What is WAV?
WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is an uncompressed audio format that preserves complete audio fidelity. While too large for podcast distribution, WAV files are ideal for recording, editing, and archiving master copies before converting to MP3.
WAV vs MP3 Comparison
| Characteristic | WAV | MP3 |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Lossless (perfect) | Lossy (good enough) |
| File size (1 hour, stereo) | ~635 MB | ~58 MB (128 kbps) |
| Editing quality | Ideal | Degrades with re-encoding |
| Distribution | Too large | Perfect |
| Archival | Excellent | Sufficient |
WAV Technical Specifications
Format: PCM (Pulse Code Modulation)
Bit depth: 16-bit (CD), 24-bit (professional)
Sample rate: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
Channels: Mono or Stereo
File size: ~10 MB per minute (16-bit stereo @ 44.1 kHz)
The Podcast Audio Workflow
Recording → Editing → Mastering → Distribution
WAV WAV WAV MP3
Why this matters:
- Record in WAV: Capture full quality
- Edit in WAV: No quality loss through multiple saves
- Export master WAV: Archive highest quality version
- Convert to MP3: Final step for distribution
Bit Depth Explained
| Bit Depth | Dynamic Range | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| 16-bit | 96 dB | CD quality, sufficient for podcasts |
| 24-bit | 144 dB | Professional recording, more headroom |
| 32-bit float | ~1500 dB | Near-impossible to clip, maximum flexibility |
For podcasting: 24-bit recording gives you safety headroom, but 16-bit final exports are fine.
Why It Matters
WAV files are your insurance policy against quality loss. Every time you convert to MP3, you permanently lose some audio information. Keeping WAV masters means you can always re-export at different settings without generation loss.
Why WAV workflow matters:
-
Editing flexibility: Each edit and save in a lossy format degrades quality. WAV maintains perfection.
-
Future-proofing: Codec standards change. Your WAV masters can be converted to any future format.
-
Re-encoding options: Want to change your bitrate? Re-export from WAV, not from MP3.
-
Error recovery: Discovered an audio problem? Your WAV master lets you re-process without compound losses.
The generation loss problem:
Original WAV → MP3 (some loss)
MP3 → Edit → MP3 (more loss)
MP3 → Edit → MP3 (even more loss)
...degradation compounds
vs.
Original WAV → Edit → WAV → Edit → WAV
Final WAV → MP3 (single conversion, minimal loss)
Storage considerations: WAV files are large, but storage is cheap. A 2TB drive holds ~3,000 hours of stereo WAV audio. That's a worthwhile archive investment.
Cloud storage strategy: Keep WAV masters locally or on archival storage. Cloud backup is ideal for these "rarely accessed but critically important" files.
How to Use This in Dispatch
Upload WAV files for best quality—we'll handle the conversion:
Upload workflow:
- Upload your WAV master file
- We convert to optimized MP3
- Your original WAV is preserved
Original file access: Your uploaded original files remain accessible in your media library. If you ever need to re-process with different settings, you can regenerate from the source.
Recommended upload specs:
- Format: WAV or AIFF
- Bit depth: 16-bit or 24-bit
- Sample rate: 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz
- Channels: Mono (speech) or Stereo (music/effects)
What we process: