1.  Describe the various audio formats for multimedia
platforms.

2. In This Chapter, you’ll learn on:
 The usage of each audio formats for various
multimedia platform
o RAW
o MP3
o AIFF
o MPEG
o WAV
o ACT
o WMA

3. Format File
extens
ion
Description
RealAudio.rm
.ram
The RealAudio format was developed for the Internet by Real
Media. The format also supports video. The format allows
streaming of audio (on-line music, Internet radio) with low
bandwidths. Because of the low bandwidth priority, quality is
often reduced.
It is typically used in conjunction
with RealVideo and RealAudio and is used for streaming content
over the Internet.
 Sound Formats for multimedia

4. Format File
extens
ion
Description
Wave .wav The Wave (waveform) format is developed by IBM and
Microsoft. It is supported by all computers running Windows, and
by all the most popular web browsers (except Google Chrome).
The usage of the WAV format has more to do with its familiarity,
its simplicity and simple structure, which is heavily based on
the RIFF file format. Because of this, it continues to enjoy
widespread use with a variety of software applications, often
functioning as a 'lowest common denominator' when it comes to
exchanging sound files among different programs.
 Sound Formats for multimedia

5. Format File
extens
ion
Description
WMA .wma The WMA format (Windows Media Audio), compares in quality to
MP3, and is compatible with most players, except the iPod.
WMA files can be delivered as a continuous flow of data, which
makes it practical for use in Internet radio or on-line music.
ACT .act ACT is a lossy ADPCM 8 kbit/s compressed audio format
recorded by most Chinese MP3 and MP4 players with a
recording function, and voice recorders.
 Sound Formats for multimedia

6. Format File
extens
ion
Description
Apple
Macintosh
Audio File
.aiff Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is an audio file
format standard used for storing sound data for personal
computers and other electronic audio devices.
One advantage of AIFF over WAV is that it has standardised
support for metadata (including album and track information and
cover art). In iTunes, AIFF files can support lyrics and cover art,
while WAV cannot.
Raw
audio
data.
.raw RAW Audio format or just RAW Audio is a computer format for
storing uncompressed audio in raw form.
 Sound Formats for multimedia

7. Format File
extens
ion
Description
MP3 .mp3
.mpga
MP3 files are actually the sound part of MPEG files. The MPEG
format was originally developed for video by the Moving Pictures
Experts Group. MP3 is one of the most popular sound formats
for music. The encoding system combines good compression
(small files) with high quality. Expect future software systems to
support it.
 Sound Formats for multimedia

8.  Sound Formats for multimedia
 The WAVE is the most popular uncompressed sound format on
the Internet, and it is supported by all popular browsers. If you
want uncompressed sound (music or speech) to be available
to all your visitors, you should use the WAVE format.
 The MP3 format is the newest format for compressed recorded
music. The term MP3 has become synonymous with digital
music. If your website is about recorded music, the MP3 format
is the choice.