Digital Audio Formats: MP3, AAC, WAV & FLAC
Understanding audio bitrates, lossy compression tradeoffs, and studio master preservation.
Your files are processed entirely in your web browser using HTML5 Canvas and WebAssembly. Zero data ever leaves your device.
Skip upload and download queues. Conversions happen locally at full machine hardware speed without server limits.
Compliant with official ISO, W3C, and IETF specifications to guarantee output compatibility across modern operating systems.
Format Comparison & Technical Specifications
| Output Format | MIME Type | Specification | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| MP3 Audio | audio/mpeg | ISO-IEC-14496-14-MP4 | MPEG-1 Audio Layer III |
| WAV Audio | audio/wav | RFC-5334-OGG | Waveform Audio File Format |
| AAC Audio | audio/aac | ISO-IEC-14496-14-MP4 | Advanced Audio Coding |
| FLAC Audio | audio/flac | RFC-6716-OPUS | Free Lossless Audio Codec |
Technical Specifications & Codec Breakdown
Bitrate Sweet Spots: What Can You Actually Hear?
At 128 kbps, MP3 compression artifacts are noticeable on decent headphones. At 256 kbps (AAC) or 320 kbps (MP3), compression becomes transparent - meaning 99% of listeners cannot distinguish it from an uncompressed CD in blind ABX listening tests.
MP3 vs. AAC: Why Modern Streaming Picked AAC
MP3 is a 1993 standard. AAC (developed by the same engineers) is vastly more efficient at preserving high-frequency cymbal crashes and stereo separation at lower bitrates, which is why Apple Music, YouTube, and Bluetooth headphones use AAC.
Never Re-encode Lossy to Lossy
Converting MP3 to AAC (or vice versa) causes 'generational loss'. Like photocopying a photocopy, each lossy conversion throws away more acoustic data and introduces audible distortion. Always convert from a lossless source (FLAC or WAV) to your target lossy format.
0 bytes uploaded to external servers. All processing occurred locally in your browser sandbox.