File Extension WAV

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WAV File Extension Description

The file format WAV is the most commonly used file type for raw audio files. The file format WAV is often used in Windows based platforms and its variant in Macintosh computers is the WAVE form. It is also classified as a bitstream audio compilation of audio chunks, similar to the RIFF and AIFF sound format, which stands for Resource Interchange File Format and Audio Interchange File Format, respectively. These two types of integer-type data are some of the basic types of file formats for digital data references in modern computers.

The WAV file extension's characteristic of being raw data makes it take up a lot of space, due to the somewhat uncompressed data for audio. Though a very good standard source for later compression methods, the .wav file format is seldom utilized as the base sound format for songs and other stored audio, especially with the introduction of multi-layered compression methods.

Nevertheless, it's spread-out and relatively unsigned characteristic makes it very important, coupled with its pure form of lossless quality. This serves as the first level and highest quality of sound fidelity, which is sourced. The most common audio stored in the WAV file format is the pulse code modulation, better known as PCM, and is used in most of the commercial audio CD's today.

However, the .wav file extension is also capable of handling compressed audio, but in the aspect of the number of samples per second and the number of channels used in storing audio data. Commercial audio CD's stored musical tracks in two channels of 44,100 samples per second, making the audio quality very clear and distinct. Yet, the file sizes of these tracks are staggering with a ration of almost 10Mb per minute of audio data.

• Properties:

• Common Path:
  n/a
• Associated Applications:
  various

Additional WAV File Info:

various , WAV File Created by: various

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