Audio Format
Each format balances quality, file size, and compatibility differently.
MP3: Highly compatible, small file size. Works everywhere. Good default.
WAV: Uncompressed audio with maximum quality. Large files. Common in professional workflows.
AAC (M4A): Efficient compression with good sound quality. Works especially well on Apple devices.
ALAC (M4A Lossless): Apple’s lossless format. Preserves full audio detail without compression loss.
FLAC: Open-source lossless format. Ideal for archiving and high-quality storage.
OGG (Vorbis): Compressed and flexible. Often used for web playback.
Opus: Modern format designed for efficiency. Performs well for both music and voice.
AIFF: Uncompressed audio format. Apple’s equivalent to WAV, used in professional audio environments.
Sample Rate (Hz)
Sample rate determines how much audio detail is captured.
8,000 Hz: Very low quality. Suitable only for basic speech.
16,000 Hz: Low quality. Clearer speech, often used for voice applications.
22,050 Hz: Low quality. Mostly used for voice or small files.
24,000 Hz: Mid-range quality. Works for podcasts or lightweight audio.
44,100 Hz: Standard CD quality. Suitable for most music use cases.
48,000 Hz: Professional standard. Best choice for video and general production.
96,000 Hz: High-resolution audio. Used for detailed editing and studio work.
Bitrate (kbps)
Bitrate controls how much audio data is stored per second.
32 kbps: Very small file size. Very low quality.
64 kbps: Small files. Limited audio detail.
128 kbps: Standard quality. Acceptable for casual listening.
192 kbps: Improved quality with reasonable file size.
256 kbps: High-quality audio. A good balance for most platforms.
320 kbps: Near lossless MP3 quality. Best choice for music playback.
Recommended Settings
For most use cases, MP3 at 320 kbps and 48,000 Hz provides high-quality audio with broad compatibility and a manageable file size.
If you need lossless audio, choose WAV, FLAC, or ALAC depending on your workflow.