
What differentiates MP3 from AAC? Part 3

WAV audio file

WAV is a waveform audio format. This is a high-quality audio file that is often used like a CD. WAV files are not compressed and therefore take up more disk space than MP3 or AAC.
Because WAV files are not compressed (called a “lossless” format), they contain more data, resulting in a better, more subtle, and more detailed sound. A WAV file typically requires 10MB of audio per minute. By comparison, MP3 takes up about 1 MB per minute.
WAV files are supported by Apple devices, but are not commonly used except by audiophiles.
WMA audio file
WMA stands for Windows Media Audio. This is a file type popularized by Microsoft Corporation who invented it. It is the default format used by Windows Media Player on Mac and PC. It competes with MP3 and AAC formats and offers compression and file sizes similar to those formats. Not compatible with iPhone and iPad.
AIFF audio file
AIFF stands for Audio Interchange File Format. Another uncompressed audio format, AIFF, was invented by Apple in the late 1980s. Like WAV, it takes up about 10MB of storage space per minute of music. Because it does not compress audio, AIFF is a higher quality format preferred by audiophiles and musicians. Because it was invented by Apple, it is compatible with Apple devices.
Apple Lossless Audio File
Another Apple invention, the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC), is the successor to AIFF. Released in 2004, it was originally a proprietary format. Apple made it open source in 2011. Apple Lossless balances smaller file sizes with better sound quality. Its files are typically about 50% smaller than uncompressed files, but with less sound quality loss than MP3 or AAC.
FLAC audio file
Free Lossless Audio Codec) is an open source audio format popular with audiophiles. You can reduce the file size by 50-60% without degrading the audio quality too much. FLAC is not supported on iTunes or iOS devices, but will work with other software installed on your device.
















