What is the difference between MP3 files and WMA files?

[PositiveEmotions]

Can anyone tell me the difference because i do not know the difference i always thought that wma and mp3 were all the same.

I think wma and mp3 have the same file size and it can fit as many songs just as an mp3 (I think)​

 

[Οdin]

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[PositiveEmotions]

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thats confusing

 

[Οdin]

thats confusing

Spoiler

MP3
MP3 stands for Moving Pictures Expert Group, Audio Layer 3. Approved as a standard music format in 1991, MP3 format is the most commonly used by consumers for digital music playback. MP3 format involves the compressing of the original music recording, making it easier to transfer and store without sacrificing a lot of quality. An MP3 file created at the 128 kilobits per second speed can be up to 11 times smaller than the original recording.

WMA
The WMA format stands for Windows Media Audio. It was developed by Microsoft as the format to be used with the Windows Media Player that is standard issue with all versions of the Windows operating system. WMA files also use a compression algorithm to create smaller versions of audio recordings with quality sacrificed as little as possible. Microsoft claims that at 128 kilobits per second, WMA files are near CD quality. This claim is sometimes contested by audio experts.

Quality Differences
Both MP3 and WMA files are capable of producing audio at near CD-level quality. However, MP3 files are able to produce a better fidelity even when streamed at lower Internet speeds. This is how MP3 became the standard format for streaming Internet audio. WMA files require more bandwidth to create the same fidelity, but WMA also takes less processing power to decode into music.

Ease of Use
MP3 files are very easy to transfer to mobile devices and burn to CD's for listening on the move. Stereo CD players can have the feature to read MP3 files, allowing users to burn data discs of MP3 files. This type of disc can hold hundreds of songs instead of being limited to an audio recording time. WMA files cannot be easily converted to other formats due to its encryption process. For this reason, WMA files are not useful for much more than playing on a home computer or laptop.

Ever Changing Industry
Both MP3 and WMA formats are constantly improved by computer companies. The quality levels can vary with the updates. WMA may be superior to MP3 after an update, but then MP3 will be updated as well and jump back to the top. Competition drives these formats to constantly improve.

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[Shuuya]

There fairly similiar I guess, just different file types with a slight difference in properties. Just like in images you can have a range of formats. For example, JPEG and PNG. Both are fairly similar apart from the fact that PNGs allow you to save an image while keeping the transparency and are more hq

 

[PositiveEmotions]

Spoiler

MP3
MP3 stands for Moving Pictures Expert Group, Audio Layer 3. Approved as a standard music format in 1991, MP3 format is the most commonly used by consumers for digital music playback. MP3 format involves the compressing of the original music recording, making it easier to transfer and store without sacrificing a lot of quality. An MP3 file created at the 128 kilobits per second speed can be up to 11 times smaller than the original recording.

WMA
The WMA format stands for Windows Media Audio. It was developed by Microsoft as the format to be used with the Windows Media Player that is standard issue with all versions of the Windows operating system. WMA files also use a compression algorithm to create smaller versions of audio recordings with quality sacrificed as little as possible. Microsoft claims that at 128 kilobits per second, WMA files are near CD quality. This claim is sometimes contested by audio experts.

Quality Differences
Both MP3 and WMA files are capable of producing audio at near CD-level quality. However, MP3 files are able to produce a better fidelity even when streamed at lower Internet speeds. This is how MP3 became the standard format for streaming Internet audio. WMA files require more bandwidth to create the same fidelity, but WMA also takes less processing power to decode into music.

Ease of Use
MP3 files are very easy to transfer to mobile devices and burn to CD's for listening on the move. Stereo CD players can have the feature to read MP3 files, allowing users to burn data discs of MP3 files. This type of disc can hold hundreds of songs instead of being limited to an audio recording time. WMA files cannot be easily converted to other formats due to its encryption process. For this reason, WMA files are not useful for much more than playing on a home computer or laptop.

Ever Changing Industry
Both MP3 and WMA formats are constantly improved by computer companies. The quality levels can vary with the updates. WMA may be superior to MP3 after an update, but then MP3 will be updated as well and jump back to the top. Competition drives these formats to constantly improve.

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now thats a better explanation thank u

 

[PositiveEmotions]

There fairly similiar I guess, just different file types with a slight difference in properties. Just like in images you can have a range of formats. For example, JPEG and PNG. Both are fairly similar apart from the fact that PNGs allow you to save an image while keeping the transparency and are more hq

thx i know about the imagines

 

[Maderator]

WAV are a lossless format, which means that they are as close as possible to the original recording in terms of quality while still staying within a certain file size. They are the format found on your traditional CD's.

MP3 is an encoding standard that compresses the WAV files so that they are not as large, unfortunately in doing this it reduces the quality of the music. The quality change can range from terrible at something like 60kbps to excellent like 320kbps.

A full quality MP3 at 320kbps is perfect for normal consumer needs. WAV is still fine but too big a file size for what you get, and most audio equipment is not capable of sounding better than 320kbps unless you have studio mixing equipment or public speakers.

In case you were wondering AAC, is Apples own WAV standard but involves compression so is virtually the same as MP3. There are lots of other standards but you dont need to worry about them. Anything you need will work with a good old 320kbps MP3.

If you wanna know what the kbps actually means that let me know, id love to help.