When recording audio for narration, music or video, it can be difficult to know which format is the best to use. There are many formats to choose from and most formats also have settings that can be adjusted. In this article we will identify which audio formats have the best versatility and compatibility for the steps of recording, editing and distribution.
Best formats for recording and editing
The best format choices for recording and editing sound are WAV or AIFF. Each of these formats save the full amount of digital data for the sound captured. Because they keep all of the original quality, the size of the audio files are larger than most other formats.
Recommended settings: 48 kHz, 16-bit (note: in professional music production 24-bit or 32-bit are used for extremely high quality)
Average file size: 5 MB/minute (mono), 10 MB/minute (stereo)
Common labels: WAV PCM Linear, .wav, AIFF, .aiff
Best distribution format
MP3 format is the most compatible audio format that is small enough in size for practical distribution. When a recording project is ready for distribution, the WAV/AIFF files can be produced to MP3 format. MP3 files are significantly smaller in size than WAV files. This reduction in size is possible because much of the sound data is erased from the file. This type of conversion is called lossy compression. MP3 files have the file extension .mp3.
Recommended settings and approximate file sizes:
Commercial Music Download: 48 kHz, 256 kbps, stereo (2 MB/minute)
Internet Streaming Standard: 48 kHz, 128 kbps, stereo (1 MB/minute)
Middle Quality for Voice Narration: 48 kHz, 64kbps (0.5 MB/minute)
Low Quality for Voice: 22kHz, 32kbps, mono (0.25 MB/minute)
Lowest Quality for Voice: 11kHz, 20kbps, mono (0.15 MB /minute)
Best formats for archiving
WAV, AIFF are both common file formats for keeping as an archive because they preserve the full quality of the recording. They also allow helpful data like markers to be embedded in the file when saved.
Another format that is being used more frequently for archiving (and sometimes distribution) is FLAC. FLAC is a lossless compression with one characteristic advantage over other formats: it preserves the full audio quality like WAV in a much a smaller file size. FLAC files are compatible with most commercial audio devices. However, FLAC files may not always keep extra data like markers.
Approximate file sizes:
WAV/AIFF: 5 MB/minute mono, 10 MB/minute stereo
FLAC: 1.3 MB/minute mono, 2.3 MB/minute stereo
Other Considerations
Always keep a copy of original files
Always save a copy of your original WAV/AIFF files. That way you can always have an original condition, full quality version available for future needs like fixing errors, making a new production, etc.
Compressed formats
The term compression (compressed) can be misleading in regard to audio formats. When an audio file is converted from WAV/AIFF/FLAC to a lossy compression format like MP3, digital data is actually permanently deleted from the file. You cannot recover the full quality again by converting the MP3 back to WAV format. The file would be in WAV format, but it will only have the significantly reduced quality of an MP3.
Mono or stereo?
Use mono for voice to save file size when recording voice narration. Use stereo for music or other types of sound designs that intend to benefit from separate left channel and right channel mixes.
Sampling rate: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
There are two common sampling rates used for professional audio, 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz. Both are excellent quality but have differences in how they can be used during production and distribution. To determine which is best for your application, consider the following:
Is your main goal to distributing the audio recording on a CD (compact disc)? If yes, 44.1 kHz is the required sampling rate for CD’s. If you record at 44.1 kHz you will not need to convert your audio files. Some people believe a small amount of quality is lost when converting from 48 kHz to 44.1 kHz. So if you intend to distribute audio CD’s and want to avoid any risk of audio quality being lost, 44.1 kHz is your best choice for sampling rate.
If you are not intending to produce CD’s as the primary distribution format for your recording, 48 kHz is probably the best sampling rate to use. Here is why:
Most modern digital devices like mobile phones, tablet, computers and audio players can play either format. The main benefit for using 48 kHz is because the video industry uses 48 kHz as their standard. If you record audio at 48 kHz, you can easily add audio to videos without converting the audio sampling rate. Converting the sample rate is not hard to do. It can be manually done in audio editing or conversion software, although most video software programs can automatically convert the audio. Recording at 48 kHz simplifies the work and helps your creative process flow much easier.
What if my software or device only records at 44.1 kHz?
There are many excellent audio software programs and recording devices that only record at 44.1 kHz. Please do not worry if you cannot record at 48 kHz. The only time that 48 kHz matters is if you are working with video software and want to add an audio file. In those situations, the video software can often convert your 44.1 kHz audio to 48 kHz or you can make a 48 kHz copy yourself. Most audio professionals agree that modern software handles the conversion without any loss of quality.
The majority of audio and visual media is now being accessed in digital format. The popularity of video is rising rapidly while the sale of audio on CDs is rapidly decreasing. Therefore, we suggest that it makes more sense to consider 48 kHz to be the better default standard for new audio production.
Updated 28 April, 2017
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