2024 Approved How to Choose Best Audio Formats

2024 Approved How to Choose Best Audio Formats

Kate Lv12

How to Choose Best Audio Formats

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

Download Filmora9 Win Version Download Filmora9 Mac Version


Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

  • Uncompressed Audio Format
  • Lossless Compressed Audio Format
  • Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.


Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

  • Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

  • Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

  • Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

  • MPEG-2
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
    • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
  • MPEG-4
    • **Video Codec:**264
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

 Filmora9 Export Settings

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format Corresponding Audio Encoder Audio Type
MP4 Lossy Compressed
WMV WMA8, WMA9 Uncompressed
AVI MP3, PCM Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV Lossy Compressed
F4V Lossy Compressed
MKV MP3 Lossy Compressed
TS MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
3GP Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2 MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
WEBM Vorbis Lossy Compressed

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

Download Filmora9 Win Version Download Filmora9 Mac Version


Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

  • Uncompressed Audio Format
  • Lossless Compressed Audio Format
  • Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.


Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

  • Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

  • Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

  • Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

  • MPEG-2
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
    • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
  • MPEG-4
    • **Video Codec:**264
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

 Filmora9 Export Settings

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format Corresponding Audio Encoder Audio Type
MP4 Lossy Compressed
WMV WMA8, WMA9 Uncompressed
AVI MP3, PCM Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV Lossy Compressed
F4V Lossy Compressed
MKV MP3 Lossy Compressed
TS MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
3GP Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2 MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
WEBM Vorbis Lossy Compressed

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

Download Filmora9 Win Version Download Filmora9 Mac Version


Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

  • Uncompressed Audio Format
  • Lossless Compressed Audio Format
  • Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.


Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

  • Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

  • Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

  • Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

  • MPEG-2
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
    • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
  • MPEG-4
    • **Video Codec:**264
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

 Filmora9 Export Settings

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format Corresponding Audio Encoder Audio Type
MP4 Lossy Compressed
WMV WMA8, WMA9 Uncompressed
AVI MP3, PCM Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV Lossy Compressed
F4V Lossy Compressed
MKV MP3 Lossy Compressed
TS MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
3GP Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2 MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
WEBM Vorbis Lossy Compressed

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

The quality of sound that you hear depends on various factors, and an appropriate audio format is one of them. While each type of acoustic file has its own significance, choosing the best audio format as per the target player, expected audience, and/or supporting videos or images (if any) is something that needs much consideration to offer a flawless listening experience.

With that said, here you will learn about some of the most common sound file types, which among them could be the best audio format according to your requirements, and a couple of important points that you must keep in might while picking an extension for your media preparations.

Using Filmora to Record & Edit & Save Audio Easily

Wondershare Filmora is a simple yet robust video editing software that allows you to save a video to mp3 easily. Besides, if you want to remove background noise from audio, or change the audio volume or remove unwanted audio parts from the video, you should definitely try Filmora.

Download Filmora9 Win Version Download Filmora9 Mac Version


Part 1: 10 Most Common Audio Formats

Before listing the most common audio file formats, it is important to understand the categories of the sound files. Every audio format that exists belongs to one (or more) category depending on the way it is being created and the characteristics it has.

In a nutshell, there are three major categories, including:

  • Uncompressed Audio Format
  • Lossless Compressed Audio Format
  • Lossy Compressed Audio Format

Below is a brief introduction of each of the classes listed above along with the audio file types that belong to them:

1. Uncompressed Audio Format

Uncompressed audio is the original sound that has been recorded directly from the source in the analog form, and then converted to a digital signal without any modifications or compressions. Because an uncompressed sound is prepared with no retouching or manipulations, it gives an as-is listening experience. Since no compression is done on such a file either, it occupies a remarkably huge amount of space on your storage media.

Some sound files that fall under this category include:

1) Pulse-Code Modulation (PCM)

A PCM file is the digital version of an analog waveform that is created by recording the audio samples, technically known as pulses. The PCM format is mostly used when creating optical media discs, typically the CDs and DVDs.

2) Waveform Audio File Format (WAV)

Generally used on the Windows platform, this audio format is not a file itself but a container that may contain both compressed or uncompressed files. However, in most cases, it is the latter that a WAV file has, and PCM format is one of them.

You may also interest: YouTube to WAV >>

3) Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF)

AIFF is almost identical to WAV format in its characteristics with the only difference that, unlike the latter, it was developed by Apple somewhere in 1988, and works as a container for both compressed and uncompressed audio files. While the compressed version of the format is called AIFF-C, the term Apple Loop is used when the scenario is otherwise. As it is with WAV, even AIFF files mostly contain uncompressed audio, that usually is PCM.

You may also like: Best AIFF to MP3 Converters >>

4) Data Stream Digital (DSD)

Used by Sony and Phillips, DSD is also not a format itself but a container that can store PCM files to provide decent sound quality. However, due to distortions in the composed audio, DSD files are not much in trend.

2. Lossless Compressed Audio Format

Lossless Compressed audio format is a type of file that is compressed using some advanced methods without compromising with the quality of the sound. This means that when played, you experience the same acoustic excellence as that of the source, i.e. uncompressed audio. However, even though the lossless compressed files are comparatively small in size, they still occupy decent amount of space on the hard drive or any other storage media in use.

Some formats that fall under the lossless compressed category include:

1) Free Lossless Audio Code (FLAC)

At around half the size of the source sound file, FLAC offers the original audio quality without removing any acoustic information during compression. Being an opensource and royalty-free audio format, FLAC is even easier to get, and in most cases is used as an alternative to MP3.

Check some of the best FLAC editor programs >>

2) Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC)

Introduced by Apple Inc. and initially released as a proprietary product, ALAC was made royalty-free and opensource in 2011. Even though ALAC files are larger in size when compared to FLAC, the former format is used in iTunes and iOS as the latter isn’t supported by these platforms.

3. Lossy Compressed Audio Format

These are the highly compressed files that occupy significantly less amount of space on your storage media. However, during the compression process, some acoustic information is lost in order to reduce the file size. Nevertheless, if compressed correctly, the deterioration in the quality is almost negligible, and cannot be experienced unless the listener is quite experienced and the source recording is played next to the compressed audio simultaneously.

Some audio formats that fall under the lossy compressed category include:

1) MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3)

This is one of the most common file types and the best audio format for almost all media types that have sound. An MP3 file is free from the noises of the least significant in the composed audio. In addition, all the acoustic information with the frequency that normal human beings fail to catch (below 20Hz and above 20000Hz) is safely erased during compilation and compression. Furthermore, what makes MP3 the best audio file format is its ability to accommodate with almost all the devices of nearly any platform such as Android, Windows, iOS, Mac, etc.

Check this MP3 editor and convert video to MP3 easily.

2) OGG

This one, again, is not in fact an audio format but is a container for audio that generally stores Vorbis files. Although OGG files are way advanced in terms of sound quality and even offer higher compression ratio when compared with MP3, they are not much in use as many platforms and devices don’t support the format till date.

3) AU

AU is a format by Sun, DEC, and NeXT. It is yet another container that can hold both lossless and lossy files. AU files are mostly used in UNIX.

What’s the difference between common audio file formats like MP3, WAV, and FLAC? Watch the video below to learn more.


Part 2: How to Choose Best Audio Format?

If you are a media creator, and are into the business of preparing audio and video content for your clients or directly for the audience, it is imperative to understand what could be the best audio file format to compose the audiovisual files. Here are a few tips that you must keep in mind in this context before proceeding:

  • Uncompressed Audio

If the media type you are about to create is expected to be used for further editing before exporting to a different format, using an uncompressed audio format would be best as it offers a smooth and flawless post-production experience without giving much overhead to the processor.

  • Lossless Compressed Audio

If your audiences own highly sophisticated audio players with Hi-Fi speaker systems, and they are also good at recognizing and understanding the differences between poor and optimal audio quality, using lossless compressed audio format would be a good choice as it gives decent sound quality in smaller file size.

  • Compressed Audio

If you are preparing a media for home users and casual listeners, you can safely use an audio format that has been prepared using a higher compression ratio. In such a scenario, MP3 is the best audio format that not only offers the decent sound quality, it also occupies less amount of space on your storage media, thus enabling you to save more files at a given time.

Part 3: Which Audio File Formats Does YouTube Support?

At the time of this writing, YouTube supports two types of formats namely MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Although both of these are video containers, they also hold audio files. Details about both these types are as follows:

  • MPEG-2
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above
    • Audio Codec: Dolby AC-3 or MPEG Layer II
  • MPEG-4
    • **Video Codec:**264
    • Audio Bitrate: 128kbps or above

Since many people nowadays produce videos in MP4 due to its wide range of supported devices and players and the fact that the container is used by majority of users worldwide, MPEG-4 with audio format could be mostly seen on YouTube.

Part 4: Audio Format in Filmora

Being one of the most versatile post-production tools preferred by many professional editors worldwide, Filmora comes with a variety of audio formats from all the three categories discussed above. Furthermore, Filmora also displays relevant information about each of the file types it offers.

 Filmora9 Export Settings

The following table shows a list of formats and the details that Filmora supports:

Video Format Corresponding Audio Encoder Audio Type
MP4 Lossy Compressed
WMV WMA8, WMA9 Uncompressed
AVI MP3, PCM Lossy Compressed, Uncompressed
MOV Lossy Compressed
F4V Lossy Compressed
MKV MP3 Lossy Compressed
TS MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
3GP Lossy Compressed
MPEG-2 MPEG-2 Audio Lossy Compressed
WEBM Vorbis Lossy Compressed

author avatar

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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Harnessing Audacity for Zero-Cost Audio Capture From PC Speakers

Natural audio recording software, such as Voice Memos for Macs or Sound Recorder for Windows PCs, is included with every machine. These applications enable users to record audio using either the desktop’s internal or an external microphone, and they generally have basic audio editing features.

However, when you’re looking for a higher-quality recording program, Audacity is the way to go. Audacity is a free audio editor with a lot of cutting-edge features. More significantly, recording using Audacity is as simple as clicking a button.

In this Audacity Record Computer Audio guide, we will show you all the methods of recording internal audio on your computer and Mac.

In this article

01 Record Audio On Audacity with a Microphone

02 Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Win

03 Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Mac

04 Set up Audacity to Record as Schedule

Part 1: How to Record Audio On Audacity with a Microphone On Windows and Mac Computers?

For both Windows and Mac, the procedures for recording audio from a microphone are the same if you’re utilizing your desktop’s built-in mic or an external microphone. Here’s your step-by-step guide to audacity record using a microphone:

Step 1: Launch Audacity and get to know the Device Toolbar, situated underneath the playback controls. You may modify the Audio Host and the Recording and Playback Devices—all of which are required for Audacity recording.

audacity interface

Step 2: To begin, select Tracks under the Add New tab, Stereo Track, or Mono Track to create a new track.

audacity add new track

Step 3: Select Recording Device from the options list. Select your microphone from the dropdown menu and hit the Record option.

audacity record audio

Step 4: A soundwave emerges along the track as you talk into the speaker. The Recording Level may be found at the top of the display. To pause or stop the recording, click Stop or Pause until you select Record anew.

audacity recorded audio waveform

Step 5: With the mouse over any recording area, click the Delete button to cut out any portion of it quickly. Click Ctrl + A, then Delete to erase whatever you’ve just saved. Alternatively, press the X button to delete the track completely.

remove unwanted clip in audacity

Part 2: How to Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity On Windows?

Unlike Mac, Windows makes it simple to capture audio from a movie or media file running on your desktop. There seem to be two primary methods for accomplishing audacity record desktop audio in this way:

1. Use MME as the Audio Host

Step 1: To use MME as your audio host, go to Tracks in the Add New tab in Stereo Track and create a new file.

record playing sound with audacity

Step 2: Change the Audio Host (to the left of Recording Device) to MME—this is the standard setting, so you might not have to change anything.

change audio host in audacity

Step 3: Choose desired option from the Recording Device dropdown menu. Based on your configuration, this might be referred to as Wave Out or Loopback. When you’re uncertain, try it out.

choose audio recording device in audacity

Step 4: To record your audio source, click Record, then play it back.

2. Use WASAPI as the Audio Host

WASAPI provides higher-resolution digital recordings. If capturing audio from an external monitor, it’s also a good idea to utilize it.

Step 1: Convert the Audio Host from MME to Windows WASAPI after creating a fresh Stereo Track.

  audacity change host

Step 2: Switch the Recording Device to Speaker (loopback). To display the entire label, you might have to slide the toolbar’s knobs outwards. Begin recording by pressing the red dot and then listen to the audio source. Audacity will capture the audio even if your PC is muted.

Part 3: How to Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Mac?

Unfortunately, there’s no ready-made method to record computer audio using Audacity on a Mac. Some alternative ways to use Audacity to record from Mac including using a loopback cable, or download and using a third-party software. You can try some Audacity alternatives to record the computer audio on Mac.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

If you have installed Filmora already, you can use it to record the sound playing on your Mac with some tricks.

Step 1: Luanch Filmora, and then click the Record button and select Record PC Screen.

 filmora mac record pc  screen

Step 2: Set up the recording settings based on the need. Since we’re going to record the playing audio from the Mac computer, select Microphone and System Audio On and click the Red button to start.

 filmora mac record pc  screen

Step 3: Now you have a screen captured video with sound included. Since we need th audio only, we can attache the audio from the video first and then do some editing such as adding fade in and fade out effect, or remove unwanted audio clip.

 filmora   detach audio

Part 4: How to Set up Audacity to Record as Schedule?

A streaming video recorder or cassette can be used to arrange a recording. All of those are identical to Time Recordings in that they are used to schedule recording. The Timer record configuration dialog box may be used to set the beginning and finish of the recording. This is how you do it:

Step 1: By definition, the recording’s Start Date and Time are set to the present time. It will begin recording on the present day and hour by default when you don’t alter it. There is no default setting for the End Date and Time. You must either choose a date and time to determine the end time.

audacity schedule recording

Step 2: There is a Checkbox to Save the work immediately. By Ticking the option, you may choose the path or Folder where the file will be saved when the recording is finished.

audacity timer record

Conclusion

Well, there you have it – your complete Audacity Record Computer Audio guide. One thing is for certain that Audacity allows some great ways of recording audio from internal and external components of your Windows and Mac. However, if your Audacity is having issues, we would highly recommend opting for another software, such as Wondershare Filmora.

Wondershare Filmora is the finest thing that has come out in recent years for recording audio from a desktop. It is intended not just for pros but also for any enthusiast videographer who desires to create a high-quality movie for their family and friends. Download it today to make your movie a delightful journey with high-quality audio recording.

02 Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Win

03 Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Mac

04 Set up Audacity to Record as Schedule

Part 1: How to Record Audio On Audacity with a Microphone On Windows and Mac Computers?

For both Windows and Mac, the procedures for recording audio from a microphone are the same if you’re utilizing your desktop’s built-in mic or an external microphone. Here’s your step-by-step guide to audacity record using a microphone:

Step 1: Launch Audacity and get to know the Device Toolbar, situated underneath the playback controls. You may modify the Audio Host and the Recording and Playback Devices—all of which are required for Audacity recording.

audacity interface

Step 2: To begin, select Tracks under the Add New tab, Stereo Track, or Mono Track to create a new track.

audacity add new track

Step 3: Select Recording Device from the options list. Select your microphone from the dropdown menu and hit the Record option.

audacity record audio

Step 4: A soundwave emerges along the track as you talk into the speaker. The Recording Level may be found at the top of the display. To pause or stop the recording, click Stop or Pause until you select Record anew.

audacity recorded audio waveform

Step 5: With the mouse over any recording area, click the Delete button to cut out any portion of it quickly. Click Ctrl + A, then Delete to erase whatever you’ve just saved. Alternatively, press the X button to delete the track completely.

remove unwanted clip in audacity

Part 2: How to Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity On Windows?

Unlike Mac, Windows makes it simple to capture audio from a movie or media file running on your desktop. There seem to be two primary methods for accomplishing audacity record desktop audio in this way:

1. Use MME as the Audio Host

Step 1: To use MME as your audio host, go to Tracks in the Add New tab in Stereo Track and create a new file.

record playing sound with audacity

Step 2: Change the Audio Host (to the left of Recording Device) to MME—this is the standard setting, so you might not have to change anything.

change audio host in audacity

Step 3: Choose desired option from the Recording Device dropdown menu. Based on your configuration, this might be referred to as Wave Out or Loopback. When you’re uncertain, try it out.

choose audio recording device in audacity

Step 4: To record your audio source, click Record, then play it back.

2. Use WASAPI as the Audio Host

WASAPI provides higher-resolution digital recordings. If capturing audio from an external monitor, it’s also a good idea to utilize it.

Step 1: Convert the Audio Host from MME to Windows WASAPI after creating a fresh Stereo Track.

  audacity change host

Step 2: Switch the Recording Device to Speaker (loopback). To display the entire label, you might have to slide the toolbar’s knobs outwards. Begin recording by pressing the red dot and then listen to the audio source. Audacity will capture the audio even if your PC is muted.

Part 3: How to Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Mac?

Unfortunately, there’s no ready-made method to record computer audio using Audacity on a Mac. Some alternative ways to use Audacity to record from Mac including using a loopback cable, or download and using a third-party software. You can try some Audacity alternatives to record the computer audio on Mac.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

If you have installed Filmora already, you can use it to record the sound playing on your Mac with some tricks.

Step 1: Luanch Filmora, and then click the Record button and select Record PC Screen.

 filmora mac record pc  screen

Step 2: Set up the recording settings based on the need. Since we’re going to record the playing audio from the Mac computer, select Microphone and System Audio On and click the Red button to start.

 filmora mac record pc  screen

Step 3: Now you have a screen captured video with sound included. Since we need th audio only, we can attache the audio from the video first and then do some editing such as adding fade in and fade out effect, or remove unwanted audio clip.

 filmora   detach audio

Part 4: How to Set up Audacity to Record as Schedule?

A streaming video recorder or cassette can be used to arrange a recording. All of those are identical to Time Recordings in that they are used to schedule recording. The Timer record configuration dialog box may be used to set the beginning and finish of the recording. This is how you do it:

Step 1: By definition, the recording’s Start Date and Time are set to the present time. It will begin recording on the present day and hour by default when you don’t alter it. There is no default setting for the End Date and Time. You must either choose a date and time to determine the end time.

audacity schedule recording

Step 2: There is a Checkbox to Save the work immediately. By Ticking the option, you may choose the path or Folder where the file will be saved when the recording is finished.

audacity timer record

Conclusion

Well, there you have it – your complete Audacity Record Computer Audio guide. One thing is for certain that Audacity allows some great ways of recording audio from internal and external components of your Windows and Mac. However, if your Audacity is having issues, we would highly recommend opting for another software, such as Wondershare Filmora.

Wondershare Filmora is the finest thing that has come out in recent years for recording audio from a desktop. It is intended not just for pros but also for any enthusiast videographer who desires to create a high-quality movie for their family and friends. Download it today to make your movie a delightful journey with high-quality audio recording.

02 Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Win

03 Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Mac

04 Set up Audacity to Record as Schedule

Part 1: How to Record Audio On Audacity with a Microphone On Windows and Mac Computers?

For both Windows and Mac, the procedures for recording audio from a microphone are the same if you’re utilizing your desktop’s built-in mic or an external microphone. Here’s your step-by-step guide to audacity record using a microphone:

Step 1: Launch Audacity and get to know the Device Toolbar, situated underneath the playback controls. You may modify the Audio Host and the Recording and Playback Devices—all of which are required for Audacity recording.

audacity interface

Step 2: To begin, select Tracks under the Add New tab, Stereo Track, or Mono Track to create a new track.

audacity add new track

Step 3: Select Recording Device from the options list. Select your microphone from the dropdown menu and hit the Record option.

audacity record audio

Step 4: A soundwave emerges along the track as you talk into the speaker. The Recording Level may be found at the top of the display. To pause or stop the recording, click Stop or Pause until you select Record anew.

audacity recorded audio waveform

Step 5: With the mouse over any recording area, click the Delete button to cut out any portion of it quickly. Click Ctrl + A, then Delete to erase whatever you’ve just saved. Alternatively, press the X button to delete the track completely.

remove unwanted clip in audacity

Part 2: How to Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity On Windows?

Unlike Mac, Windows makes it simple to capture audio from a movie or media file running on your desktop. There seem to be two primary methods for accomplishing audacity record desktop audio in this way:

1. Use MME as the Audio Host

Step 1: To use MME as your audio host, go to Tracks in the Add New tab in Stereo Track and create a new file.

record playing sound with audacity

Step 2: Change the Audio Host (to the left of Recording Device) to MME—this is the standard setting, so you might not have to change anything.

change audio host in audacity

Step 3: Choose desired option from the Recording Device dropdown menu. Based on your configuration, this might be referred to as Wave Out or Loopback. When you’re uncertain, try it out.

choose audio recording device in audacity

Step 4: To record your audio source, click Record, then play it back.

2. Use WASAPI as the Audio Host

WASAPI provides higher-resolution digital recordings. If capturing audio from an external monitor, it’s also a good idea to utilize it.

Step 1: Convert the Audio Host from MME to Windows WASAPI after creating a fresh Stereo Track.

  audacity change host

Step 2: Switch the Recording Device to Speaker (loopback). To display the entire label, you might have to slide the toolbar’s knobs outwards. Begin recording by pressing the red dot and then listen to the audio source. Audacity will capture the audio even if your PC is muted.

Part 3: How to Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Mac?

Unfortunately, there’s no ready-made method to record computer audio using Audacity on a Mac. Some alternative ways to use Audacity to record from Mac including using a loopback cable, or download and using a third-party software. You can try some Audacity alternatives to record the computer audio on Mac.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

If you have installed Filmora already, you can use it to record the sound playing on your Mac with some tricks.

Step 1: Luanch Filmora, and then click the Record button and select Record PC Screen.

 filmora mac record pc  screen

Step 2: Set up the recording settings based on the need. Since we’re going to record the playing audio from the Mac computer, select Microphone and System Audio On and click the Red button to start.

 filmora mac record pc  screen

Step 3: Now you have a screen captured video with sound included. Since we need th audio only, we can attache the audio from the video first and then do some editing such as adding fade in and fade out effect, or remove unwanted audio clip.

 filmora   detach audio

Part 4: How to Set up Audacity to Record as Schedule?

A streaming video recorder or cassette can be used to arrange a recording. All of those are identical to Time Recordings in that they are used to schedule recording. The Timer record configuration dialog box may be used to set the beginning and finish of the recording. This is how you do it:

Step 1: By definition, the recording’s Start Date and Time are set to the present time. It will begin recording on the present day and hour by default when you don’t alter it. There is no default setting for the End Date and Time. You must either choose a date and time to determine the end time.

audacity schedule recording

Step 2: There is a Checkbox to Save the work immediately. By Ticking the option, you may choose the path or Folder where the file will be saved when the recording is finished.

audacity timer record

Conclusion

Well, there you have it – your complete Audacity Record Computer Audio guide. One thing is for certain that Audacity allows some great ways of recording audio from internal and external components of your Windows and Mac. However, if your Audacity is having issues, we would highly recommend opting for another software, such as Wondershare Filmora.

Wondershare Filmora is the finest thing that has come out in recent years for recording audio from a desktop. It is intended not just for pros but also for any enthusiast videographer who desires to create a high-quality movie for their family and friends. Download it today to make your movie a delightful journey with high-quality audio recording.

02 Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Win

03 Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Mac

04 Set up Audacity to Record as Schedule

Part 1: How to Record Audio On Audacity with a Microphone On Windows and Mac Computers?

For both Windows and Mac, the procedures for recording audio from a microphone are the same if you’re utilizing your desktop’s built-in mic or an external microphone. Here’s your step-by-step guide to audacity record using a microphone:

Step 1: Launch Audacity and get to know the Device Toolbar, situated underneath the playback controls. You may modify the Audio Host and the Recording and Playback Devices—all of which are required for Audacity recording.

audacity interface

Step 2: To begin, select Tracks under the Add New tab, Stereo Track, or Mono Track to create a new track.

audacity add new track

Step 3: Select Recording Device from the options list. Select your microphone from the dropdown menu and hit the Record option.

audacity record audio

Step 4: A soundwave emerges along the track as you talk into the speaker. The Recording Level may be found at the top of the display. To pause or stop the recording, click Stop or Pause until you select Record anew.

audacity recorded audio waveform

Step 5: With the mouse over any recording area, click the Delete button to cut out any portion of it quickly. Click Ctrl + A, then Delete to erase whatever you’ve just saved. Alternatively, press the X button to delete the track completely.

remove unwanted clip in audacity

Part 2: How to Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity On Windows?

Unlike Mac, Windows makes it simple to capture audio from a movie or media file running on your desktop. There seem to be two primary methods for accomplishing audacity record desktop audio in this way:

1. Use MME as the Audio Host

Step 1: To use MME as your audio host, go to Tracks in the Add New tab in Stereo Track and create a new file.

record playing sound with audacity

Step 2: Change the Audio Host (to the left of Recording Device) to MME—this is the standard setting, so you might not have to change anything.

change audio host in audacity

Step 3: Choose desired option from the Recording Device dropdown menu. Based on your configuration, this might be referred to as Wave Out or Loopback. When you’re uncertain, try it out.

choose audio recording device in audacity

Step 4: To record your audio source, click Record, then play it back.

2. Use WASAPI as the Audio Host

WASAPI provides higher-resolution digital recordings. If capturing audio from an external monitor, it’s also a good idea to utilize it.

Step 1: Convert the Audio Host from MME to Windows WASAPI after creating a fresh Stereo Track.

  audacity change host

Step 2: Switch the Recording Device to Speaker (loopback). To display the entire label, you might have to slide the toolbar’s knobs outwards. Begin recording by pressing the red dot and then listen to the audio source. Audacity will capture the audio even if your PC is muted.

Part 3: How to Record Sounds Playing on Your Computer Using Audacity on Mac?

Unfortunately, there’s no ready-made method to record computer audio using Audacity on a Mac. Some alternative ways to use Audacity to record from Mac including using a loopback cable, or download and using a third-party software. You can try some Audacity alternatives to record the computer audio on Mac.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

If you have installed Filmora already, you can use it to record the sound playing on your Mac with some tricks.

Step 1: Luanch Filmora, and then click the Record button and select Record PC Screen.

 filmora mac record pc  screen

Step 2: Set up the recording settings based on the need. Since we’re going to record the playing audio from the Mac computer, select Microphone and System Audio On and click the Red button to start.

 filmora mac record pc  screen

Step 3: Now you have a screen captured video with sound included. Since we need th audio only, we can attache the audio from the video first and then do some editing such as adding fade in and fade out effect, or remove unwanted audio clip.

 filmora   detach audio

Part 4: How to Set up Audacity to Record as Schedule?

A streaming video recorder or cassette can be used to arrange a recording. All of those are identical to Time Recordings in that they are used to schedule recording. The Timer record configuration dialog box may be used to set the beginning and finish of the recording. This is how you do it:

Step 1: By definition, the recording’s Start Date and Time are set to the present time. It will begin recording on the present day and hour by default when you don’t alter it. There is no default setting for the End Date and Time. You must either choose a date and time to determine the end time.

audacity schedule recording

Step 2: There is a Checkbox to Save the work immediately. By Ticking the option, you may choose the path or Folder where the file will be saved when the recording is finished.

audacity timer record

Conclusion

Well, there you have it – your complete Audacity Record Computer Audio guide. One thing is for certain that Audacity allows some great ways of recording audio from internal and external components of your Windows and Mac. However, if your Audacity is having issues, we would highly recommend opting for another software, such as Wondershare Filmora.

Wondershare Filmora is the finest thing that has come out in recent years for recording audio from a desktop. It is intended not just for pros but also for any enthusiast videographer who desires to create a high-quality movie for their family and friends. Download it today to make your movie a delightful journey with high-quality audio recording.

The Fundamentals of Adding Sound to Still Art Forms

Almost everyone shoots videos and photos now. But sometimes, it’s hard to record videos while boring to capture images. What if a hybrid mingles still images with an audio file? You can add audio to photo easily.

Images with a soundtrack are simpler to create and more interactive than video; they naturally improve the project without time commitment or complexity. The question that appears is; how to add audio to a photo/image and create great multimedia photography?

In this post, we will describe and clear all your queries on how to add audio to photo. Whether you wish to combine audio and image on the computer or add audio to iPhone pictures, you can all find the answer.

In this article

01 [Can I add audio to the photo?](#Part 1)

02 [How to add audio to a photo?](#Part 2)

03 [Secret about adding audio to the photo?](#Part 3)

Part 1 Can I add audio to the photo?

online add audio to photo

Yes, it’s possible to add audio to photo, and we have various methods to do this. One of the simplest methods is arranging images into slideshows and adding audio.

Yes, there are different ways by which you can add audio to photo online or offline, including both the easiest and most brutal ways. Let’s list out some general courses as follows!

● The first and common way is by making a slideshow or photo collage like a video and adding background music as audio.

● You can use an image collage app or add audio to a photo app for Android or iPhone devices.

● Lastly, you can add audio to the photo online editor or online video editing program and include voiceover or background music.

All in all, it’s possible to add audio to photo provided you’ve to look straightforward and quick ways of doing so.

Part 2 How to add audio to a photo?

ACDSee supports images with embedded audio and photos with associated audio files. Images with embedded audio are JPEG or TIFF images saved inside the photo folder. You can embed audio inside the folder of photos by adding audio to the photo online.

Images with associated audio are photos are merged with individual WAV audio files. The photo folders and their associated audio files contain the same file name and are placed within the same folder.

You can associate any WAV file with a photo by assigning them the same name and locating them in the same folder or adding audio to the photo.

Note: If you rename or move either an audio file or an image file associated with it, you must rename both the folders or they will not associate for longer. It does not apply to photos with embedded audio.

Steps to add audio to photo via ACDSee

Do one of the following:

● Select an image in Manage mode.

● Open an image in View mode.

Step1 Click Tools | Image Audio | Edit
Step2 In the Edit Audio dialog box, click the Browse button
Step3 Select a WAV file and click Save
Step4 If you would like to truncate or clip the audio file, select the Use markers checkbox and drag the Start marker and End marker sliders. Do one of the following

● Click the Truncate button to remove the beginning and end of the audio file (the sections outside of the start and end markers).

● Click the Clip button to remove the audio file section inside the start and end markers.

Step5 To hear a preview of the file, click the Play button
Step6 Click OK

Part 3 Secret about adding audio to the photo?

If you’re looking to add audio to a photo in a straightforward manner, here’s a tip for you than going complex. It’s because the software or programs available are highly problematic when it comes to better understanding. Thus, using the ideal program is the best way out (and a secret)!

We have to admit that customization is quite trendy among the young generation. Customizing a unique album is a cool thing, too.

A professional editing tool would be an ideal helper to do this (hence, the reason you’re here). While a great variety of music management software and video editors support adding audio to images, Wondershare Filmora stands out for its efficiency, simplicity, and robust capability.

To get started, consider a free trial copy of Wondershare Filmora

Step1 Import Media

Hit the “Import” tab to load your songs from ripped CDs or downloaded from the internet.

Then drag and drop your image in a format like JPEG, JPG, JPE, GIF, BMP, DIB, PNG, JFIF, TIFF, TIF to the media library panel. Now you’ll consider using all the imported files displayed as thumbnails in the Media library.

Step2 Drag and Drop to add photos to audio

Drag songs and photos from the Media Library to the Timeline accordingly.

Filmora assists you in adding various photos to the audio. You can highlight the image and hover your mouse to the last section.

Click the “set duration” icon on the toolbar and set it to fit your music file’s length.

Tips: You can zoom-out or zoom-in on the Timeline in the top right corner by dragging the timeline slider to find the ideal position easily.

Check the effect in the preview window after this. If possible, you can ramp up your creation, e.g., add captions, apply special effects, transitions, and even create a picture-in-picture effect.

add audio to photo

Step3 Save Music with Photos

When you’re satisfied with the outcomes, hit the Export tab.

Then, select MP4 under the format tab in the output window, or if you want to play the media on your phone, you can choose the device in the Export window and choose target devices among iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV, etc. Filmora will create a proper setting for phone device saving.

save audio to photo filmora

Bonus tips

Rip audio from video: If you wish to extract audio from a movie trailer, film, comedy, TV show, etc., highlight the video file in the Timeline tab, right-click it and choose the “Audio Detach” tab, then you can eliminate the original video stream and save in a new MP3 format, and now you can freely add your images to the ripped music.

Or, you can delete the original audio file and add a new one.

Conclusion

So, that’s all you had to know about adding audio to photo. We’ve discussed all the questions you’re wandering on how to add audio to photo online and mentioned the different ways by which you can do the same.

As the uploading speed is slow, we highly suggest using Filmora to add audio to photos. Besides, Filmora provides 50 plus sounds that you can use. Try it now!

02 [How to add audio to a photo?](#Part 2)

03 [Secret about adding audio to the photo?](#Part 3)

Part 1 Can I add audio to the photo?

online add audio to photo

Yes, it’s possible to add audio to photo, and we have various methods to do this. One of the simplest methods is arranging images into slideshows and adding audio.

Yes, there are different ways by which you can add audio to photo online or offline, including both the easiest and most brutal ways. Let’s list out some general courses as follows!

● The first and common way is by making a slideshow or photo collage like a video and adding background music as audio.

● You can use an image collage app or add audio to a photo app for Android or iPhone devices.

● Lastly, you can add audio to the photo online editor or online video editing program and include voiceover or background music.

All in all, it’s possible to add audio to photo provided you’ve to look straightforward and quick ways of doing so.

Part 2 How to add audio to a photo?

ACDSee supports images with embedded audio and photos with associated audio files. Images with embedded audio are JPEG or TIFF images saved inside the photo folder. You can embed audio inside the folder of photos by adding audio to the photo online.

Images with associated audio are photos are merged with individual WAV audio files. The photo folders and their associated audio files contain the same file name and are placed within the same folder.

You can associate any WAV file with a photo by assigning them the same name and locating them in the same folder or adding audio to the photo.

Note: If you rename or move either an audio file or an image file associated with it, you must rename both the folders or they will not associate for longer. It does not apply to photos with embedded audio.

Steps to add audio to photo via ACDSee

Do one of the following:

● Select an image in Manage mode.

● Open an image in View mode.

Step1 Click Tools | Image Audio | Edit
Step2 In the Edit Audio dialog box, click the Browse button
Step3 Select a WAV file and click Save
Step4 If you would like to truncate or clip the audio file, select the Use markers checkbox and drag the Start marker and End marker sliders. Do one of the following

● Click the Truncate button to remove the beginning and end of the audio file (the sections outside of the start and end markers).

● Click the Clip button to remove the audio file section inside the start and end markers.

Step5 To hear a preview of the file, click the Play button
Step6 Click OK

Part 3 Secret about adding audio to the photo?

If you’re looking to add audio to a photo in a straightforward manner, here’s a tip for you than going complex. It’s because the software or programs available are highly problematic when it comes to better understanding. Thus, using the ideal program is the best way out (and a secret)!

We have to admit that customization is quite trendy among the young generation. Customizing a unique album is a cool thing, too.

A professional editing tool would be an ideal helper to do this (hence, the reason you’re here). While a great variety of music management software and video editors support adding audio to images, Wondershare Filmora stands out for its efficiency, simplicity, and robust capability.

To get started, consider a free trial copy of Wondershare Filmora

Step1 Import Media

Hit the “Import” tab to load your songs from ripped CDs or downloaded from the internet.

Then drag and drop your image in a format like JPEG, JPG, JPE, GIF, BMP, DIB, PNG, JFIF, TIFF, TIF to the media library panel. Now you’ll consider using all the imported files displayed as thumbnails in the Media library.

Step2 Drag and Drop to add photos to audio

Drag songs and photos from the Media Library to the Timeline accordingly.

Filmora assists you in adding various photos to the audio. You can highlight the image and hover your mouse to the last section.

Click the “set duration” icon on the toolbar and set it to fit your music file’s length.

Tips: You can zoom-out or zoom-in on the Timeline in the top right corner by dragging the timeline slider to find the ideal position easily.

Check the effect in the preview window after this. If possible, you can ramp up your creation, e.g., add captions, apply special effects, transitions, and even create a picture-in-picture effect.

add audio to photo

Step3 Save Music with Photos

When you’re satisfied with the outcomes, hit the Export tab.

Then, select MP4 under the format tab in the output window, or if you want to play the media on your phone, you can choose the device in the Export window and choose target devices among iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV, etc. Filmora will create a proper setting for phone device saving.

save audio to photo filmora

Bonus tips

Rip audio from video: If you wish to extract audio from a movie trailer, film, comedy, TV show, etc., highlight the video file in the Timeline tab, right-click it and choose the “Audio Detach” tab, then you can eliminate the original video stream and save in a new MP3 format, and now you can freely add your images to the ripped music.

Or, you can delete the original audio file and add a new one.

Conclusion

So, that’s all you had to know about adding audio to photo. We’ve discussed all the questions you’re wandering on how to add audio to photo online and mentioned the different ways by which you can do the same.

As the uploading speed is slow, we highly suggest using Filmora to add audio to photos. Besides, Filmora provides 50 plus sounds that you can use. Try it now!

02 [How to add audio to a photo?](#Part 2)

03 [Secret about adding audio to the photo?](#Part 3)

Part 1 Can I add audio to the photo?

online add audio to photo

Yes, it’s possible to add audio to photo, and we have various methods to do this. One of the simplest methods is arranging images into slideshows and adding audio.

Yes, there are different ways by which you can add audio to photo online or offline, including both the easiest and most brutal ways. Let’s list out some general courses as follows!

● The first and common way is by making a slideshow or photo collage like a video and adding background music as audio.

● You can use an image collage app or add audio to a photo app for Android or iPhone devices.

● Lastly, you can add audio to the photo online editor or online video editing program and include voiceover or background music.

All in all, it’s possible to add audio to photo provided you’ve to look straightforward and quick ways of doing so.

Part 2 How to add audio to a photo?

ACDSee supports images with embedded audio and photos with associated audio files. Images with embedded audio are JPEG or TIFF images saved inside the photo folder. You can embed audio inside the folder of photos by adding audio to the photo online.

Images with associated audio are photos are merged with individual WAV audio files. The photo folders and their associated audio files contain the same file name and are placed within the same folder.

You can associate any WAV file with a photo by assigning them the same name and locating them in the same folder or adding audio to the photo.

Note: If you rename or move either an audio file or an image file associated with it, you must rename both the folders or they will not associate for longer. It does not apply to photos with embedded audio.

Steps to add audio to photo via ACDSee

Do one of the following:

● Select an image in Manage mode.

● Open an image in View mode.

Step1 Click Tools | Image Audio | Edit
Step2 In the Edit Audio dialog box, click the Browse button
Step3 Select a WAV file and click Save
Step4 If you would like to truncate or clip the audio file, select the Use markers checkbox and drag the Start marker and End marker sliders. Do one of the following

● Click the Truncate button to remove the beginning and end of the audio file (the sections outside of the start and end markers).

● Click the Clip button to remove the audio file section inside the start and end markers.

Step5 To hear a preview of the file, click the Play button
Step6 Click OK

Part 3 Secret about adding audio to the photo?

If you’re looking to add audio to a photo in a straightforward manner, here’s a tip for you than going complex. It’s because the software or programs available are highly problematic when it comes to better understanding. Thus, using the ideal program is the best way out (and a secret)!

We have to admit that customization is quite trendy among the young generation. Customizing a unique album is a cool thing, too.

A professional editing tool would be an ideal helper to do this (hence, the reason you’re here). While a great variety of music management software and video editors support adding audio to images, Wondershare Filmora stands out for its efficiency, simplicity, and robust capability.

To get started, consider a free trial copy of Wondershare Filmora

Step1 Import Media

Hit the “Import” tab to load your songs from ripped CDs or downloaded from the internet.

Then drag and drop your image in a format like JPEG, JPG, JPE, GIF, BMP, DIB, PNG, JFIF, TIFF, TIF to the media library panel. Now you’ll consider using all the imported files displayed as thumbnails in the Media library.

Step2 Drag and Drop to add photos to audio

Drag songs and photos from the Media Library to the Timeline accordingly.

Filmora assists you in adding various photos to the audio. You can highlight the image and hover your mouse to the last section.

Click the “set duration” icon on the toolbar and set it to fit your music file’s length.

Tips: You can zoom-out or zoom-in on the Timeline in the top right corner by dragging the timeline slider to find the ideal position easily.

Check the effect in the preview window after this. If possible, you can ramp up your creation, e.g., add captions, apply special effects, transitions, and even create a picture-in-picture effect.

add audio to photo

Step3 Save Music with Photos

When you’re satisfied with the outcomes, hit the Export tab.

Then, select MP4 under the format tab in the output window, or if you want to play the media on your phone, you can choose the device in the Export window and choose target devices among iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV, etc. Filmora will create a proper setting for phone device saving.

save audio to photo filmora

Bonus tips

Rip audio from video: If you wish to extract audio from a movie trailer, film, comedy, TV show, etc., highlight the video file in the Timeline tab, right-click it and choose the “Audio Detach” tab, then you can eliminate the original video stream and save in a new MP3 format, and now you can freely add your images to the ripped music.

Or, you can delete the original audio file and add a new one.

Conclusion

So, that’s all you had to know about adding audio to photo. We’ve discussed all the questions you’re wandering on how to add audio to photo online and mentioned the different ways by which you can do the same.

As the uploading speed is slow, we highly suggest using Filmora to add audio to photos. Besides, Filmora provides 50 plus sounds that you can use. Try it now!

02 [How to add audio to a photo?](#Part 2)

03 [Secret about adding audio to the photo?](#Part 3)

Part 1 Can I add audio to the photo?

online add audio to photo

Yes, it’s possible to add audio to photo, and we have various methods to do this. One of the simplest methods is arranging images into slideshows and adding audio.

Yes, there are different ways by which you can add audio to photo online or offline, including both the easiest and most brutal ways. Let’s list out some general courses as follows!

● The first and common way is by making a slideshow or photo collage like a video and adding background music as audio.

● You can use an image collage app or add audio to a photo app for Android or iPhone devices.

● Lastly, you can add audio to the photo online editor or online video editing program and include voiceover or background music.

All in all, it’s possible to add audio to photo provided you’ve to look straightforward and quick ways of doing so.

Part 2 How to add audio to a photo?

ACDSee supports images with embedded audio and photos with associated audio files. Images with embedded audio are JPEG or TIFF images saved inside the photo folder. You can embed audio inside the folder of photos by adding audio to the photo online.

Images with associated audio are photos are merged with individual WAV audio files. The photo folders and their associated audio files contain the same file name and are placed within the same folder.

You can associate any WAV file with a photo by assigning them the same name and locating them in the same folder or adding audio to the photo.

Note: If you rename or move either an audio file or an image file associated with it, you must rename both the folders or they will not associate for longer. It does not apply to photos with embedded audio.

Steps to add audio to photo via ACDSee

Do one of the following:

● Select an image in Manage mode.

● Open an image in View mode.

Step1 Click Tools | Image Audio | Edit
Step2 In the Edit Audio dialog box, click the Browse button
Step3 Select a WAV file and click Save
Step4 If you would like to truncate or clip the audio file, select the Use markers checkbox and drag the Start marker and End marker sliders. Do one of the following

● Click the Truncate button to remove the beginning and end of the audio file (the sections outside of the start and end markers).

● Click the Clip button to remove the audio file section inside the start and end markers.

Step5 To hear a preview of the file, click the Play button
Step6 Click OK

Part 3 Secret about adding audio to the photo?

If you’re looking to add audio to a photo in a straightforward manner, here’s a tip for you than going complex. It’s because the software or programs available are highly problematic when it comes to better understanding. Thus, using the ideal program is the best way out (and a secret)!

We have to admit that customization is quite trendy among the young generation. Customizing a unique album is a cool thing, too.

A professional editing tool would be an ideal helper to do this (hence, the reason you’re here). While a great variety of music management software and video editors support adding audio to images, Wondershare Filmora stands out for its efficiency, simplicity, and robust capability.

To get started, consider a free trial copy of Wondershare Filmora

Step1 Import Media

Hit the “Import” tab to load your songs from ripped CDs or downloaded from the internet.

Then drag and drop your image in a format like JPEG, JPG, JPE, GIF, BMP, DIB, PNG, JFIF, TIFF, TIF to the media library panel. Now you’ll consider using all the imported files displayed as thumbnails in the Media library.

Step2 Drag and Drop to add photos to audio

Drag songs and photos from the Media Library to the Timeline accordingly.

Filmora assists you in adding various photos to the audio. You can highlight the image and hover your mouse to the last section.

Click the “set duration” icon on the toolbar and set it to fit your music file’s length.

Tips: You can zoom-out or zoom-in on the Timeline in the top right corner by dragging the timeline slider to find the ideal position easily.

Check the effect in the preview window after this. If possible, you can ramp up your creation, e.g., add captions, apply special effects, transitions, and even create a picture-in-picture effect.

add audio to photo

Step3 Save Music with Photos

When you’re satisfied with the outcomes, hit the Export tab.

Then, select MP4 under the format tab in the output window, or if you want to play the media on your phone, you can choose the device in the Export window and choose target devices among iPad, iPhone, or Apple TV, etc. Filmora will create a proper setting for phone device saving.

save audio to photo filmora

Bonus tips

Rip audio from video: If you wish to extract audio from a movie trailer, film, comedy, TV show, etc., highlight the video file in the Timeline tab, right-click it and choose the “Audio Detach” tab, then you can eliminate the original video stream and save in a new MP3 format, and now you can freely add your images to the ripped music.

Or, you can delete the original audio file and add a new one.

Conclusion

So, that’s all you had to know about adding audio to photo. We’ve discussed all the questions you’re wandering on how to add audio to photo online and mentioned the different ways by which you can do the same.

As the uploading speed is slow, we highly suggest using Filmora to add audio to photos. Besides, Filmora provides 50 plus sounds that you can use. Try it now!

Also read:

  • Title: 2024 Approved How to Choose Best Audio Formats
  • Author: Kate
  • Created at : 2024-05-20 02:42:39
  • Updated at : 2024-05-21 02:42:39
  • Link: https://audio-editing.techidaily.com/2024-approved-how-to-choose-best-audio-formats/
  • License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
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2024 Approved How to Choose Best Audio Formats