MP3, M4A or WAV? Choosing the right audio format

Every audio format is a trade-off between file size, quality and compatibility. Knowing where a file will be played makes the decision much easier.

MP3 is the universal choice. Nearly every device made in the last twenty years can play it, and at 320 kbps most listeners can't tell it apart from the source.

M4A, which uses AAC encoding, sounds slightly better than MP3 at the same bitrate. It's a great pick for Apple devices and modern phones.

WAV is uncompressed. Files are large, but nothing is thrown away, which makes it the right choice when the audio is headed back into an editor.