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This guide covers the basics of the four most common and widely supported digital audio formats (WAV, MP3, WMA, DSS) and is designed to help you make an informed decision as to the best format for your particular circumstances.
WAV (.wav). Waveform Audio Format, developed jointly by Microsoft and IBM, uses no compression, making all the data available, and, although the sound quality is superior, the resulting huge file sizes can make for problematic transfer.
The remaining three formats all use lossy compression, eliminating redundant or unnecessary data, and the resulting smaller file sizes make for easier and faster transfer.
MP3 (.mp3). MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group) Audio Layer-3, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute, allows for smaller file sizes with similar sound quality to WAV.
WMA (.wma). Windows Media Audio, developed by Microsoft, offers similar sound quality to MP3 but allows for even smaller file sizes.
DSS (.dss). Digital Speech Standard, jointly developed by Olympus, Grundig and Phillips, is designed specifically for speech and, again, is similar to MP3.
I would suggest you consider DSS for dictation only and MP3 or WMA for interviews and group discussions. My Resources page lists some suppliers to allow you to compare the various manufacturers' system features and prices.
If you do make your recordings in WAV format, consider converting them to MP3 to reduce the file size and make for faster transfer. My Resources page lists a free WAV to MP3 converter. |
