Chart of common audio file formats used in multimedia and production

Presented as a public service by Jay Rose.

">" symbol replaces tab, since many web browsers don't support tables.

Please note this document dates from 1995 and is kept here for historic interest. Many of these formats are still current; some have disappeared; some formats (notably .mp3 and AAC) appeared after this doc was posted.

KEY:

Format > Channels > Sample size (bits) > SampleRate > Source Platform > Other Features > Comments

.au > 1, 2 > 8..32 > 8012.821, 22050, 44100 > Internet, NeXT, Sun > ulaw > This format probably has extensions for other platforms as well. Older .au files may not have header data.

AIFF AIFF-C* > variable > variable > variable > Macintosh, SGI > *3:1 or 6:1 reduction > Supported by Apple and others; universal Mac exchange format.

Audio CD (Redbook) > 2 > 16 > 44.1 > Macintosh, SGI > subindex > Many Mac and SGI CD-ROM drives can convert audio CDs to digital data via SCSI.

IFF/8SVX > 1 > 8 > variable > Amiga > > IFF is a generic, multipurpose format that is used for graphics, text, and sound. A later version of this may have added additional channels.

MIME > 1 > 8 > 8000 > n/a > > This is an extensible format designed for Internet electronic mail.

MOD > 1 to 32 > 8 > variable > Amiga (now DOS, MAC) > > Originally Amiga, now on other formats.

QuickTime > variable > 8..16 > max 65535hz > Macintosh, SGI, Windows > sync > Can point to external AIFF files or store internally. Syncs to picture, text, sprites. Plays MIDI in software with built-in instruments, or thru external synth. IMA 4:1 Compression added 95Aug, sounds very good at 16b/44.1k

SDII > variable > 8..32 > variable > Macintosh > loops, playlists > Supported primarily by DigiDesign. A similar format, Session 8, runs on Windows.

snd Resource type 1 > variable > 8..16 > variable > Macintosh > looping, freq shift, MACE > Can be embedded in Macintosh documents and programs.

snd Resource type 2 > 1 > 8 > variable > Macintosh (obs) > looping > Used primarily with Hypercard version 1 (obs).

SoundCap> 1 > 8 > 22050, 11025, 7350, & 5512.5 > Macintosh > Instrument supports looping > Obs Macintosh sound format.

SoundEdit 16 > variable > 8,16 > variable to 44.1 > Macintosh > looping, labels, sync > Supported by Macromedia SoundEdit 16. Can use MACE and proprietary compression.

VOC > 1, 2 > 8 > variable integer > DOS > silence deletion > Supported by Creative Labs SoundBlaster.

WAVE (.wav) > variable > variable > variable > DOS > > MicrosoftÕs equivalent to AIFF with a number of extensions defined by third parties.

This information is gathered from various public sources and isn't guaranteed.

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August 1995