Best file format

[themaddog]

Hi,
Does anyone have any idea on what the best file format is for recording on Cool Edit Pro 2.0? I've used .wav in the past, but heard that's not the best. Space is not an issue, and I'm recording at 24-bit/96.6 khz.

Thank you,
-MD

[dobro]

I think most people save in Windows PCM format.

If you've heard that's not the best, then what is?

[themaddog]

My cousin, who is currently majoring in video and media editing told me that .aif is the standard format and that he was taught that this was better than .wav, which was the old standard. He couldn't tell me why, and I don't know enough about digital recording to argue one way or the other.

-MD

[lpdeluxe]

Probably the reason he couldn't tell you was that he was told that with no explanation. It sounds like somebody has learned on one format and is unfamiiliar with the others. Maybe they have software that only handles one format. It would make sense to say that one format works better than another for a particular use. For example, with graphics, you have the choice of nearly as many formats as for audio. Some compress the data, some don't, some change the colors, others don't. For myself, I use mostly 3...but others, who might be more into animation, or synching sounds, might prefer 3 different ones. That doesn't mean one is "better", but only more appropriate. Personally I use pcm .wav because it translates very quickly to CDR. It is also uncompressed, and maybe somebody else doesn't like it because they need a compressed format. Who knows? It would be interesting to see some logic applied to the assertion. In the meantime, I don't expect to change based on the discussion so far.

[MadAudio]

It was my understanding that .aiff and .wav are virtually the same quality-wise.

[trigger]

Audio Interchange File Format (or AIFF) is a file format for storing digital audio (waveform) data. It supports a variety of bit resolutions, sample rates, and channels of audio.

This format is very popular upon Apple platforms, and is widely used in professional programs that process digital audio waveforms.

The PCM wav format is the popular Windows platform version and is widely used in professional programs that process digital audio waveforms.

AIFF files are similar to Windows WAVE files in both size and quality. Both AIFF and WAVE files can hold CD quality audio and therefore can be burned onto an audio CD.

Both formats are uncompressed.

Now educate your cousin, he's wrong.

[Change of POETS]

Regardless of which format you use, you'll still end up with a 16 bit recording.

[themaddog]

Originally Posted by Change of POETS

Regardless of which format you use, you'll still end up with a 16 bit recording.

Even if I record at 24-bit, and save it at 32-bit?

-MD

[Wireneck]

Even if I record at 24-bit, and save it at 32-bit?

Yep audio cd's are 16 bit...................

[stoctony]

So does that mean there is no reason to record any greater than 16 bit if your putting it on a CD

[MadAudio]

NO! While 16-bit is the final CD format, the better reolution your recording is, the better it will sound.

[Tukkis]

So does that mean there is no reason to record any greater than 16 bit if your putting it on a CD

Basically without going into too much detail, record and process everything at 24 or 32 bit and convert at the very last stage to 16bit just before CD.

Tukkis