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Updated In 2024, Audio Formats Guide How to Choose Best Audio Formats Solved
Audio Formats Guide: How to Choose Best Audio Formats [Solved]
How to Choose Best Audio Formats
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.
- Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats
- Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?
- Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?
- Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora
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.
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.
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 |
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.
- Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats
- Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?
- Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?
- Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora
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.
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.
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 |
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.
- Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats
- Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?
- Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?
- Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora
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.
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.
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 |
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.
- Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats
- Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?
- Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?
- Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora
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.
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.
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 |
Benjamin Arango
Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Benjamin Arango
The Art of Audio Accommodation: Stabilizing Volume Levels in Video Production
Best Volume Normalizers: How to Normalize Audio in Videos?
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Audio recordings are not always perfect since they can often be too loud or nearly inaudible. In case you are dealing with an audio or video file that has an unbalanced volume you can try to fix this issue by using the audio normalization features which video and audio editing apps for Mac and PC computers offer.
- Part 1: What is Audio Normalization?
- Part 2: How to Normalize Audio [Tutorial]
- Part 3: Top Sound Normalizers
- Part 4: Audio Normalization Tips
What is Audio Normalization?
There are two different types of audio normalization, peak normalization, and loudness normalization. The peak normalization changes the gain that is being applied in order to reduce the highest PCM sample value down to 0 dB, while the loudness normalization reduces the average amplitude to the chosen level. However, the majority of video and audio editing apps combine these two types of audio normalization into a single feature. So, in this article, we are going to show you how you can quickly normalize audio with different video and audio editing apps.
How to Normalize Audio?
The most common reason for using audio normalization features is to bring the audio level of several different audio clips to the same level. In addition, audio normalization can help you make inaudible narration or dialogue a bit louder. If you want to make your vocals pop over the background music, all you have to do is download a versatile software - Filmora from Wondershare . The latest version of Filmora has released a new function - audio ducking, which helps you increase your vocals while lower the background music with ease. Download it for free!
After installing Wondershare Filmora, just read this complete guide of using audio ducking in Filmora .
Step 1: Drag and drop multiple video or audio files into the timeline and select one clip you want to hear more clearly.
Step 2: After right-clicking the clip, you can select “Adjust Audio”.
Step 3: Click “Lower the volume of other clips” and adjust the percentage according to your need.
Best 3 Audio Normalizers
Except for Wondershare Filmora, there are other audio normalizers that you can use when you are edit videos. Moreover, we will know the steps of normalizing audios with these sound normalizers.
1. iMovie
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS
Mac users don’t need a special introduction to this iconic video editing app that has been featured on all versions of macOS that were released since 2003. The process of normalizing audio with iMovie is rather simple as you just have to import an audio or video file that contains sound into the Project Browser and double-click on it. Once the Inspector pops up on the screen you should select the Audio option and click on the Normalize Clip Volume setting. iMovie will then normalize the audio in the selected file, so you should just wait for the process to be over and click Done afterward.
2. Movavi
Price: $79.95 for a lifetime license
Compatibility: Windows, macOS
Movavi video editor offers all the tools you are going to need to finish the video editing process quickly. This video editing software for Mac and PC computers is best suited for video content creators who don’t have a lot of experience, although skilled video editing professionals can also use it to edit their footage. The audio normalization process in Movavi can be completed in just a few easy steps. After creating the project in the Full Feature Mode, you should click on the Add Media Files icon and import the files you’d like to use in that project. Place the files to the appropriate track on the timeline and then double-click on the file that is located on the audio track. Once the Tools panel appears on the screen, you just have to make sure that the Normalize tickbox is checked and Movavi will normalize the audio automatically.
3. Audacity
Price: Free
Compatibility: Linux, Windows, macOS
Audacity is a professional audio editing app that lets you record and edit sound for your videos. You can use this app to create sound effects, merge multiple audio files together, or record narration for each new video you create. Normalizing audio with Audacity is easy because you just have to add the audio clips to the timeline and make sure that the track to which you added a file is selected. The app also lets you select more than just one track, so you can place audio files to two or more tracks and files from each track are going to be adjusted to the same audio level. Once you’ve selected a track or tracks that contain audio clips you’d like to normalize, head over to the Effects menu, choose the Normalize option, and hit OK.
Tips on Audio Normalization
A single scene can contain a lot of different sounds. The sound of someone’s footsteps, ambient sounds, or the dialogue are just a few examples of sounds that are frequently used in videos and movies. The audio volume of each of these sounds shouldn’t be the same, because if the ambient sounds are as loud as the dialogue the audience may find it hard to understand what the characters in that scene are saying. That’s why you should use audio normalization only when you are absolutely sure that using the same audio volume level for two or more audio clips won’t disrupt the flow of your video.
Conclusion
Even though normalizing audio with each of the video editing software products we featured in this article is a straightforward process, this option should only be used if you have no other way to balance the audio volume of a video or an audio file. Which video editing app for Mac and PC computers do you like to use the most to normalize audio in your videos? Leave a comment and share your experiences with us.
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Audio recordings are not always perfect since they can often be too loud or nearly inaudible. In case you are dealing with an audio or video file that has an unbalanced volume you can try to fix this issue by using the audio normalization features which video and audio editing apps for Mac and PC computers offer.
- Part 1: What is Audio Normalization?
- Part 2: How to Normalize Audio [Tutorial]
- Part 3: Top Sound Normalizers
- Part 4: Audio Normalization Tips
What is Audio Normalization?
There are two different types of audio normalization, peak normalization, and loudness normalization. The peak normalization changes the gain that is being applied in order to reduce the highest PCM sample value down to 0 dB, while the loudness normalization reduces the average amplitude to the chosen level. However, the majority of video and audio editing apps combine these two types of audio normalization into a single feature. So, in this article, we are going to show you how you can quickly normalize audio with different video and audio editing apps.
How to Normalize Audio?
The most common reason for using audio normalization features is to bring the audio level of several different audio clips to the same level. In addition, audio normalization can help you make inaudible narration or dialogue a bit louder. If you want to make your vocals pop over the background music, all you have to do is download a versatile software - Filmora from Wondershare . The latest version of Filmora has released a new function - audio ducking, which helps you increase your vocals while lower the background music with ease. Download it for free!
After installing Wondershare Filmora, just read this complete guide of using audio ducking in Filmora .
Step 1: Drag and drop multiple video or audio files into the timeline and select one clip you want to hear more clearly.
Step 2: After right-clicking the clip, you can select “Adjust Audio”.
Step 3: Click “Lower the volume of other clips” and adjust the percentage according to your need.
Best 3 Audio Normalizers
Except for Wondershare Filmora, there are other audio normalizers that you can use when you are edit videos. Moreover, we will know the steps of normalizing audios with these sound normalizers.
1. iMovie
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS
Mac users don’t need a special introduction to this iconic video editing app that has been featured on all versions of macOS that were released since 2003. The process of normalizing audio with iMovie is rather simple as you just have to import an audio or video file that contains sound into the Project Browser and double-click on it. Once the Inspector pops up on the screen you should select the Audio option and click on the Normalize Clip Volume setting. iMovie will then normalize the audio in the selected file, so you should just wait for the process to be over and click Done afterward.
2. Movavi
Price: $79.95 for a lifetime license
Compatibility: Windows, macOS
Movavi video editor offers all the tools you are going to need to finish the video editing process quickly. This video editing software for Mac and PC computers is best suited for video content creators who don’t have a lot of experience, although skilled video editing professionals can also use it to edit their footage. The audio normalization process in Movavi can be completed in just a few easy steps. After creating the project in the Full Feature Mode, you should click on the Add Media Files icon and import the files you’d like to use in that project. Place the files to the appropriate track on the timeline and then double-click on the file that is located on the audio track. Once the Tools panel appears on the screen, you just have to make sure that the Normalize tickbox is checked and Movavi will normalize the audio automatically.
3. Audacity
Price: Free
Compatibility: Linux, Windows, macOS
Audacity is a professional audio editing app that lets you record and edit sound for your videos. You can use this app to create sound effects, merge multiple audio files together, or record narration for each new video you create. Normalizing audio with Audacity is easy because you just have to add the audio clips to the timeline and make sure that the track to which you added a file is selected. The app also lets you select more than just one track, so you can place audio files to two or more tracks and files from each track are going to be adjusted to the same audio level. Once you’ve selected a track or tracks that contain audio clips you’d like to normalize, head over to the Effects menu, choose the Normalize option, and hit OK.
Tips on Audio Normalization
A single scene can contain a lot of different sounds. The sound of someone’s footsteps, ambient sounds, or the dialogue are just a few examples of sounds that are frequently used in videos and movies. The audio volume of each of these sounds shouldn’t be the same, because if the ambient sounds are as loud as the dialogue the audience may find it hard to understand what the characters in that scene are saying. That’s why you should use audio normalization only when you are absolutely sure that using the same audio volume level for two or more audio clips won’t disrupt the flow of your video.
Conclusion
Even though normalizing audio with each of the video editing software products we featured in this article is a straightforward process, this option should only be used if you have no other way to balance the audio volume of a video or an audio file. Which video editing app for Mac and PC computers do you like to use the most to normalize audio in your videos? Leave a comment and share your experiences with us.
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Audio recordings are not always perfect since they can often be too loud or nearly inaudible. In case you are dealing with an audio or video file that has an unbalanced volume you can try to fix this issue by using the audio normalization features which video and audio editing apps for Mac and PC computers offer.
- Part 1: What is Audio Normalization?
- Part 2: How to Normalize Audio [Tutorial]
- Part 3: Top Sound Normalizers
- Part 4: Audio Normalization Tips
What is Audio Normalization?
There are two different types of audio normalization, peak normalization, and loudness normalization. The peak normalization changes the gain that is being applied in order to reduce the highest PCM sample value down to 0 dB, while the loudness normalization reduces the average amplitude to the chosen level. However, the majority of video and audio editing apps combine these two types of audio normalization into a single feature. So, in this article, we are going to show you how you can quickly normalize audio with different video and audio editing apps.
How to Normalize Audio?
The most common reason for using audio normalization features is to bring the audio level of several different audio clips to the same level. In addition, audio normalization can help you make inaudible narration or dialogue a bit louder. If you want to make your vocals pop over the background music, all you have to do is download a versatile software - Filmora from Wondershare . The latest version of Filmora has released a new function - audio ducking, which helps you increase your vocals while lower the background music with ease. Download it for free!
After installing Wondershare Filmora, just read this complete guide of using audio ducking in Filmora .
Step 1: Drag and drop multiple video or audio files into the timeline and select one clip you want to hear more clearly.
Step 2: After right-clicking the clip, you can select “Adjust Audio”.
Step 3: Click “Lower the volume of other clips” and adjust the percentage according to your need.
Best 3 Audio Normalizers
Except for Wondershare Filmora, there are other audio normalizers that you can use when you are edit videos. Moreover, we will know the steps of normalizing audios with these sound normalizers.
1. iMovie
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS
Mac users don’t need a special introduction to this iconic video editing app that has been featured on all versions of macOS that were released since 2003. The process of normalizing audio with iMovie is rather simple as you just have to import an audio or video file that contains sound into the Project Browser and double-click on it. Once the Inspector pops up on the screen you should select the Audio option and click on the Normalize Clip Volume setting. iMovie will then normalize the audio in the selected file, so you should just wait for the process to be over and click Done afterward.
2. Movavi
Price: $79.95 for a lifetime license
Compatibility: Windows, macOS
Movavi video editor offers all the tools you are going to need to finish the video editing process quickly. This video editing software for Mac and PC computers is best suited for video content creators who don’t have a lot of experience, although skilled video editing professionals can also use it to edit their footage. The audio normalization process in Movavi can be completed in just a few easy steps. After creating the project in the Full Feature Mode, you should click on the Add Media Files icon and import the files you’d like to use in that project. Place the files to the appropriate track on the timeline and then double-click on the file that is located on the audio track. Once the Tools panel appears on the screen, you just have to make sure that the Normalize tickbox is checked and Movavi will normalize the audio automatically.
3. Audacity
Price: Free
Compatibility: Linux, Windows, macOS
Audacity is a professional audio editing app that lets you record and edit sound for your videos. You can use this app to create sound effects, merge multiple audio files together, or record narration for each new video you create. Normalizing audio with Audacity is easy because you just have to add the audio clips to the timeline and make sure that the track to which you added a file is selected. The app also lets you select more than just one track, so you can place audio files to two or more tracks and files from each track are going to be adjusted to the same audio level. Once you’ve selected a track or tracks that contain audio clips you’d like to normalize, head over to the Effects menu, choose the Normalize option, and hit OK.
Tips on Audio Normalization
A single scene can contain a lot of different sounds. The sound of someone’s footsteps, ambient sounds, or the dialogue are just a few examples of sounds that are frequently used in videos and movies. The audio volume of each of these sounds shouldn’t be the same, because if the ambient sounds are as loud as the dialogue the audience may find it hard to understand what the characters in that scene are saying. That’s why you should use audio normalization only when you are absolutely sure that using the same audio volume level for two or more audio clips won’t disrupt the flow of your video.
Conclusion
Even though normalizing audio with each of the video editing software products we featured in this article is a straightforward process, this option should only be used if you have no other way to balance the audio volume of a video or an audio file. Which video editing app for Mac and PC computers do you like to use the most to normalize audio in your videos? Leave a comment and share your experiences with us.
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Audio recordings are not always perfect since they can often be too loud or nearly inaudible. In case you are dealing with an audio or video file that has an unbalanced volume you can try to fix this issue by using the audio normalization features which video and audio editing apps for Mac and PC computers offer.
- Part 1: What is Audio Normalization?
- Part 2: How to Normalize Audio [Tutorial]
- Part 3: Top Sound Normalizers
- Part 4: Audio Normalization Tips
What is Audio Normalization?
There are two different types of audio normalization, peak normalization, and loudness normalization. The peak normalization changes the gain that is being applied in order to reduce the highest PCM sample value down to 0 dB, while the loudness normalization reduces the average amplitude to the chosen level. However, the majority of video and audio editing apps combine these two types of audio normalization into a single feature. So, in this article, we are going to show you how you can quickly normalize audio with different video and audio editing apps.
How to Normalize Audio?
The most common reason for using audio normalization features is to bring the audio level of several different audio clips to the same level. In addition, audio normalization can help you make inaudible narration or dialogue a bit louder. If you want to make your vocals pop over the background music, all you have to do is download a versatile software - Filmora from Wondershare . The latest version of Filmora has released a new function - audio ducking, which helps you increase your vocals while lower the background music with ease. Download it for free!
After installing Wondershare Filmora, just read this complete guide of using audio ducking in Filmora .
Step 1: Drag and drop multiple video or audio files into the timeline and select one clip you want to hear more clearly.
Step 2: After right-clicking the clip, you can select “Adjust Audio”.
Step 3: Click “Lower the volume of other clips” and adjust the percentage according to your need.
Best 3 Audio Normalizers
Except for Wondershare Filmora, there are other audio normalizers that you can use when you are edit videos. Moreover, we will know the steps of normalizing audios with these sound normalizers.
1. iMovie
Price: Free
Compatibility: macOS
Mac users don’t need a special introduction to this iconic video editing app that has been featured on all versions of macOS that were released since 2003. The process of normalizing audio with iMovie is rather simple as you just have to import an audio or video file that contains sound into the Project Browser and double-click on it. Once the Inspector pops up on the screen you should select the Audio option and click on the Normalize Clip Volume setting. iMovie will then normalize the audio in the selected file, so you should just wait for the process to be over and click Done afterward.
2. Movavi
Price: $79.95 for a lifetime license
Compatibility: Windows, macOS
Movavi video editor offers all the tools you are going to need to finish the video editing process quickly. This video editing software for Mac and PC computers is best suited for video content creators who don’t have a lot of experience, although skilled video editing professionals can also use it to edit their footage. The audio normalization process in Movavi can be completed in just a few easy steps. After creating the project in the Full Feature Mode, you should click on the Add Media Files icon and import the files you’d like to use in that project. Place the files to the appropriate track on the timeline and then double-click on the file that is located on the audio track. Once the Tools panel appears on the screen, you just have to make sure that the Normalize tickbox is checked and Movavi will normalize the audio automatically.
3. Audacity
Price: Free
Compatibility: Linux, Windows, macOS
Audacity is a professional audio editing app that lets you record and edit sound for your videos. You can use this app to create sound effects, merge multiple audio files together, or record narration for each new video you create. Normalizing audio with Audacity is easy because you just have to add the audio clips to the timeline and make sure that the track to which you added a file is selected. The app also lets you select more than just one track, so you can place audio files to two or more tracks and files from each track are going to be adjusted to the same audio level. Once you’ve selected a track or tracks that contain audio clips you’d like to normalize, head over to the Effects menu, choose the Normalize option, and hit OK.
Tips on Audio Normalization
A single scene can contain a lot of different sounds. The sound of someone’s footsteps, ambient sounds, or the dialogue are just a few examples of sounds that are frequently used in videos and movies. The audio volume of each of these sounds shouldn’t be the same, because if the ambient sounds are as loud as the dialogue the audience may find it hard to understand what the characters in that scene are saying. That’s why you should use audio normalization only when you are absolutely sure that using the same audio volume level for two or more audio clips won’t disrupt the flow of your video.
Conclusion
Even though normalizing audio with each of the video editing software products we featured in this article is a straightforward process, this option should only be used if you have no other way to balance the audio volume of a video or an audio file. Which video editing app for Mac and PC computers do you like to use the most to normalize audio in your videos? Leave a comment and share your experiences with us.
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
“Symphony in Reverse: A Guide to State-of-the-Art Audio Reversal Applications “
Reverse Audio: Best Audio Reversers in 2024
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Playing a song or any other type of audio file backwards can be useful in a surprisingly diverse number of ways. Discovering subliminal messages in pop songs, creating unusual sound effects or learning to play a song in reverse are only a few reasons why you may want to reverse an audio. If you would like to find out more about the best audio reversers in 2024, you’ve come to the right place, because in this article we are going to take you through the some of the most attractive online options as well as PC, Mac and mobile solutions.
- Part 1: Best Free Online Audio Reversers
- Part 2: Best Audio Editing Software to Reverse Audio
- Part 3: Best Audio Reverser Apps for iOS and Android
3 Best Online Audio Reversers to Play Music Backwards
Reversing a song and all other types of audio recordings is a straightforward process that doesn’t take a lot of effort or time. Let’s have a look at some of the best online destinations you should visit if you’re looking to quickly reverse audio.
1. 3 PM Reverser
This free platform lets you reverse audio files in a matter of minutes. You just have to click on the Choose File button and select the file you’d like to play backwards. The maximum size of the audio file you can upload to this online audio reverser in limited to 20 MB. As soon as the audio file uploads to the platform, it will be reversed, and you can just click on the Download button to save the newly created reversed audio file. The only downside is that you won’t be able to adjust the audio reverse settings because the process is fully automated.
2. Online MP3 Reverser
Short recordings of cymbals or any other type of frequently used effects can be quickly reversed with Online MP3 Reverser. The platform supports nearly all popular audio file formats, such as wav, ogg, m4a and of course mp3, as suggested in the platform’s name. The maximum supported size of an audio file is 10MB. In order to reverse a song or an audio effect, you just have to click on the Choose File button to select the file and hit the Reverse It button to start reversing the audio file. Once the process is completed, you can save the file to a destination on your hard drive by clicking on the Download button.
3. TwistedWave Online Audio Editor
Even though the TwistedWave Online Audio Editor can be used free of charge, you must create an account in order to save the files you create. And the free plan has limited features in file length and audio editing features. The online audio editor enables you to record new audio files or to edit the existing ones. Audio clips can be imported from your computer, the Soundcloud platform or Google Drive. After you upload a file to the TwistedWave, the editor window will display the file on its timeline as a waveform. Clicking on the Effects menu and selecting the Reverse option will play the file you uploaded backwards. Selecting the Download option in the File menu will give you the access to the Audio Export window where you can adjust the file’s properties before saving it to your computer.
Best Audio Editing Software to Reverse Audio
At the moment there a lot of free audio editing software options available on the market which are powerful enough to enable you to reverse all sorts of audio files. We recommend using the Audacity software to reverse your audio files. This free, open source and cross-platform software had 62.5 million downloads as of September 2018, which speaks volumes about its audio editing potential.
The software is compatible with Mac, Linux, and Windows operating systems, and it offers a quick and easy way to reverse an audio file. After you’ve installed and launched the software, you just have to import the file, by selecting the Audio option, from the Import submenu that can be accessed from the software’s File menu. Alternatively, you can use the Ctrl+Shift+I keyboard shortcut to select the file you’d like to import into the software.
The file will be displayed as a waveform and placed on the software’s timeline. You can then proceed to select the portion of the file you’d like to reverse by holding the left mouse button while dragging the mouse cursor between any two points within the file. Use the Ctrl+A shortcut to select the entire file or head over to the Edit menu, click on the Select option and choose All from the submenu.
Once you’ve made sure that you properly selected the portion of the file you’d like to reverse, you should go to the Effects menu and click on the Reverse feature. The software will reverse the highlighted portion of the file and you can listen to the results by clicking on the Play button. The Export Audio option that is available in the File menu lets you save the reversed audio to a chosen destination on your hard drive.
Best Audio Reverser Apps for iOS and Android
Listening to reversed versions of your favorite songs on your Smartphone can be a lot of fun, so if you would like to explore the possibilities of reversing audio directly from an iPhone or Android device you should check out these apps.
1. Reverse
The Reverse Music Player is an Android-based app that lets you reverse sounds or music with ease. What’s more, you can make a song’s tempo up to 4 times faster or slower or adjust its Pitch. The app supports wav, mp3, ogg and flac audio file formats, but if you are using a large audio file reversing a song may take some time. A three-minute song can temporarily take up to 20MB of storage space on your phone’s memory card, while longer songs may take even more, so it is important to make sure that you have enough free space on your phone before you start using this app.
2. Reverse Audio
iPhone users can reverse audio files they record with this app in just a few simple steps. The app lets you record an audio file and then it automatically plays the recording backwards. While you’re playing the audio, you can alter the Playback Rate or the Pitch. The Reverse Audio app also enables you to import audio files from other apps via the Share option, but audio files cannot be directly imported into the app. The limited amount of audio editing options makes this iOS-based app a moderately reliable choice for reversing audio files.
Conclusion
Playing songs or audio effects backwards can have unexpected results, which makes the process of reversing audio incredibly entertaining. These free and easy to use audio reversers can help you create high-quality sound effects that might make the videos you used them for, go viral. What is your favorite method of reversing audio files? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Playing a song or any other type of audio file backwards can be useful in a surprisingly diverse number of ways. Discovering subliminal messages in pop songs, creating unusual sound effects or learning to play a song in reverse are only a few reasons why you may want to reverse an audio. If you would like to find out more about the best audio reversers in 2024, you’ve come to the right place, because in this article we are going to take you through the some of the most attractive online options as well as PC, Mac and mobile solutions.
- Part 1: Best Free Online Audio Reversers
- Part 2: Best Audio Editing Software to Reverse Audio
- Part 3: Best Audio Reverser Apps for iOS and Android
3 Best Online Audio Reversers to Play Music Backwards
Reversing a song and all other types of audio recordings is a straightforward process that doesn’t take a lot of effort or time. Let’s have a look at some of the best online destinations you should visit if you’re looking to quickly reverse audio.
1. 3 PM Reverser
This free platform lets you reverse audio files in a matter of minutes. You just have to click on the Choose File button and select the file you’d like to play backwards. The maximum size of the audio file you can upload to this online audio reverser in limited to 20 MB. As soon as the audio file uploads to the platform, it will be reversed, and you can just click on the Download button to save the newly created reversed audio file. The only downside is that you won’t be able to adjust the audio reverse settings because the process is fully automated.
2. Online MP3 Reverser
Short recordings of cymbals or any other type of frequently used effects can be quickly reversed with Online MP3 Reverser. The platform supports nearly all popular audio file formats, such as wav, ogg, m4a and of course mp3, as suggested in the platform’s name. The maximum supported size of an audio file is 10MB. In order to reverse a song or an audio effect, you just have to click on the Choose File button to select the file and hit the Reverse It button to start reversing the audio file. Once the process is completed, you can save the file to a destination on your hard drive by clicking on the Download button.
3. TwistedWave Online Audio Editor
Even though the TwistedWave Online Audio Editor can be used free of charge, you must create an account in order to save the files you create. And the free plan has limited features in file length and audio editing features. The online audio editor enables you to record new audio files or to edit the existing ones. Audio clips can be imported from your computer, the Soundcloud platform or Google Drive. After you upload a file to the TwistedWave, the editor window will display the file on its timeline as a waveform. Clicking on the Effects menu and selecting the Reverse option will play the file you uploaded backwards. Selecting the Download option in the File menu will give you the access to the Audio Export window where you can adjust the file’s properties before saving it to your computer.
Best Audio Editing Software to Reverse Audio
At the moment there a lot of free audio editing software options available on the market which are powerful enough to enable you to reverse all sorts of audio files. We recommend using the Audacity software to reverse your audio files. This free, open source and cross-platform software had 62.5 million downloads as of September 2018, which speaks volumes about its audio editing potential.
The software is compatible with Mac, Linux, and Windows operating systems, and it offers a quick and easy way to reverse an audio file. After you’ve installed and launched the software, you just have to import the file, by selecting the Audio option, from the Import submenu that can be accessed from the software’s File menu. Alternatively, you can use the Ctrl+Shift+I keyboard shortcut to select the file you’d like to import into the software.
The file will be displayed as a waveform and placed on the software’s timeline. You can then proceed to select the portion of the file you’d like to reverse by holding the left mouse button while dragging the mouse cursor between any two points within the file. Use the Ctrl+A shortcut to select the entire file or head over to the Edit menu, click on the Select option and choose All from the submenu.
Once you’ve made sure that you properly selected the portion of the file you’d like to reverse, you should go to the Effects menu and click on the Reverse feature. The software will reverse the highlighted portion of the file and you can listen to the results by clicking on the Play button. The Export Audio option that is available in the File menu lets you save the reversed audio to a chosen destination on your hard drive.
Best Audio Reverser Apps for iOS and Android
Listening to reversed versions of your favorite songs on your Smartphone can be a lot of fun, so if you would like to explore the possibilities of reversing audio directly from an iPhone or Android device you should check out these apps.
1. Reverse
The Reverse Music Player is an Android-based app that lets you reverse sounds or music with ease. What’s more, you can make a song’s tempo up to 4 times faster or slower or adjust its Pitch. The app supports wav, mp3, ogg and flac audio file formats, but if you are using a large audio file reversing a song may take some time. A three-minute song can temporarily take up to 20MB of storage space on your phone’s memory card, while longer songs may take even more, so it is important to make sure that you have enough free space on your phone before you start using this app.
2. Reverse Audio
iPhone users can reverse audio files they record with this app in just a few simple steps. The app lets you record an audio file and then it automatically plays the recording backwards. While you’re playing the audio, you can alter the Playback Rate or the Pitch. The Reverse Audio app also enables you to import audio files from other apps via the Share option, but audio files cannot be directly imported into the app. The limited amount of audio editing options makes this iOS-based app a moderately reliable choice for reversing audio files.
Conclusion
Playing songs or audio effects backwards can have unexpected results, which makes the process of reversing audio incredibly entertaining. These free and easy to use audio reversers can help you create high-quality sound effects that might make the videos you used them for, go viral. What is your favorite method of reversing audio files? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Playing a song or any other type of audio file backwards can be useful in a surprisingly diverse number of ways. Discovering subliminal messages in pop songs, creating unusual sound effects or learning to play a song in reverse are only a few reasons why you may want to reverse an audio. If you would like to find out more about the best audio reversers in 2024, you’ve come to the right place, because in this article we are going to take you through the some of the most attractive online options as well as PC, Mac and mobile solutions.
- Part 1: Best Free Online Audio Reversers
- Part 2: Best Audio Editing Software to Reverse Audio
- Part 3: Best Audio Reverser Apps for iOS and Android
3 Best Online Audio Reversers to Play Music Backwards
Reversing a song and all other types of audio recordings is a straightforward process that doesn’t take a lot of effort or time. Let’s have a look at some of the best online destinations you should visit if you’re looking to quickly reverse audio.
1. 3 PM Reverser
This free platform lets you reverse audio files in a matter of minutes. You just have to click on the Choose File button and select the file you’d like to play backwards. The maximum size of the audio file you can upload to this online audio reverser in limited to 20 MB. As soon as the audio file uploads to the platform, it will be reversed, and you can just click on the Download button to save the newly created reversed audio file. The only downside is that you won’t be able to adjust the audio reverse settings because the process is fully automated.
2. Online MP3 Reverser
Short recordings of cymbals or any other type of frequently used effects can be quickly reversed with Online MP3 Reverser. The platform supports nearly all popular audio file formats, such as wav, ogg, m4a and of course mp3, as suggested in the platform’s name. The maximum supported size of an audio file is 10MB. In order to reverse a song or an audio effect, you just have to click on the Choose File button to select the file and hit the Reverse It button to start reversing the audio file. Once the process is completed, you can save the file to a destination on your hard drive by clicking on the Download button.
3. TwistedWave Online Audio Editor
Even though the TwistedWave Online Audio Editor can be used free of charge, you must create an account in order to save the files you create. And the free plan has limited features in file length and audio editing features. The online audio editor enables you to record new audio files or to edit the existing ones. Audio clips can be imported from your computer, the Soundcloud platform or Google Drive. After you upload a file to the TwistedWave, the editor window will display the file on its timeline as a waveform. Clicking on the Effects menu and selecting the Reverse option will play the file you uploaded backwards. Selecting the Download option in the File menu will give you the access to the Audio Export window where you can adjust the file’s properties before saving it to your computer.
Best Audio Editing Software to Reverse Audio
At the moment there a lot of free audio editing software options available on the market which are powerful enough to enable you to reverse all sorts of audio files. We recommend using the Audacity software to reverse your audio files. This free, open source and cross-platform software had 62.5 million downloads as of September 2018, which speaks volumes about its audio editing potential.
The software is compatible with Mac, Linux, and Windows operating systems, and it offers a quick and easy way to reverse an audio file. After you’ve installed and launched the software, you just have to import the file, by selecting the Audio option, from the Import submenu that can be accessed from the software’s File menu. Alternatively, you can use the Ctrl+Shift+I keyboard shortcut to select the file you’d like to import into the software.
The file will be displayed as a waveform and placed on the software’s timeline. You can then proceed to select the portion of the file you’d like to reverse by holding the left mouse button while dragging the mouse cursor between any two points within the file. Use the Ctrl+A shortcut to select the entire file or head over to the Edit menu, click on the Select option and choose All from the submenu.
Once you’ve made sure that you properly selected the portion of the file you’d like to reverse, you should go to the Effects menu and click on the Reverse feature. The software will reverse the highlighted portion of the file and you can listen to the results by clicking on the Play button. The Export Audio option that is available in the File menu lets you save the reversed audio to a chosen destination on your hard drive.
Best Audio Reverser Apps for iOS and Android
Listening to reversed versions of your favorite songs on your Smartphone can be a lot of fun, so if you would like to explore the possibilities of reversing audio directly from an iPhone or Android device you should check out these apps.
1. Reverse
The Reverse Music Player is an Android-based app that lets you reverse sounds or music with ease. What’s more, you can make a song’s tempo up to 4 times faster or slower or adjust its Pitch. The app supports wav, mp3, ogg and flac audio file formats, but if you are using a large audio file reversing a song may take some time. A three-minute song can temporarily take up to 20MB of storage space on your phone’s memory card, while longer songs may take even more, so it is important to make sure that you have enough free space on your phone before you start using this app.
2. Reverse Audio
iPhone users can reverse audio files they record with this app in just a few simple steps. The app lets you record an audio file and then it automatically plays the recording backwards. While you’re playing the audio, you can alter the Playback Rate or the Pitch. The Reverse Audio app also enables you to import audio files from other apps via the Share option, but audio files cannot be directly imported into the app. The limited amount of audio editing options makes this iOS-based app a moderately reliable choice for reversing audio files.
Conclusion
Playing songs or audio effects backwards can have unexpected results, which makes the process of reversing audio incredibly entertaining. These free and easy to use audio reversers can help you create high-quality sound effects that might make the videos you used them for, go viral. What is your favorite method of reversing audio files? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Playing a song or any other type of audio file backwards can be useful in a surprisingly diverse number of ways. Discovering subliminal messages in pop songs, creating unusual sound effects or learning to play a song in reverse are only a few reasons why you may want to reverse an audio. If you would like to find out more about the best audio reversers in 2024, you’ve come to the right place, because in this article we are going to take you through the some of the most attractive online options as well as PC, Mac and mobile solutions.
- Part 1: Best Free Online Audio Reversers
- Part 2: Best Audio Editing Software to Reverse Audio
- Part 3: Best Audio Reverser Apps for iOS and Android
3 Best Online Audio Reversers to Play Music Backwards
Reversing a song and all other types of audio recordings is a straightforward process that doesn’t take a lot of effort or time. Let’s have a look at some of the best online destinations you should visit if you’re looking to quickly reverse audio.
1. 3 PM Reverser
This free platform lets you reverse audio files in a matter of minutes. You just have to click on the Choose File button and select the file you’d like to play backwards. The maximum size of the audio file you can upload to this online audio reverser in limited to 20 MB. As soon as the audio file uploads to the platform, it will be reversed, and you can just click on the Download button to save the newly created reversed audio file. The only downside is that you won’t be able to adjust the audio reverse settings because the process is fully automated.
2. Online MP3 Reverser
Short recordings of cymbals or any other type of frequently used effects can be quickly reversed with Online MP3 Reverser. The platform supports nearly all popular audio file formats, such as wav, ogg, m4a and of course mp3, as suggested in the platform’s name. The maximum supported size of an audio file is 10MB. In order to reverse a song or an audio effect, you just have to click on the Choose File button to select the file and hit the Reverse It button to start reversing the audio file. Once the process is completed, you can save the file to a destination on your hard drive by clicking on the Download button.
3. TwistedWave Online Audio Editor
Even though the TwistedWave Online Audio Editor can be used free of charge, you must create an account in order to save the files you create. And the free plan has limited features in file length and audio editing features. The online audio editor enables you to record new audio files or to edit the existing ones. Audio clips can be imported from your computer, the Soundcloud platform or Google Drive. After you upload a file to the TwistedWave, the editor window will display the file on its timeline as a waveform. Clicking on the Effects menu and selecting the Reverse option will play the file you uploaded backwards. Selecting the Download option in the File menu will give you the access to the Audio Export window where you can adjust the file’s properties before saving it to your computer.
Best Audio Editing Software to Reverse Audio
At the moment there a lot of free audio editing software options available on the market which are powerful enough to enable you to reverse all sorts of audio files. We recommend using the Audacity software to reverse your audio files. This free, open source and cross-platform software had 62.5 million downloads as of September 2018, which speaks volumes about its audio editing potential.
The software is compatible with Mac, Linux, and Windows operating systems, and it offers a quick and easy way to reverse an audio file. After you’ve installed and launched the software, you just have to import the file, by selecting the Audio option, from the Import submenu that can be accessed from the software’s File menu. Alternatively, you can use the Ctrl+Shift+I keyboard shortcut to select the file you’d like to import into the software.
The file will be displayed as a waveform and placed on the software’s timeline. You can then proceed to select the portion of the file you’d like to reverse by holding the left mouse button while dragging the mouse cursor between any two points within the file. Use the Ctrl+A shortcut to select the entire file or head over to the Edit menu, click on the Select option and choose All from the submenu.
Once you’ve made sure that you properly selected the portion of the file you’d like to reverse, you should go to the Effects menu and click on the Reverse feature. The software will reverse the highlighted portion of the file and you can listen to the results by clicking on the Play button. The Export Audio option that is available in the File menu lets you save the reversed audio to a chosen destination on your hard drive.
Best Audio Reverser Apps for iOS and Android
Listening to reversed versions of your favorite songs on your Smartphone can be a lot of fun, so if you would like to explore the possibilities of reversing audio directly from an iPhone or Android device you should check out these apps.
1. Reverse
The Reverse Music Player is an Android-based app that lets you reverse sounds or music with ease. What’s more, you can make a song’s tempo up to 4 times faster or slower or adjust its Pitch. The app supports wav, mp3, ogg and flac audio file formats, but if you are using a large audio file reversing a song may take some time. A three-minute song can temporarily take up to 20MB of storage space on your phone’s memory card, while longer songs may take even more, so it is important to make sure that you have enough free space on your phone before you start using this app.
2. Reverse Audio
iPhone users can reverse audio files they record with this app in just a few simple steps. The app lets you record an audio file and then it automatically plays the recording backwards. While you’re playing the audio, you can alter the Playback Rate or the Pitch. The Reverse Audio app also enables you to import audio files from other apps via the Share option, but audio files cannot be directly imported into the app. The limited amount of audio editing options makes this iOS-based app a moderately reliable choice for reversing audio files.
Conclusion
Playing songs or audio effects backwards can have unexpected results, which makes the process of reversing audio incredibly entertaining. These free and easy to use audio reversers can help you create high-quality sound effects that might make the videos you used them for, go viral. What is your favorite method of reversing audio files? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Shanoon Cox
Shanoon Cox is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Shanoon Cox
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- Title: Updated In 2024, Audio Formats Guide How to Choose Best Audio Formats Solved
- Author: Paul
- Created at : 2024-05-05 05:44:43
- Updated at : 2024-05-06 05:44:43
- Link: https://voice-adjusting.techidaily.com/updated-in-2024-audio-formats-guide-how-to-choose-best-audio-formats-solved/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
