MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (mp3)
Wikipedia
The most widely used digital audio format. MP3 uses lossy compression to reduce file size while maintaining reasonable audio quality.
MIME Type:
audio/mpeg
Advantages:
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Universal compatibility across all devices
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Small file size
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Good quality for most casual listening
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Supports ID3 tags for metadata
Disadvantages:
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Lossy compression affects audio quality
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Not ideal for professional audio work
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Multiple conversions can degrade quality
Waveform Audio File Format (wav)
Wikipedia
A standard audio format developed by Microsoft and IBM. WAV files are uncompressed and provide perfect audio quality.
MIME Type:
audio/wav
Advantages:
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Lossless audio quality
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Industry standard for professional audio
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Wide compatibility with audio software
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Perfect for audio editing
Disadvantages:
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Very large file sizes
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Not suitable for streaming
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Limited metadata support
Free Lossless Audio Codec (flac)
Wikipedia
An open-source lossless audio format that provides perfect audio quality with file sizes smaller than WAV.
MIME Type:
audio/flac
Advantages:
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Lossless compression
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Open source format
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Supports metadata tagging
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Smaller than WAV files
Disadvantages:
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Limited mobile device support
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Larger files than lossy formats
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Not as widely supported as MP3
Advanced Audio Coding (aac)
Wikipedia
A lossy compression format designed to be the successor to MP3, offering better sound quality at similar bit rates.
MIME Type:
audio/aac
Advantages:
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Better quality than MP3 at same bitrate
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Efficient compression
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Standard format for YouTube and iTunes
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Good streaming performance
Disadvantages:
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Less compatible than MP3
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Some versions have DRM restrictions
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Licensing costs for developers
Ogg Vorbis (ogg)
Wikipedia
A free, open-source audio format providing lossy compression. Known for efficient compression and good audio quality.
MIME Type:
audio/ogg
Advantages:
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Open source and patent-free
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Better quality than MP3 at low bitrates
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Efficient compression
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Good streaming capabilities
Disadvantages:
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Less compatible than MP3/AAC
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Limited hardware support
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Smaller developer community