FLAC vs WAV vs MP3 | How to Choose the Right Audio File Format

In this video, I discuss the most common audio file types and why you should choose one over the other.

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#flac #digitalaudio #mp3

[DjFHAFHde]

*Correction a CD is 1411 Kilobits per second not Kilobytes.

[ropeburn]

You don't just "theoretically not lose data" with FLAC, you practically don't. That's the whole point and should be made more clear. It's like ZIP or RAR compression for audio: after unpacking, the result is bit-identical to the original. There is precisely zero loss of data, both in theory and practice.

[malthus]

Here's my plan - Astell&Kern Kann Max - 1Tb microSD card.
1 pair of IEMs with bass emphasis, another pair with more neutral balance.
Download/buy highest format audio possible (nothing less than CD quality)
Convert to FLAC 96Khz - 24 bits
Experts say you can't hear anything better than CD quality 44.1Khz - 16 bit but other experts say the extra headroom allows for the to be handled better... OK fine!
This will give me way over a thousand albums on 1 micro SD card, more music than I could ever dream of when walking around or maybe driving.

Boom, I'm happy with my plan. 😃

[kylewilson]

Being a car audio basshead, this is great information in my attempt to improve the quality of my sound since we have to use some type of digital media due to extreme vibration. Thanks for explaining everything!

[presterjohn]

People are a bit sneaky with these comparisons. 320kbps is really, really good and on most systems, unless they are high-end and your ears are less than 40 years old you are not likely to notice the difference between it and FLAC. If you use Bluetooth you are wasting your time with FLAC whatever the price. Many reviewers hide behind this fact though and will make out that people are buying 128kbps files which is really not the case. These days unless you are hanging on to your old LG V40 for its headphone jack it is utterly pointless to have FLAC for mobile listening. Half my stuff is FLAC but at 56 I genuinely can't tell the difference and I am not sure I ever could.

[markhaneklaus]

Truth . Flac sounds way better than WMA (MP3) and it is worth to take the extra time and storage space to convert into it. It is just to get a levely sound out of the music to enjoy listening to it.

[Mining_code]

I generally listen to mp3 320kbps and recently started listening with FLAC and can't really tell the difference even though I know FLAC is better or might u tell if you listen on really expensive headphones or sound system

[stereo]

I did not know that about FLAC - I'm enjoying my T- shirt (STEREO) 😄

[Ronnie_McDoggle]

limewire, now that's something I haven't heard in like 15+ years haha

[watchmy]

You look like my old sound engineering tutor Paul Ayriss from the band HARD SKIN.
Have a good day mate ❤

[shawnorjiakor]

I use FLAC and OPUS files as my main audio file formats.

[nmad]

Thanks! I recently got into data hoarding and I exclusively download my music in .wav of those I purchase on Bandcamp Fridays haha

[birgerolovsson]

For me it stood between Flac and Wav when I ripped my 2400 CDs but in the end Wav won.

[nelsono]

I took the time to learn about the different formats since I have ripped a lot of CDs. My top choice is FLAC but I sometimes rip to 320kbps CBR or VBR between 192kbps and 320kbps. The CDs I really love get the FLAC treatment. But you know, 320kbps rips can sound surprisingly good. Ripper of choice is Exact Audio Copy and/or dbPoweramp. Also, think of it this way- a WAV file is like a RAW photo in photography. All the data is there. An MP3 is like a JPEG where it is compressed and some of the info has been stripped. As a photographer myself I always shoot in RAW. Nice video, Mike. Thanks!

[Anand.Asrani]

Hey Mike, as long as the videos are truly informative & enriching .. people will continue watching it !

[jonah]

Before becoming an expat, I ripped all my CDs to FLAC. Have those same albums on my phone using Vorbis at Q6. I'll switch to OPUS once Android support gets more solidified.

[utubeandydent]

WAV is great for editing audio with out compression that’s the main use for WAV. But then I’m not a every day listener. As a listener to many to choose from. Depends on content. Speech audio books v High quality music.

[kedinamite]

Lots of phones have an in-built app called "Amplifier".

It boosts weak frequencies of any given audio.

But. When I give it a ".flac" with above 48khz of frequency sampling, it just doesn't boost anything.

Stuck on 48khz on ".flac" brothers.

But I'm cool with it, don't complain at all 'cuz it already sounds magnificent.

Also, nothing below ".FLAC" and ".WAV".

Anyway, got any explaination on why it happens?

Would love to boost 192khz of any given song, like "Easy Lover" by Phil Collins.

[padmagullipalli]

THANK FOR SHARING VALUABLE INFORMATION, THANK U VERY MUCH SIR

[Blackhatsax]

Thank you. I like your channel, always well presented and concise information. Keep up the great work.