WAV files exist as 2 different types. Please find information about each of them below.
Type 1: WAVE Audio
The WAV file format is for storing waveform audio data. It is a Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) defined by IBM and Microsoft. RIFF wraps various audio codecs. WAV files often use uncompressed ...
General Information
| Title | WAV File Extension |
| Extension | .wav |
| Full Form | Waveform Audio File Format |
| File Type | Audio File |
| Developer | Microsoft, IBM |
| MIME Type | audio/wav, audio/wave, audio/x-wav |
File Function
| Primary Function | Store audio |
| Additional Functions | Audio streaming, Sampling data |
| Features | Uncompressed, Lossless, High Quality |
File Characteristics
| Quality | High fidelity |
| Supports Layers | N/A |
| Supports Transparency | N/A |
| Editable | Yes |
| Sampling Rate | Up to 192 kHz |
| Bit Depth | 8-32 bit |
Use Cases
| Audio Editing | Yes |
| Broadcasting | Yes |
| Music Production | Yes |
| Sound Design | Yes |
Security and Practices
| Security Risks | Rare |
| Best Practices | Regular backups, Virus scanning |
Historical/Version Information
| Initial Release | 1991 |
| Standardization | ITU-T G.711 |
Associated Types
| Similar Extensions | .mp3, .flac, .aac, .ogg |
Software Compatibility
| Software | Usage Policy | OS Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
 Windows Media Player |
Free | Windows |
 VLC Media Player |
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix |
 Audacity |
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux |
 Adobe Audition |
Subscription | Windows, Mac |
Type 2: DTS-WAV File
The WAV file format stores audio recordings. It is an uncompressed or compressed audio format. WAV files use 44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo format commonly. They contain waveform data based on the Resource I...
General Information
| Title | DTS-WAV File Extension |
| Extension | .wav |
| Full Form | Waveform Audio File Format with DTS |
| File Type | Audio File |
| Developer | Microsoft, IBM |
| MIME Type | audio/vnd.dts, audio/wav, audio/wave, audio/x-wav |
File Function
| Primary Function | Audio playback |
| Additional Functions | Surround sound encoding |
| Features | Lossy, Multi-channel |
File Characteristics
| Quality | High, Lossy |
| Supports Layers | No |
| Supports Transparency | No |
| Editable | Yes |
Use Cases
| Music Production | Yes |
| Film Audio | Yes |
| Home Theater | Yes |
Security and Practices
| Security Risks | Low |
| Best Practices | Regular updates, Safe sources |
Historical/Version Information
| Initial Release | 1991 |
| Latest Version | Wave Format Updates (1999) |
Associated Types
| Similar Extensions | .dts, .dtshd, .ac3, .flac |
Software Compatibility
| Software | Usage Policy | OS Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Media Player |
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux, Unix |
 Foobar2000 |
Free | Windows |
| Audacity |
Free | Windows, Mac, Linux |