Audio Formats and Quality

A variety of factors will affect the quality of a digital audio files; most notably the sampling bit rate (how often the audio signal is sampled, expressed here as Kbps) and how, or if, it is compressed. Higher sample rates result in better sound quality but larger files. Compressed files are smaller but have slightly less quality than uncompressed files. Different compression formats can also affect the quality.

The following formats are available in RealPlayer for saving CD tracks (ripping) or recording from analog sources:

Format

File Extension

Available Quality Levels

Comments

AAC Audio
Secure AAC

.m4a
.m4p

96 - 320 Kbps Stereo

AAC encoded MPEG-4 audio. Compatible with iTunes and the iPod.

RealAudio

.ra

32 - 320 Kbps Stereo

Highest quality, native format from RealNetworks (currently RealAudio 10).

RealAudio Lossless

.ra

705 Kbps

A compressed, lossless format (similar to WAV) that uses only half the space on your hard disk that a typical WAV file needs. Good for archive copy of CD track.

MP3

.mp3

56 -320 Kbps Stereo, 32 Kbps Mono

High Bit-rate (128-320 Kbps) format is a Premium Feature.

WAV Audio

.wav

1411 Kbps Stereo

Raw, uncompressed files.