formats

Post Reply New Topic

I'm not quite the computer expert yet, so, I don't know much about formats. Could someone maybe explain to me what is up with the differences between mp3, AAC, OGG, all that crap?

Just curious, any little bit will help.

MP3 - Mpeg Level 3 audio encoding. This is the most common format, just about everyone supports it
OGG - Ogg/Vorbis - Open Source Codec.
AAC/M4V - "Apple Audio Codec", which is really Mpeg Level 4. Preferred for iPod.
WMA - Windows Media Audio - Proprietary to Microsoft

OGG, as I understand it, has the highest quality for the lowest filesize, with the lowest number of compatible applications.
MP3 is actually the opposite-- high quality requires largest filesizes, but EVERY application supports it.
AAC/M4V and WMA are somewhere in the middle. AAC files generally are about 10-15% smaller for the same level of quality. M4V and WMA may have copy protection, requiring a password or license to access.

Thanks.

I just realise I typoed something.

M4V is MPEG 4 Video. M4A is MPEG 4 audio. Both may have DRM built into them.

Then there's M4B, which is exactly the same as M4A or AAC, but the different filename tells your player it's a book, so it will remember its position for you.