MP3 and WAV: The exact difference
MP3 and WAV are both Audio formats. They differed in the size of the file and in the accuracy of the time - and frequency representation. But also the number of audio channels, and the compatibility with playback devices is a topic:
- In the case of a WAV-file, and often the "Wave file" is pronounced, it is mostly an uncompressed PCM file.
- MP3 is a Codec. The Audio content is the result of a compression is based on psycho-acoustic knowledge, and at the end of the lossless compression, in addition, will be reduced.
- In MP3 files, the audio material is divided into a plurality of frequency bands. A frequency band of another is partially or completely masked, i.e. "drowned out", it is stored with lower precision. So accuracy is lost, but the ear will notice the difference hardly.
- Since Audio analysis is a prerequisite for the creation of an MP3 file, it can never be the original Format of the audio material. Usually the Audio is stored as a lossless WAV or AIFF file before it is converted to MP3.
- In a practice tip we will explain, in Detail, what it for MP3 is.
- A Stereo MP3 file is achieved at 128 kbit/s, the quality of a normal Audio CD. A WAV file with PCM content needed to about 1.411,2 kbit/s.
- WAV can Audio save content with a Sample Rate of 1 Hz to 4.3 GHz and theoretically up to 65535 channels of Audio included.
- MP3s with Sample rates of 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz and 48kHz. MP3 was originally included one to two channels. For MP3-Surround 6 channels are possible.
- Strictly speaking, it is in WAV but a Container file, which in addition to a PCM-series of the audio channel compressed audio data in ADPCM or MP3 Format may contain.
- Some MP3 players, especially from the lower price segment to play only MP3 and neither WAV nor WMA. This is still true for some of the car Radios and portable MP3 Player. Many DVD players will cope but with uncompressed WAV files with up to 6 channels.
- In the following pictures you can see how a WAV file is generated after a compression to MP3 noise from noisy signals and the wave shape changes a little.
This WAV is
WAV is always preferable if high accuracy is required or you want to edit the Audio content:
- If you produce music, is WAV your first choice. You want to make with Filters a particular frequency range is significantly louder, you could have at MP3 pitch. Maybe this is exactly the frequency area is not coded as inaccurate, that he is a part of the natural dynamics of the original signal. Then noise.
- WAV files are much more flexible than MP3s. If you want to save more than 6 channels – for example, for a 7.1-music-Performance – take WAV.
- For analytical measurements, the MP3 is a No-Go: you can never be sure that a noise is not caused only by the Encoder.
- A large number of Audio files to lossless to store or to transmit, is the FLAC Format particularly well. It compresses the. WAV file without loss by 50 to 60 percent. We will show you how you Audio CDs as FLAC files to save.
- Of course, you also FLAC can convert files directly into a lossy MP3. We will show you a practical tip on how to, and explain to them the differences.
- Please note: If you are one of the few people who listen to even at high bitrates, the quality difference between WAV and MP3, avoid MP3 and use WAV or FLAC. Most people can between the formats but no difference hear.
The Original time signal from a WAV
This MP3 is suitable
MP3s, you probably know of music Downloads and their own music collection. This is the strength of the MP3 Format:
- MP3s can be achieved without audible loss of quality with a compression rate of almost 90 % compared to a WAV file. For large music collections on small storage media are perfectly suitable.
- Particularly, when you in accordance with our instructions MP3s properly encodesound files very well.
- MP3 is nowadays so widespread that most of the hardware and Software that supports the Format. This is true for car radios, Smartphones, DVD and Blu-ray Player as well as games and Multimedia consoles and of course PC Software.
- If compatibility is not an issue for you, because you, for example, only audio files from the PC and with your iPhone, you should, however, prefer the AAC Codec to use. The sounds at a lower file size as well as MP3.
- If you have an Apple device, you can also use the lossless ALAC Format to use – similar to FLAC – Audio lossless to save.
- In the Screenshot, you can see that the MP3 has to be created immediately before the start of the bass drums a little noise. The fine structure of the waveform has changed. What is shown here, but is barely audible.
Decoded MP3 file with artifacts
In addition, practice the tips we provide AAC and MP3 to and explain you the differences in sound between Vinyl and CD on.
