Audio Format Guide: MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, and OGG Explained
Understand the differences between lossy and lossless audio formats. Learn when to use each format for music, podcasts, sound effects, and professional audio production.
Key Takeaways
- Lossy codecs (MP3, AAC, OGG Vorbis) remove audio data that psychoacoustic models predict humans cannot perceive.
- MP3: Maximum compatibility — email attachments, legacy devices, podcast distribution.
- Never convert between lossy formats — each re-encoding compounds quality loss.
- Lossless codecs (FLAC, ALAC, WAV) preserve every sample exactly — important for production and archiving but resulting in much larger files.
- ## Conversion Best Practices Never convert between lossy formats — each re-encoding compounds quality loss.
BPM Calculator
Lossy vs Lossless Audio
Lossy codecs (MP3, AAC, OGG Vorbis) remove audio data that psychoacoustic models predict humans cannot perceive. This typically achieves 5-10x compression. Lossless codecs (FLAC, ALAC, WAV) preserve every sample exactly — important for production and archiving but resulting in much larger files.
Format Comparison
| Format | Type | Typical Bitrate | File Size (4 min) | Browser Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MP3 | Lossy | 128-320 kbps | 4-10 MB | Universal |
| AAC | Lossy | 96-256 kbps | 3-8 MB | Universal |
| OGG Vorbis | Lossy | 96-320 kbps | 3-10 MB | Firefox, Chrome |
| Opus | Lossy | 32-256 kbps | 1-8 MB | Modern browsers |
| FLAC | Lossless | 800-1200 kbps | 25-40 MB | Chrome, Firefox, Edge |
| WAV | Uncompressed | 1411 kbps | 42 MB | Universal |
When to Use Each
MP3: Maximum compatibility — email attachments, legacy devices, podcast distribution. Use 192 kbps or higher for music.
AAC: Superior quality to MP3 at the same bitrate. Default for Apple devices and streaming platforms. Use for web audio where older browser support is needed.
Opus: The best lossy codec available. Excellent at low bitrates (48-96 kbps) for voice, competitive at higher rates for music. Ideal for WebRTC and streaming.
FLAC: Lossless archiving and audiophile playback. Compresses WAV to roughly 60% of original size without any quality loss.
Conversion Best Practices
Never convert between lossy formats — each re-encoding compounds quality loss. Always keep lossless originals and create lossy versions as needed. Convert audio files with Peasy's browser-based converter to avoid uploading sensitive audio recordings to external services.