When it comes to audio files, there are many different formats to choose from. Some of the most popular ones are wave, aiff, mp3 and m4a. But what are the differences between them, and which ones are best for mixing and mastering? In this article, we will explain the main characteristics of each format, and how they affect the sound quality and file size of your audio.
Wave and AIFF: Uncompressed Lossless Formats
Wave (or WAV) and AIFF are two of the oldest and most widely used audio formats. They are both uncompressed lossless formats, which means they store the audio data without any compression or quality loss. They capture and recreate the original sound waveform at the highest possible quality, preserving all the details and nuances of the audio.
Wave and AIFF are the preferred formats for recording, mixing and mastering, as they offer the best fidelity and dynamic range. They also support high bit depth and sample rate, which are important parameters for audio quality. Bit depth determines how many bits are used to represent each sample of audio, and sample rate determines how many samples are taken per second. The higher the bit depth and sample rate, the more accurate and detailed the audio representation.
However, wave and AIFF files also have some drawbacks. The main one is that they are very large in size, as they store all the audio data without any reduction. This means they take up a lot of storage space and bandwidth, and they are not very practical for online distribution and streaming. For example, a typical wave or AIFF file of a 3-minute song at 16-bit/44.1 kHz (CD quality) would be around 30 MB, while the same song in mp3 format would be around 3 MB.
MP3 and M4A: Compressed Lossy Formats
MP3 and M4A are two of the most common audio formats for online distribution and streaming. They are both compressed lossy formats, which means they use compression algorithms to reduce the size of the audio files, but at the cost of some quality loss. They discard some of the audio data that is considered less audible or less important, and keep only the most essential information.
MP3 and M4A are the best formats for portability and convenience, as they allow you to store and stream more songs with less space and bandwidth. They are also compatible with most devices and platforms, and they offer various levels of compression and quality. You can choose the bitrate of your mp3 or m4a files, which determines how much data is used per second of audio. The higher the bitrate, the better the quality, but also the larger the file size. For example, a typical mp3 file of a 3-minute song at 128 kbps (low quality) would be around 3 MB, while the same song at 320 kbps (high quality) would be around 7 MB.
However, mp3 and m4a files also have some limitations. The main one is that they are not suitable for editing, processing or mastering, as they introduce artifacts and distortions to the audio. These artifacts are more noticeable when you apply effects, EQ, compression or limiting to the audio, or when you convert the files to different formats. They also degrade the audio quality and dynamic range, as they remove some of the audio information and reduce the bit depth and sample rate.
Which Format to Use for Mixing and Mastering?
The answer to this question depends on your goals and preferences, but in general, the best format to use for mixing and mastering is wave or aiff. These formats offer the highest quality and fidelity, and they allow you to work with the audio without any degradation or limitation. They also give you more flexibility and control over the audio parameters, such as bit depth and sample rate.
However, if you want to distribute or stream your music online, you will also need to convert your wave or aiff files to mp3 or m4a files, as these formats are more compatible and convenient for online platforms and listeners. You can use a software or an online tool to convert your files, but you should be careful about the settings and the quality of the conversion. You should always use the highest possible bitrate for your mp3 or m4a files, and you should also leave some headroom on your wave or aiff files to avoid clipping or distortion when converting them. A good rule of thumb is to leave at least -1 dB of headroom on your wave or aiff files, and to use at least 256 kbps for your mp3 or m4a files.
