New 2024 Approved Mastering Audio Recording with Audacity A Comprehensive Installation and Removal Handbook for Ubuntu Users

New 2024 Approved Mastering Audio Recording with Audacity A Comprehensive Installation and Removal Handbook for Ubuntu Users

Paul Lv12

“Mastering Audio Recording with Audacity: A Comprehensive Installation and Removal Handbook for Ubuntu Users”

Open-source audio editor Audacity is available for free download and usage. It is one of the most popular multi-track audio editing tools for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Audio recordings may be recorded, edited, spliced, and altered with Audacity. How to install Audacity on your Ubuntu 20.04 LTS system is explained in this post.

Key Features of Audacity

  • Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License
  • It is a cross-platform program
  • Sound files may be imported, edited, and combined. Use a variety of file types when exporting your recordings. You may even export many files at once.
  • Record and playback live sound
  • Audio Quality: Audacity can playback 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit audio files, respectively.
  • Accessible in 38 different dialects
  • Assistive Listening Device
  • Keyboard shortcuts are many
  • A wide range of audio formats is supported, including AIFF, WAV, FLAC, and MP2.
  • With the keyboard, tracks and choices may be handled to their greatest extent
  • VST and Audio Unit effect plug-ins are supported. Plug-ins may even be written by you.
  • Duplicate, chop, combine, or splice together several sound documents.
  • There is a slew of others…

Installation

The official website for Audacity shows version 2.4.2 as the most recent release. Download the newest version of Audacity for Ubuntu 20.04 and then install it.

  • Install Audacity via PPA
  • Install Audacity via Snap Store

First, we’ll use the PPA approach to install Audacity.

Install Audacity via PPA

Installing Audacity on an Ubuntu system is as simple as entering the following line in the terminal to include the unofficial PPA developed by “ubuntuhandbook” to the Ubuntu system’s software sources, then rebooting.

install-audacity-snap-store-step1

You will be prompted to hit the Enter key to proceed with the process of adding your Audacity package to your sources list. To begin the process of introducing PPA to the sources list, press the Enter key.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step2

After you’ve added the Audacity package to the system’s software sources, you’ll need to update the package repository in order to get Audacity to work.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step3

As soon as you have updated the package repository, you should be able to successfully install Audacity.

Navigate to Activities & type in the word ‘audacity’ to find it.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step4

As you can see in the picture, Audacity has been successfully installed and is ready for usage on my PC.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step5

Installing Audacity from the Snap Store

A version of Audacity is also available for download via the Snap shop. Using a Snap is among the quickest and most straightforward methods of installing any program since it takes into account all of the application’s updates and dependencies. In order to install Audacity using Snap, you must first ensure that Snap is already installed on the Ubuntu system. Snap is pre-installed in the newest versions of Ubuntu and is available as a default. If Snap is not already installed on your system, you may do it by using the instructions shown below.

install-audacity-snap-store-step1

install-audacity-snap-store-step2

After safely installing Snap, you’ll be able to proceed to install Audacity by using the script provided in the next section.

install-audacity-snap-store-step3

It will just take a few minutes to download & install Audacity on your computer.

install-audacity-snap-store-step4

As soon as Audacity has been installed via the Snap method, launch the program by searching for the phrase ‘audacity’ in the Application menu.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step4

To launch Audacity, click on the Audacity icon on your desktop.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step5

How to uninstall Audacity Ubuntu

For whatever reason, if you wish to remove the Audacity program from your computer, you may follow these instructions.

Method 1

If you installed Audacity through the Snap method, execute the following command in your terminal: $ sudo snap remove Audacity

Method 2

If you have installed the application using the PPA, you may remove it by performing the instructions shown below.

>Step 1:

The first step is to

This indicates that the add-apt-repository command was used to add the PPA to your system. You may also use the same command to uninstall the PPA from your computer. Simply include the —remove option in your command.

$ sudo add-apt-repository –remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

>Step 2:

As of the right moment, the PPA has been withdrawn. What happens to the programs that are installed using these PPAs? Will they be eliminated as a consequence of the abolition of the Patriot Act? The answer is a resounding no.

Thus, PPA-purge enters the scene to help solve the problem. The PPA is disabled, but all of the apps installed by the PPA are also uninstalled, or they are reverted to the original versions given by your distribution.

Install the PPA-purge package and remove the Audacity package may be accomplished by running the following command.

$ sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

Conclusion

I hope you now have a clear grasp of installing and uninstalling Audacity on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa. I hope this article has been helpful. Additionally, we cover Filmora’s voice effects & how users may use the program to improve and change their own voices. Filmora allows you to re-voice video/audio & previously recorded voiceovers. The Pitch option on the Timeline may be used with video/audio and voiceover files. Change the tone of a video and recording to make it sound unique. You may quickly alter the voices in the videos with Filmora. A story or video should accompany your viral. Allows you to alter the pitch of your voice by selecting the Changing Pitch option. You may adjust the video’s pace (Optional). Make a duplicate of the video or audio that has been altered.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

You will be prompted to hit the Enter key to proceed with the process of adding your Audacity package to your sources list. To begin the process of introducing PPA to the sources list, press the Enter key.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step2

After you’ve added the Audacity package to the system’s software sources, you’ll need to update the package repository in order to get Audacity to work.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step3

As soon as you have updated the package repository, you should be able to successfully install Audacity.

Navigate to Activities & type in the word ‘audacity’ to find it.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step4

As you can see in the picture, Audacity has been successfully installed and is ready for usage on my PC.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step5

Installing Audacity from the Snap Store

A version of Audacity is also available for download via the Snap shop. Using a Snap is among the quickest and most straightforward methods of installing any program since it takes into account all of the application’s updates and dependencies. In order to install Audacity using Snap, you must first ensure that Snap is already installed on the Ubuntu system. Snap is pre-installed in the newest versions of Ubuntu and is available as a default. If Snap is not already installed on your system, you may do it by using the instructions shown below.

install-audacity-snap-store-step1

install-audacity-snap-store-step2

After safely installing Snap, you’ll be able to proceed to install Audacity by using the script provided in the next section.

install-audacity-snap-store-step3

It will just take a few minutes to download & install Audacity on your computer.

install-audacity-snap-store-step4

As soon as Audacity has been installed via the Snap method, launch the program by searching for the phrase ‘audacity’ in the Application menu.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step4

To launch Audacity, click on the Audacity icon on your desktop.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step5

How to uninstall Audacity Ubuntu

For whatever reason, if you wish to remove the Audacity program from your computer, you may follow these instructions.

Method 1

If you installed Audacity through the Snap method, execute the following command in your terminal: $ sudo snap remove Audacity

Method 2

If you have installed the application using the PPA, you may remove it by performing the instructions shown below.

>Step 1:

The first step is to

This indicates that the add-apt-repository command was used to add the PPA to your system. You may also use the same command to uninstall the PPA from your computer. Simply include the —remove option in your command.

$ sudo add-apt-repository –remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

>Step 2:

As of the right moment, the PPA has been withdrawn. What happens to the programs that are installed using these PPAs? Will they be eliminated as a consequence of the abolition of the Patriot Act? The answer is a resounding no.

Thus, PPA-purge enters the scene to help solve the problem. The PPA is disabled, but all of the apps installed by the PPA are also uninstalled, or they are reverted to the original versions given by your distribution.

Install the PPA-purge package and remove the Audacity package may be accomplished by running the following command.

$ sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

Conclusion

I hope you now have a clear grasp of installing and uninstalling Audacity on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa. I hope this article has been helpful. Additionally, we cover Filmora’s voice effects & how users may use the program to improve and change their own voices. Filmora allows you to re-voice video/audio & previously recorded voiceovers. The Pitch option on the Timeline may be used with video/audio and voiceover files. Change the tone of a video and recording to make it sound unique. You may quickly alter the voices in the videos with Filmora. A story or video should accompany your viral. Allows you to alter the pitch of your voice by selecting the Changing Pitch option. You may adjust the video’s pace (Optional). Make a duplicate of the video or audio that has been altered.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

You will be prompted to hit the Enter key to proceed with the process of adding your Audacity package to your sources list. To begin the process of introducing PPA to the sources list, press the Enter key.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step2

After you’ve added the Audacity package to the system’s software sources, you’ll need to update the package repository in order to get Audacity to work.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step3

As soon as you have updated the package repository, you should be able to successfully install Audacity.

Navigate to Activities & type in the word ‘audacity’ to find it.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step4

As you can see in the picture, Audacity has been successfully installed and is ready for usage on my PC.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step5

Installing Audacity from the Snap Store

A version of Audacity is also available for download via the Snap shop. Using a Snap is among the quickest and most straightforward methods of installing any program since it takes into account all of the application’s updates and dependencies. In order to install Audacity using Snap, you must first ensure that Snap is already installed on the Ubuntu system. Snap is pre-installed in the newest versions of Ubuntu and is available as a default. If Snap is not already installed on your system, you may do it by using the instructions shown below.

install-audacity-snap-store-step1

install-audacity-snap-store-step2

After safely installing Snap, you’ll be able to proceed to install Audacity by using the script provided in the next section.

install-audacity-snap-store-step3

It will just take a few minutes to download & install Audacity on your computer.

install-audacity-snap-store-step4

As soon as Audacity has been installed via the Snap method, launch the program by searching for the phrase ‘audacity’ in the Application menu.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step4

To launch Audacity, click on the Audacity icon on your desktop.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step5

How to uninstall Audacity Ubuntu

For whatever reason, if you wish to remove the Audacity program from your computer, you may follow these instructions.

Method 1

If you installed Audacity through the Snap method, execute the following command in your terminal: $ sudo snap remove Audacity

Method 2

If you have installed the application using the PPA, you may remove it by performing the instructions shown below.

>Step 1:

The first step is to

This indicates that the add-apt-repository command was used to add the PPA to your system. You may also use the same command to uninstall the PPA from your computer. Simply include the —remove option in your command.

$ sudo add-apt-repository –remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

>Step 2:

As of the right moment, the PPA has been withdrawn. What happens to the programs that are installed using these PPAs? Will they be eliminated as a consequence of the abolition of the Patriot Act? The answer is a resounding no.

Thus, PPA-purge enters the scene to help solve the problem. The PPA is disabled, but all of the apps installed by the PPA are also uninstalled, or they are reverted to the original versions given by your distribution.

Install the PPA-purge package and remove the Audacity package may be accomplished by running the following command.

$ sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

Conclusion

I hope you now have a clear grasp of installing and uninstalling Audacity on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa. I hope this article has been helpful. Additionally, we cover Filmora’s voice effects & how users may use the program to improve and change their own voices. Filmora allows you to re-voice video/audio & previously recorded voiceovers. The Pitch option on the Timeline may be used with video/audio and voiceover files. Change the tone of a video and recording to make it sound unique. You may quickly alter the voices in the videos with Filmora. A story or video should accompany your viral. Allows you to alter the pitch of your voice by selecting the Changing Pitch option. You may adjust the video’s pace (Optional). Make a duplicate of the video or audio that has been altered.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

You will be prompted to hit the Enter key to proceed with the process of adding your Audacity package to your sources list. To begin the process of introducing PPA to the sources list, press the Enter key.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step2

After you’ve added the Audacity package to the system’s software sources, you’ll need to update the package repository in order to get Audacity to work.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step3

As soon as you have updated the package repository, you should be able to successfully install Audacity.

Navigate to Activities & type in the word ‘audacity’ to find it.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step4

As you can see in the picture, Audacity has been successfully installed and is ready for usage on my PC.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step5

Installing Audacity from the Snap Store

A version of Audacity is also available for download via the Snap shop. Using a Snap is among the quickest and most straightforward methods of installing any program since it takes into account all of the application’s updates and dependencies. In order to install Audacity using Snap, you must first ensure that Snap is already installed on the Ubuntu system. Snap is pre-installed in the newest versions of Ubuntu and is available as a default. If Snap is not already installed on your system, you may do it by using the instructions shown below.

install-audacity-snap-store-step1

install-audacity-snap-store-step2

After safely installing Snap, you’ll be able to proceed to install Audacity by using the script provided in the next section.

install-audacity-snap-store-step3

It will just take a few minutes to download & install Audacity on your computer.

install-audacity-snap-store-step4

As soon as Audacity has been installed via the Snap method, launch the program by searching for the phrase ‘audacity’ in the Application menu.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step4

To launch Audacity, click on the Audacity icon on your desktop.

install-audacity-via-ppa-step5

How to uninstall Audacity Ubuntu

For whatever reason, if you wish to remove the Audacity program from your computer, you may follow these instructions.

Method 1

If you installed Audacity through the Snap method, execute the following command in your terminal: $ sudo snap remove Audacity

Method 2

If you have installed the application using the PPA, you may remove it by performing the instructions shown below.

>Step 1:

The first step is to

This indicates that the add-apt-repository command was used to add the PPA to your system. You may also use the same command to uninstall the PPA from your computer. Simply include the —remove option in your command.

$ sudo add-apt-repository –remove ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

>Step 2:

As of the right moment, the PPA has been withdrawn. What happens to the programs that are installed using these PPAs? Will they be eliminated as a consequence of the abolition of the Patriot Act? The answer is a resounding no.

Thus, PPA-purge enters the scene to help solve the problem. The PPA is disabled, but all of the apps installed by the PPA are also uninstalled, or they are reverted to the original versions given by your distribution.

Install the PPA-purge package and remove the Audacity package may be accomplished by running the following command.

$ sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntuhandbook1/audacity

Conclusion

I hope you now have a clear grasp of installing and uninstalling Audacity on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Focal Fossa. I hope this article has been helpful. Additionally, we cover Filmora’s voice effects & how users may use the program to improve and change their own voices. Filmora allows you to re-voice video/audio & previously recorded voiceovers. The Pitch option on the Timeline may be used with video/audio and voiceover files. Change the tone of a video and recording to make it sound unique. You may quickly alter the voices in the videos with Filmora. A story or video should accompany your viral. Allows you to alter the pitch of your voice by selecting the Changing Pitch option. You may adjust the video’s pace (Optional). Make a duplicate of the video or audio that has been altered.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Insight Into the Usability of Google’s Podcast Listening Tool

Google’s proprietary podcast-listening app, Google Podcast, is one of the few podcast apps on the Play Store, with an audience base of more than 100 million. And for a good reason: Google Podcast does podcasts as YouTube does with videos. It’s simple to use, free to all, and features podcasts on the news, captivating stories, and educational content that resonate with all.

Read on to find answers to questions like what is Google Podcast App? How does Google Podcast work? Its features, interface, and some of the best podcasts are featured on the platform. As a bonus, we will also provide a step-by-step guide on creating your own podcast and submitting it to Google Podcasts.

  1. Best Podcast on Art & Culture
  2. Best Tech Podcasts
  3. Best Talkshow and Interview Podcasts
  4. Best Health Podcast
  5. Best History Podcast
  6. Best Informative Podcast
  7. Best News & Politics Podcast
  8. Best Sports Podcasts
  9. Miscellaneous Podcasts
  10. Movies, Music, and TV Podcasts

Part 1. What is Google Podcast App?

google podcast interface

Google Podcast (formerly Google Play Podcast) is Google’s proprietary podcast-listening app. It comes pre-installed on some Android smartphones and all Pixel editions. Even Apple users can install Google Podcasts via the App Store. It’s free and lets you discover, stream, and download podcasts.

Google Podcast has already hit 100 million downloads, an indication of its rising popularity both among content creators and users. Users prefer it for its navigable, search-aligned, minimalist interface. And prominent podcast creators are focusing on the app to make their episodes accessible to millions of Android users.

Part 2: Google Podcasts Features

Compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Blackberry, and ChromeOS, Google Podcast is relatively a novice compared to dedicated podcast services. Still, Google Podcast seamlessly incorporates nearly every feature one needs to listen to podcasts.

Search and Personalized Recommendations

google podcast search

The most significant feature of Google Podcast is its algorithm-based recommendations that connect users with shows that suit their listening habits. As a new user, you might want to explore new topics and taste new concepts, and that’s where Google Podcast will impress you. But even more than that, it will automatically recommend suitable podcasts depending on your interest and previous engagements with the platform.

Google Podcast app covers a plethora of podcasts, so you do not have to switch to other platforms to discover something new or topics you love.

Free and Ad-free Experience

google podcast ad free

Google Podcast is completely free in a world where podcast platforms demand high charges for an ad-free and high-quality experience. All you need is a Google account to register and listen to anything available on the platform. In addition, podcast creators have to qualify to Google’s standards before submitting the podcast on the forum, ensuring you will listen to the podcast in high quality.

Clean UI

google podcast interface

Whether you’ve used a podcast platform before or not, the Google Podcast platform will seem familiar. Once you sign up, the interface will welcome you with podcasts covering all genres arranged neatly in a grid view for convenience.

In line with simplicity, the Settings option in the Google Platform app is as basic as basic gets. Plus, it allows you to conveniently organize your subscriptions and downloads via the Library tab.

One more thing: although Google Podcast is primarily designed for Android users, its counterparts on other OS, like Apple, Web, and macOS, remain simple and easy to use.

Auto-downloads, Sleep Timer, and Seamless Switch Between Devices

google podcast downloads

Google Podcast automatically downloads the podcasts you love and removes them after you’ve listened to the particular episodes.

Another significant characteristic of the Google Podcast platform is its intuitiveness. For instance, many podcast platforms do not automatically switch to the next episode, but you do not have to worry about such aspects with Google Podcast. You can also put a sleep timer.

Given that it’s available on all primary OS, you can seamlessly switch from one device to another. Not to forget, you can search for the podcasts using Google search or your Voice Assitant.

Part 3: How Does Google Podcast Work?

Now that you know the Google Podcast app and its features, here’s how to use the platform. Assuming you have downloaded the Google Podcast platform on your device and signed in using your Google account, we will now show you how to search and start listening to podcasts on the platform:

Step1 Add Your Favorites

google podcast favorites

Once you register on the Google Podcast platform, the app will ask you to explore popular shows or search for your favorites. Once you click on the Explore option, a new screen with categories listed will be shown in the top menu, like For You, News, Culture, Education, Comedy, Technology, and more. Tap on the categories to view the features of podcasts in each category.

Step2 Search Podcasts Manually

google podcast search

Click on the Search icon and then start typing the name of the podcasts you follow to locate them quickly. Next, tap on the desired podcasts from the search results and scroll down to view individual episodes. Finally, you can click the Subscribe button to follow the channel. The Play icon allows you to listen to the episodes.

Step3 Controls in the Google Podcast app

google podcast controls

Once you play an episode on the Google Podcast platform, you will be taken to full-view mode. The Pause icon allows you to interrupt the episode. Plus, the 10 seconds rewind button allows you to go back and listen to something again.

Whereas the 30 seconds forward button will enable you to jump 30 seconds ahead in the episode, you can use this icon during the introduction or in-episode ads. The Speed icon lets you change the playback speed from 0.5x to 3x.

The “half-moon” icon allows you to set a sleep timer. And the “Info.” icon allows you to read about the individual podcasts (if published by the creators). The “ellipsis” icon (three dots) enables you to mark the episode as played, so it will not recommend the particular episode again. And the share button allows you to share the episode with others.

Step4 Queues and Downloads menu in the Google Podcast App

google podcast downloads

Given that the Google Podcast is a free platform, you can download all the episodes and listen to them offline. To download the episodes, click on the Download button. Once downloaded, you can access them via the three-lined icon from the bottom-right of the interface. Within the Library tab, you will also find the History tab, which allows you to access all the episodes you’ve previously listened to.

Step5 Settings in the Google Podcast platform

google podcast settings

Click on your image at the top-right corner to access the Settings in the Google Podcast app. Under the Google Podcast Settings page, you will find options for Downloads, Notifications, Playback, and more. For instance, Auto-downloads allow you to control the quality of the downloads and when to download (like over mobile data or Wi-Fi).

Plus, you can choose when to auto-delete the episodes, like after a week, and so on. Other options like Playback allow you to decide whether to Auto-play the next episode or not.

Video Tutorial of the Google Podcast App

Here’s a video tutorial 6 Months Later Review Channel: How to Use the New Google Podcasts (2020)

In the video, Josh Teder familiarizes you with Settings, Browse, Library, Subscriptions, and other features of the Google Podcast platform.

Now that you have a complete idea about the Google Podcast app, here are some of the best podcasts featured on the platform. Of course, given the popularity of podcasts, the choices are endless. But it is vital to retain that with great options comes great mediocrity.

That is why we asked all our team members to contribute and came up with this short list of best podcasts on the Google Podcast app that covers all genres. So, whether your interests lie in tech, true crime, pop culture, or comedy, you will find something that educates and entertains you.

1. Best Podcast on Art & Culture

ArtCurious

Host: Jennifer Dasal

Number of Episodes on ArtCurious: More than 100.

Episodes Duration: 15-25 minutes

Upload Frequency: Weekly

artcurious cover

Discussing the unexpected, the slightly odd, and the strangely wonderful in Art History, ArtCurious is nothing like an art class where terminologies are thrown and linear perspective is discussed. Instead, it discusses the juicy stuff!

On ArtCurious, you will find hidden truths about famous artists and creators, like why Van Gogh committed suicide. In addition, you will learn about the strange habits of revolutionary artists. If you are an art enthusiast and want to explore the unseen corners of art history, ArtCurious will fill your thirst.

2. Best Tech Podcasts

Clockwise

Host: Dan Moren and Mikah Sargent + 2 Guests (every week)

Number of Episodes on Clockwise: More than 400.

Episode duration: 30 minutes

Upload Frequency: Weekly

clockwise cover

Dan Moren and Mikah Sargent invite two guests each week to discuss tech-related topics to inform, educate, and make aware of the not-so-tech generation. If you struggle with technology, like creating a good password, optimizing screen time, etc. Also, Clockwise is one podcast that can be the cure. It is important to note that Clockwise does not necessarily discuss heavy-tech stuff; instead, it is intended for the tech illiterates to make their life easier.

3. Best Talkshow and Interview Podcasts

Fresh Air

Host: Terry Gross

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: Daily since 1993.

Episodes duration: 45 minutes

Upload Frequency: Daily

fresh air cover

Terry Gross, a famed-journalists and talk show host since the 90s, continues to feature weekly episodes covering present-day musicians, actors, producers, athletes, and artists.

On Fresh Air, you will discover exciting stuff about celebrities and find answers like how fame is a challenge in the social sphere and many more unusual things that you won’t find on any other talk show. Terry Gross interviews a single guest for about 45 minutes daily and indulges audiences with what’s happening worldwide.

4. Best Health Podcast

Huberman Lab

Host: Andrew Huberman

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 100.

Episode duration: 2 hours to 4 hours.

Upload Frequency: Weekly

huberman lab cover

Andrew Huberman, Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine, discusses the brain and its connection with body control. The episodes of Huberman Lab are long, ranging from 2 to 4 hours. So, if you want to change your habits and learn about nutrition, how to sleep, and more, Huberman Lab is the perfect addition to your Monday schedule.

5. Best History Podcast

The Bowery Boys New York City History

Host: Tom Meyers, Greg Young

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 400.

Episode duration: 1 to 2 hours.

Upload Frequency: 15 days.

the bowery boys cover

American history is deeply rooted in the streets of New York City. The Underground Railroad, the elevated railroad, and the Hudson River: Host Tom Meyers and Greg Young discuss the 400 years of History of New York City. It discusses the famous leaders, the strange, and the myths created over the years and presents these stories via action-packed episodes.

6. Best Informative Podcast

Freakonomics Radio

Host: Stephen J. Dubner

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 500.

Episode duration: 30 to 60 minutes.

Upload Frequency: Weekly

freakonomics radio cover

Hosted by Dr. Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics Radio reveals the hidden sides of things. The things you think you know or you think you do not have to know, Freakonomics Radio will introduce topics that are typical for you and tell interesting stuff that amazes you.

It also informs you about things you might ignore and makes you more aware of everything. The best thing is Dubner invites Nobel laureates and provocateurs, intellectuals and entrepreneurs, and even underachievers to learn about things from all perspectives.

7. Best News & Politics Podcast

FiveThirtyEight Politics

Host: Nate Silver

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 500.

Episode duration: 30 to 60 minutes.

Upload Frequency: Weekly

fivethirtyeight politics cover

A subsidiary of ABC News, FiveThirtyEight Politics uses data and evidence-based knowledge to inform, educate, and make people aware of the current political situation across the 50 States. It’s suitable for anyone interested in knowing the truth of today’s American politics and the difference between the real truth and the created truth.

8. Best Sports Podcasts

30 for 30 Podcasts

Host: Bill Simmons

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 100.

Episode duration: 30 to 60 minutes.

Upload Frequency: Monthly

thirty for thirty podcasts

30 for 30 comes from the acclaimed makers of the 30-for-30 film series. Like documentaries, the 30 for 30 podcasts discuss sports legends, their stories, and unheard things about them. Beyond being informative, 30 for 30 also teaches you to explore sports and adventures. Even if you do not like sports or are not a football fan, you will surely enjoy tuning in to 30 for 30 episodes and getting lost in the busy lives of the sports legends.

9. Miscellaneous Podcasts

No Such Thing as a Fish

Host: Dan Schreiber, James Harkin, Andrew Hunter Murray, and Anna Ptaszynski.

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 400.

Episode duration: 1 hour.

Upload Frequency: Weekly

no such thing as a fish

An award-winning podcast, No Such Thing As a Fish, comes from QI Offices and is about fun topics or something the creators have recently discovered. If you are looking for something fun yet interesting that informs and educates you, No Such Thing As a Fish is a perfect weekly podcast. The episodes are brief yet action-packed. And you will learn just about anything, from gorillas to caterpillars, on the podcast.

10. Movies, Music, and TV Podcasts

Imaginary Worlds

Host: Eric Molinsky

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 400.

Episode duration: 40 minutes.

Upload Frequency: Bi-weekly.

imaginary worlds

A podcast on science fiction, fantasy, and other genres, Eric Molinsky on Imaginary Worlds invite comic book artists, game designers, novelists, screenwriters, and filmmakers to discuss their crafts. Imaginary Worlds is just about what it sounds like, i.e., creating fictional worlds.

However, instead of just informing, it also guides artists and writers on how to form an imaginary world. A bi-weekly podcast, Imaginary Worlds is perfect for anyone interested in exploring new possibilities and imagining via different lenses.

Part 5: How to Record Your Podcast Show for Google Podcast App?

Google Podcast platform also allows individual creators to upload their podcasts to the platform and share it with the world. Given its popularity and user base, it’s one of the best ways to rise in the podcast realm and get that edge over others.

So, if you are interested in creating podcasts, here’s how to get started. For recording a podcast, you will have to use a third-party tool like Wondershare Filmora. Unlike Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts does not provide a web studio to create a podcast on the platform.

Google Podcast is a podcasting directory; it does not store any audio files. Instead:

  • It would help if you created the podcast somewhere else, like using Wondershare Filmora for recording.
  • Upload it or store it in another location, like a Website. Or you can create a podcast-only RSS feed.
  • And then submit the RSS feed to the Google Podcast Manager.

So, let’s first learn how to record podcasts using Wondershare Filmora.

Wondershare Filmora

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Wondershare’s Filmora is one of the best platforms to seamlessly record audio and video podcasts. Its straightforward and self-explanatory user interface allows even novices to record podcasts without going through any learning curve.

Besides recording, Filmora also allows you to edit audio and video. For instance, you will find dedicated toggles to limit background interferences, enhance microphone sound, fade in/out effects, and give access to several such features to create podcasts like a professional. You can also export the audio in the format that Google Podcast requires, like M4A, MP3, OGG, and WAV.

Key Features of Wondershare Filmora

  • AI-based Silence Detection: remove moments of silence from the podcast with one click.
  • Text to speech: transcript your text files into speech for the podcast.
  • Speech to Text: transcribe their voice to subtitles in several languages. It increases accessibility, and users worldwide can understand your podcast seamlessly.
  • Audio Ducking: Add background music to your podcast and manage the sound levels to create podcasts like professionals.
  • Audio Visualizer: enhance your podcast episodes through audio-visualizing effects.

Here’s How to Create Your Own Podcast Using Wondershare Filmora?

Step1 Create a New Project
  • Download the Filmora application.
  • Choose to Create a New Project from the main interface.
  • Import an image or stock footage from the library. (You can later download the podcast in audio format).

create podcast with wondershare filmora 1

Step2 Start Recording
  • Drag the media into the timeline and click the Record button to start recording.
  • Click on Record Voiceover from the options.

create podcast with wondershare filmora 2

Step3 Set Microphone
  • Connect your Microphone to the computer.
  • Select the Microphone device.
  • And click on the Red dot button to confirm the Voiceover recording.

create podcast with wondershare filmora 3

Step4 Record the Podcast
  • Click on OK to proceed to record the podcast.
  • Go through the outline you’ve prepared and discuss the topics for the podcast episode.

create podcast with wondershare filmora 4

Step5 Export audio

Click on the Export button to download your project from Wondershare Filmora.

create podcast with wondershare filmora 5

Now that you’ve recorded the podcast episode, you must create your podcast’s RSS feed. And submit the podcast RSS feed to Google Podcast Manager.

Hot FAQs on the Google Podcast App

1. Is Google Play the same as Google Podcast?

Earlier, Google featured podcasts on the Google Play platform (hence the name, Google Play Podcast). However, today Google Play does not feature any podcasts. So, you will have to choose Google Podcast

2. Where did Google Music Podcasts go?

Google shut down Google Music on February 24, 2021. However, it allowed users to move their podcasts and music files from Google Music to YouTube before that date. So, there’s a good chance you can find the earlier podcasts available on Google Music on YouTube.

3. Is Google Podcasts Ad-free?

Yes. Google Podcast app is entirely ad-free, and there is no subscription either. So you might see in-episode promotions that individual creators present, but there are no ads in the Google Podcast app.

Final Words

Hopefully, you now know the Google Podcast app and what you will find on the Google Podcast platform. As promised, we have also shown you how to use the Google Podcast app. Retain that you can use the Google Podcast app on all primary OS, including Apple and Android devices. The podcast recommendations in this guide are written to inform users about the great shows that resonate with them.

Another significant aspect of this guide on the Google Podcast app is creating your podcast and submitting it to the platform. Google Podcast, a directory, requires you to create your own podcast and submit the podcasts via RSS feeds. So, even if you want to make your podcast, you can use tools like Filmora and then publish it on Google Podcast to share it with the world.

Part 1. What is Google Podcast App?

google podcast interface

Google Podcast (formerly Google Play Podcast) is Google’s proprietary podcast-listening app. It comes pre-installed on some Android smartphones and all Pixel editions. Even Apple users can install Google Podcasts via the App Store. It’s free and lets you discover, stream, and download podcasts.

Google Podcast has already hit 100 million downloads, an indication of its rising popularity both among content creators and users. Users prefer it for its navigable, search-aligned, minimalist interface. And prominent podcast creators are focusing on the app to make their episodes accessible to millions of Android users.

Part 2: Google Podcasts Features

Compatible with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Blackberry, and ChromeOS, Google Podcast is relatively a novice compared to dedicated podcast services. Still, Google Podcast seamlessly incorporates nearly every feature one needs to listen to podcasts.

Search and Personalized Recommendations

google podcast search

The most significant feature of Google Podcast is its algorithm-based recommendations that connect users with shows that suit their listening habits. As a new user, you might want to explore new topics and taste new concepts, and that’s where Google Podcast will impress you. But even more than that, it will automatically recommend suitable podcasts depending on your interest and previous engagements with the platform.

Google Podcast app covers a plethora of podcasts, so you do not have to switch to other platforms to discover something new or topics you love.

Free and Ad-free Experience

google podcast ad free

Google Podcast is completely free in a world where podcast platforms demand high charges for an ad-free and high-quality experience. All you need is a Google account to register and listen to anything available on the platform. In addition, podcast creators have to qualify to Google’s standards before submitting the podcast on the forum, ensuring you will listen to the podcast in high quality.

Clean UI

google podcast interface

Whether you’ve used a podcast platform before or not, the Google Podcast platform will seem familiar. Once you sign up, the interface will welcome you with podcasts covering all genres arranged neatly in a grid view for convenience.

In line with simplicity, the Settings option in the Google Platform app is as basic as basic gets. Plus, it allows you to conveniently organize your subscriptions and downloads via the Library tab.

One more thing: although Google Podcast is primarily designed for Android users, its counterparts on other OS, like Apple, Web, and macOS, remain simple and easy to use.

Auto-downloads, Sleep Timer, and Seamless Switch Between Devices

google podcast downloads

Google Podcast automatically downloads the podcasts you love and removes them after you’ve listened to the particular episodes.

Another significant characteristic of the Google Podcast platform is its intuitiveness. For instance, many podcast platforms do not automatically switch to the next episode, but you do not have to worry about such aspects with Google Podcast. You can also put a sleep timer.

Given that it’s available on all primary OS, you can seamlessly switch from one device to another. Not to forget, you can search for the podcasts using Google search or your Voice Assitant.

Part 3: How Does Google Podcast Work?

Now that you know the Google Podcast app and its features, here’s how to use the platform. Assuming you have downloaded the Google Podcast platform on your device and signed in using your Google account, we will now show you how to search and start listening to podcasts on the platform:

Step1 Add Your Favorites

google podcast favorites

Once you register on the Google Podcast platform, the app will ask you to explore popular shows or search for your favorites. Once you click on the Explore option, a new screen with categories listed will be shown in the top menu, like For You, News, Culture, Education, Comedy, Technology, and more. Tap on the categories to view the features of podcasts in each category.

Step2 Search Podcasts Manually

google podcast search

Click on the Search icon and then start typing the name of the podcasts you follow to locate them quickly. Next, tap on the desired podcasts from the search results and scroll down to view individual episodes. Finally, you can click the Subscribe button to follow the channel. The Play icon allows you to listen to the episodes.

Step3 Controls in the Google Podcast app

google podcast controls

Once you play an episode on the Google Podcast platform, you will be taken to full-view mode. The Pause icon allows you to interrupt the episode. Plus, the 10 seconds rewind button allows you to go back and listen to something again.

Whereas the 30 seconds forward button will enable you to jump 30 seconds ahead in the episode, you can use this icon during the introduction or in-episode ads. The Speed icon lets you change the playback speed from 0.5x to 3x.

The “half-moon” icon allows you to set a sleep timer. And the “Info.” icon allows you to read about the individual podcasts (if published by the creators). The “ellipsis” icon (three dots) enables you to mark the episode as played, so it will not recommend the particular episode again. And the share button allows you to share the episode with others.

Step4 Queues and Downloads menu in the Google Podcast App

google podcast downloads

Given that the Google Podcast is a free platform, you can download all the episodes and listen to them offline. To download the episodes, click on the Download button. Once downloaded, you can access them via the three-lined icon from the bottom-right of the interface. Within the Library tab, you will also find the History tab, which allows you to access all the episodes you’ve previously listened to.

Step5 Settings in the Google Podcast platform

google podcast settings

Click on your image at the top-right corner to access the Settings in the Google Podcast app. Under the Google Podcast Settings page, you will find options for Downloads, Notifications, Playback, and more. For instance, Auto-downloads allow you to control the quality of the downloads and when to download (like over mobile data or Wi-Fi).

Plus, you can choose when to auto-delete the episodes, like after a week, and so on. Other options like Playback allow you to decide whether to Auto-play the next episode or not.

Video Tutorial of the Google Podcast App

Here’s a video tutorial 6 Months Later Review Channel: How to Use the New Google Podcasts (2020)

In the video, Josh Teder familiarizes you with Settings, Browse, Library, Subscriptions, and other features of the Google Podcast platform.

Now that you have a complete idea about the Google Podcast app, here are some of the best podcasts featured on the platform. Of course, given the popularity of podcasts, the choices are endless. But it is vital to retain that with great options comes great mediocrity.

That is why we asked all our team members to contribute and came up with this short list of best podcasts on the Google Podcast app that covers all genres. So, whether your interests lie in tech, true crime, pop culture, or comedy, you will find something that educates and entertains you.

1. Best Podcast on Art & Culture

ArtCurious

Host: Jennifer Dasal

Number of Episodes on ArtCurious: More than 100.

Episodes Duration: 15-25 minutes

Upload Frequency: Weekly

artcurious cover

Discussing the unexpected, the slightly odd, and the strangely wonderful in Art History, ArtCurious is nothing like an art class where terminologies are thrown and linear perspective is discussed. Instead, it discusses the juicy stuff!

On ArtCurious, you will find hidden truths about famous artists and creators, like why Van Gogh committed suicide. In addition, you will learn about the strange habits of revolutionary artists. If you are an art enthusiast and want to explore the unseen corners of art history, ArtCurious will fill your thirst.

2. Best Tech Podcasts

Clockwise

Host: Dan Moren and Mikah Sargent + 2 Guests (every week)

Number of Episodes on Clockwise: More than 400.

Episode duration: 30 minutes

Upload Frequency: Weekly

clockwise cover

Dan Moren and Mikah Sargent invite two guests each week to discuss tech-related topics to inform, educate, and make aware of the not-so-tech generation. If you struggle with technology, like creating a good password, optimizing screen time, etc. Also, Clockwise is one podcast that can be the cure. It is important to note that Clockwise does not necessarily discuss heavy-tech stuff; instead, it is intended for the tech illiterates to make their life easier.

3. Best Talkshow and Interview Podcasts

Fresh Air

Host: Terry Gross

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: Daily since 1993.

Episodes duration: 45 minutes

Upload Frequency: Daily

fresh air cover

Terry Gross, a famed-journalists and talk show host since the 90s, continues to feature weekly episodes covering present-day musicians, actors, producers, athletes, and artists.

On Fresh Air, you will discover exciting stuff about celebrities and find answers like how fame is a challenge in the social sphere and many more unusual things that you won’t find on any other talk show. Terry Gross interviews a single guest for about 45 minutes daily and indulges audiences with what’s happening worldwide.

4. Best Health Podcast

Huberman Lab

Host: Andrew Huberman

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 100.

Episode duration: 2 hours to 4 hours.

Upload Frequency: Weekly

huberman lab cover

Andrew Huberman, Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine, discusses the brain and its connection with body control. The episodes of Huberman Lab are long, ranging from 2 to 4 hours. So, if you want to change your habits and learn about nutrition, how to sleep, and more, Huberman Lab is the perfect addition to your Monday schedule.

5. Best History Podcast

The Bowery Boys New York City History

Host: Tom Meyers, Greg Young

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 400.

Episode duration: 1 to 2 hours.

Upload Frequency: 15 days.

the bowery boys cover

American history is deeply rooted in the streets of New York City. The Underground Railroad, the elevated railroad, and the Hudson River: Host Tom Meyers and Greg Young discuss the 400 years of History of New York City. It discusses the famous leaders, the strange, and the myths created over the years and presents these stories via action-packed episodes.

6. Best Informative Podcast

Freakonomics Radio

Host: Stephen J. Dubner

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 500.

Episode duration: 30 to 60 minutes.

Upload Frequency: Weekly

freakonomics radio cover

Hosted by Dr. Stephen J. Dubner, Freakonomics Radio reveals the hidden sides of things. The things you think you know or you think you do not have to know, Freakonomics Radio will introduce topics that are typical for you and tell interesting stuff that amazes you.

It also informs you about things you might ignore and makes you more aware of everything. The best thing is Dubner invites Nobel laureates and provocateurs, intellectuals and entrepreneurs, and even underachievers to learn about things from all perspectives.

7. Best News & Politics Podcast

FiveThirtyEight Politics

Host: Nate Silver

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 500.

Episode duration: 30 to 60 minutes.

Upload Frequency: Weekly

fivethirtyeight politics cover

A subsidiary of ABC News, FiveThirtyEight Politics uses data and evidence-based knowledge to inform, educate, and make people aware of the current political situation across the 50 States. It’s suitable for anyone interested in knowing the truth of today’s American politics and the difference between the real truth and the created truth.

8. Best Sports Podcasts

30 for 30 Podcasts

Host: Bill Simmons

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 100.

Episode duration: 30 to 60 minutes.

Upload Frequency: Monthly

thirty for thirty podcasts

30 for 30 comes from the acclaimed makers of the 30-for-30 film series. Like documentaries, the 30 for 30 podcasts discuss sports legends, their stories, and unheard things about them. Beyond being informative, 30 for 30 also teaches you to explore sports and adventures. Even if you do not like sports or are not a football fan, you will surely enjoy tuning in to 30 for 30 episodes and getting lost in the busy lives of the sports legends.

9. Miscellaneous Podcasts

No Such Thing as a Fish

Host: Dan Schreiber, James Harkin, Andrew Hunter Murray, and Anna Ptaszynski.

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 400.

Episode duration: 1 hour.

Upload Frequency: Weekly

no such thing as a fish

An award-winning podcast, No Such Thing As a Fish, comes from QI Offices and is about fun topics or something the creators have recently discovered. If you are looking for something fun yet interesting that informs and educates you, No Such Thing As a Fish is a perfect weekly podcast. The episodes are brief yet action-packed. And you will learn just about anything, from gorillas to caterpillars, on the podcast.

10. Movies, Music, and TV Podcasts

Imaginary Worlds

Host: Eric Molinsky

Number of Episodes on Fresh Air: More than 400.

Episode duration: 40 minutes.

Upload Frequency: Bi-weekly.

imaginary worlds

A podcast on science fiction, fantasy, and other genres, Eric Molinsky on Imaginary Worlds invite comic book artists, game designers, novelists, screenwriters, and filmmakers to discuss their crafts. Imaginary Worlds is just about what it sounds like, i.e., creating fictional worlds.

However, instead of just informing, it also guides artists and writers on how to form an imaginary world. A bi-weekly podcast, Imaginary Worlds is perfect for anyone interested in exploring new possibilities and imagining via different lenses.

Part 5: How to Record Your Podcast Show for Google Podcast App?

Google Podcast platform also allows individual creators to upload their podcasts to the platform and share it with the world. Given its popularity and user base, it’s one of the best ways to rise in the podcast realm and get that edge over others.

So, if you are interested in creating podcasts, here’s how to get started. For recording a podcast, you will have to use a third-party tool like Wondershare Filmora. Unlike Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts does not provide a web studio to create a podcast on the platform.

Google Podcast is a podcasting directory; it does not store any audio files. Instead:

  • It would help if you created the podcast somewhere else, like using Wondershare Filmora for recording.
  • Upload it or store it in another location, like a Website. Or you can create a podcast-only RSS feed.
  • And then submit the RSS feed to the Google Podcast Manager.

So, let’s first learn how to record podcasts using Wondershare Filmora.

Wondershare Filmora

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

Wondershare’s Filmora is one of the best platforms to seamlessly record audio and video podcasts. Its straightforward and self-explanatory user interface allows even novices to record podcasts without going through any learning curve.

Besides recording, Filmora also allows you to edit audio and video. For instance, you will find dedicated toggles to limit background interferences, enhance microphone sound, fade in/out effects, and give access to several such features to create podcasts like a professional. You can also export the audio in the format that Google Podcast requires, like M4A, MP3, OGG, and WAV.

Key Features of Wondershare Filmora

  • AI-based Silence Detection: remove moments of silence from the podcast with one click.
  • Text to speech: transcript your text files into speech for the podcast.
  • Speech to Text: transcribe their voice to subtitles in several languages. It increases accessibility, and users worldwide can understand your podcast seamlessly.
  • Audio Ducking: Add background music to your podcast and manage the sound levels to create podcasts like professionals.
  • Audio Visualizer: enhance your podcast episodes through audio-visualizing effects.

Here’s How to Create Your Own Podcast Using Wondershare Filmora?

Step1 Create a New Project
  • Download the Filmora application.
  • Choose to Create a New Project from the main interface.
  • Import an image or stock footage from the library. (You can later download the podcast in audio format).

create podcast with wondershare filmora 1

Step2 Start Recording
  • Drag the media into the timeline and click the Record button to start recording.
  • Click on Record Voiceover from the options.

create podcast with wondershare filmora 2

Step3 Set Microphone
  • Connect your Microphone to the computer.
  • Select the Microphone device.
  • And click on the Red dot button to confirm the Voiceover recording.

create podcast with wondershare filmora 3

Step4 Record the Podcast
  • Click on OK to proceed to record the podcast.
  • Go through the outline you’ve prepared and discuss the topics for the podcast episode.

create podcast with wondershare filmora 4

Step5 Export audio

Click on the Export button to download your project from Wondershare Filmora.

create podcast with wondershare filmora 5

Now that you’ve recorded the podcast episode, you must create your podcast’s RSS feed. And submit the podcast RSS feed to Google Podcast Manager.

Hot FAQs on the Google Podcast App

1. Is Google Play the same as Google Podcast?

Earlier, Google featured podcasts on the Google Play platform (hence the name, Google Play Podcast). However, today Google Play does not feature any podcasts. So, you will have to choose Google Podcast

2. Where did Google Music Podcasts go?

Google shut down Google Music on February 24, 2021. However, it allowed users to move their podcasts and music files from Google Music to YouTube before that date. So, there’s a good chance you can find the earlier podcasts available on Google Music on YouTube.

3. Is Google Podcasts Ad-free?

Yes. Google Podcast app is entirely ad-free, and there is no subscription either. So you might see in-episode promotions that individual creators present, but there are no ads in the Google Podcast app.

Final Words

Hopefully, you now know the Google Podcast app and what you will find on the Google Podcast platform. As promised, we have also shown you how to use the Google Podcast app. Retain that you can use the Google Podcast app on all primary OS, including Apple and Android devices. The podcast recommendations in this guide are written to inform users about the great shows that resonate with them.

Another significant aspect of this guide on the Google Podcast app is creating your podcast and submitting it to the platform. Google Podcast, a directory, requires you to create your own podcast and submit the podcasts via RSS feeds. So, even if you want to make your podcast, you can use tools like Filmora and then publish it on Google Podcast to share it with the world.

Harmonizing Technology with Taste: Your Guide to Mastering Audio Format Selection

How to Choose Best Audio Formats

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

Download Filmora9 Win Version Download Filmora9 Mac Version


Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

  • Uncompressed Audio Format
  • Lossless Compressed Audio Format
  • Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.


Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

  • Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

  • Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

  • Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

  • MPEG-2
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
    • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
  • MPEG-4
    • **Video Codec:**264
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

 Filmora9 Export Settings

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format Corresponding Audio Encoder Audio Type
MP4 Lossy Compressed
WMV WMA8, WMA9 Uncompressed
AVI MP3, PCM Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV Lossy Compressed
F4V Lossy Compressed
MKV MP3 Lossy Compressed
TS MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
3GP Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2 MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
WEBM Vorbis Lossy Compressed

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

Download Filmora9 Win Version Download Filmora9 Mac Version


Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

  • Uncompressed Audio Format
  • Lossless Compressed Audio Format
  • Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.


Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

  • Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

  • Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

  • Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

  • MPEG-2
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
    • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
  • MPEG-4
    • **Video Codec:**264
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

 Filmora9 Export Settings

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format Corresponding Audio Encoder Audio Type
MP4 Lossy Compressed
WMV WMA8, WMA9 Uncompressed
AVI MP3, PCM Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV Lossy Compressed
F4V Lossy Compressed
MKV MP3 Lossy Compressed
TS MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
3GP Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2 MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
WEBM Vorbis Lossy Compressed

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

Download Filmora9 Win Version Download Filmora9 Mac Version


Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

  • Uncompressed Audio Format
  • Lossless Compressed Audio Format
  • Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.


Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

  • Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

  • Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

  • Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

  • MPEG-2
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
    • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
  • MPEG-4
    • **Video Codec:**264
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

 Filmora9 Export Settings

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format Corresponding Audio Encoder Audio Type
MP4 Lossy Compressed
WMV WMA8, WMA9 Uncompressed
AVI MP3, PCM Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV Lossy Compressed
F4V Lossy Compressed
MKV MP3 Lossy Compressed
TS MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
3GP Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2 MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
WEBM Vorbis Lossy Compressed

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

Download Filmora9 Win Version Download Filmora9 Mac Version


Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

  • Uncompressed Audio Format
  • Lossless Compressed Audio Format
  • Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.


Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

  • Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

  • Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

  • Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

  • MPEG-2
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
    • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
  • MPEG-4
    • **Video Codec:**264
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

 Filmora9 Export Settings

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format Corresponding Audio Encoder Audio Type
MP4 Lossy Compressed
WMV WMA8, WMA9 Uncompressed
AVI MP3, PCM Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV Lossy Compressed
F4V Lossy Compressed
MKV MP3 Lossy Compressed
TS MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
3GP Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2 MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
WEBM Vorbis Lossy Compressed

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Also read:

  • Title: New 2024 Approved Mastering Audio Recording with Audacity A Comprehensive Installation and Removal Handbook for Ubuntu Users
  • Author: Paul
  • Created at : 2024-05-05 05:56:53
  • Updated at : 2024-05-06 05:56:53
  • Link: https://voice-adjusting.techidaily.com/new-2024-approved-mastering-audio-recording-with-audacity-a-comprehensive-installation-and-removal-handbook-for-ubuntu-users/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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New 2024 Approved Mastering Audio Recording with Audacity A Comprehensive Installation and Removal Handbook for Ubuntu Users