What audio format should you use?
A short answer for each common situation, and the two questions that decide it in every other case.
In short
Ask whether anyone will edit it, and whether size matters. Editing means lossless — WAV while working, FLAC to store. Listening means lossy — MP3 for maximum compatibility, AAC or OGG for slightly better quality at the same size.
Two questions settle almost every case: will anyone edit this file, and does its size matter?
| Situation | Format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Recording or editing | WAV | No accumulating loss; instant to decode |
| Archiving a master | FLAC | Identical audio, roughly half the size of WAV |
| Podcast or voice note to share | MP3, mono, 96 kbps | Small, universally playable |
| Music for listening | MP3 192–256 kbps, or AAC | Close to transparent at a sensible size |
| Audio for a video project | WAV | The mix happens later; stay lossless |
| Sending to someone who will edit | WAV or FLAC | You are handing over a working file |
The five formats in one line each
- WAV — uncompressed, exact, large. The working format.
- FLAC — lossless and compressed. Same audio as WAV in about half the space.
- MP3 — lossy, plays absolutely everywhere. The safe delivery format.
- AAC (.m4a) — lossy, slightly better than MP3 at the same bitrate. Standard on Apple devices and in video.
- OGG (Vorbis) — lossy, comparable to AAC, common in games and open-source software. Less universally accepted.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Choosing FLAC for something that will only ever be listened to. It is three to five times an MP3 for no audible gain.
- Choosing MP3 for a file someone will edit.
- Choosing OGG for a file going to a stranger, without checking they can play it.
Tools used in this guide
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