Written by: Rusheed "Portiay" Nash
A wave file, also known as a WAV, is an audio file format that stores audio samples as raw, uncompressed data. This means that the audio in a wave file is of high quality and has not been altered or compressed in any way. However, the downside to this is that wave files are quite large in size and may take up a significant amount of storage space.
On the other hand, an MP3 file is a compressed audio file format. This means that the audio in an MP3 file has been compressed in order to reduce its file size. The compression algorithm used in MP3s is called the "MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3" algorithm, which removes certain parts of the audio that are considered to be less important. This results in a smaller file size, but also a lower quality audio.
Another key difference between wave files and MP3s is their compatibility. Wave files are compatible with most audio software and devices, while MP3s are more commonly used in portable music players, smartphones and other devices with limited storage.
In summary, wave files are high quality, uncompressed audio files that are large in file size, while MP3s are compressed audio files that are smaller in file size but have lower quality audio. Wave files are more commonly used in professional audio applications, while MP3s are more commonly used in portable devices and for general listening.