format for that use depends on the intended use and environment.
Think about what sounds you are sharing or where you are sharing them. Does the file format you choose fit?
Using WAV as the output format for mastering is probably the most custom option. Also, if you have a mastered WAV, it’s very easy to convert it to other file formats.
Formatting has become a very important factor for streaming generation. Choose a format that is smart and easy to use.
