When it comes to audio files, the WAV file format used to stand out during its time. This particular audio file type has been a standard ever since Windows 95 came out. With a vast number of operating systems coming out since then, WAV has become one of the most recognized audio file formats. Almost all of the conventional programs we have today are able to support WAV.

Files with the WAV file format are known as one of the simplest out of the many formats when it comes to storing audio tracks. It is considered a direct transcription of sound to data, with mere formatting being the only pre-processing required. Unlike compressed formats such as MPEG, a WAV file consists of only three parts, three “chunks” of information. The purposes of these chunks are very basic: There’s the RIFF chunk which basically tells the computer that it is dealing with a WAV file. There’s the FORMAT chunk which contains sample rate data, besides other information pertinent to the details of the audio track. Finally, there’s the DATA chunk, which is where the actual audio sample is contained. The WAV file format is not necessarily complicated, which is why files with .wav extensions are bigger than usual.

Many people have also known audio files with the .wav extension for their large size. This is due to the high audio quality capabilities of the file. It is for this reason that it is used for audio CDs. Sound tracks are recorded and saved in the .wav file format, and then these files will be manipulated and encoded in Pulse-code Modulation (PCM) into precise locations or sectors in a conventional blank CD. A common music track of the WAV file format which is around 4 minutes long can take around 50MB of space, and a normal CD can store up to 600-700MB of data. This is why many audio CDs have an average of 13-15 tracks.

Files with the .wav extension have become less and less popular as internet file sharing was recognized and utilized by more and more people. Files which are bigger naturally take longer to upload or download, which is bad for people who frequent the internet looking for music. In this field, other file formats which take less memory to store and less time to transfer are definitely more popular. Files with the MP3, AAC, and WMA extensions are good examples of these formats.

Many people have also been known to encode their audio CDs with WAV quality tracks to MP3 files to add to their own libraries. Methods such as compression reduce the quality of Audio CD tracks converted to MP3 files. When these MP3 files are “burned”, or converted back into Audio CD tracks, many people do not notice or ignore the effects of quality reduction. This is an example of how a majority of enthusiasts are usually satisfied with what they hear and download the first time, as long as the tracks they have take less memory space to store.

If there are so many other formats which take less space and less time to acquire, then why is the .wav file still being given attention? WAV files are suitable for systems which prioritize sound quality over disk space. Software developers who are looking to make sound an integral promoter of their products usually make use of high-quality audio in the form of .wav files. For example, programmers in the field of gaming usually use WAV files for sound effects. Multimedia designers also prefer using audio files with the .wav extension for creating their own video and sound clips. Radio broadcasters who want to eliminate the cost of recording and storing tracks in tapes resort to saving their audio in WAV files. This way, the audio quality of their recordings is preserved.

The audio in a file with the .wav extension is also relatively easier to edit and manipulate, due to the simplicity of the file format’s structure. The audio track of a WAV file can easily be truncated or edited to add and remove extra effects. There are many third-party WAV editors available in the internet for this purpose.

It is the simplicity of the WAV file which still makes it a desirable file format in a good number of industries. There’s the fact that it is still recognized and supported by a majority of popular audio programs and operating systems which makes it a winner. The audio quality of the tracks a WAV file contains is one advantage it has over other file formats. Additionally, files with the .wav extension have a very basic structure which provides easy access to the actual audio track for quick customization and adjustments.

The WAV file is a good example of how quality is prioritized over quantity. They are literally bigger and better.