

I’ve never had a WAV file this big before in my life and I’ve exported thousands of audio files. The maximum allowed file size for a 32-bit WAV file is a whopping 4 gigabytes. WAV files are great for audio editing because they are uncompressed and this makes them the most commonly used file format in music production today. They are much larger in file size compared to their MP3 counterpart, but serve their own unique purpose in music production. The industry standard when it comes to mixing, mastering and producing music are WAV files.

The WAV acronym file format stands for Waveform Audio File Format (uncommonly referred to as WAVE). You can also check out for some super in depth information about MP3 file format standards. Some quality is lost by using an MP3 format, so you should never use MP3 samples or exports to mix final music projects.Ĭheck out Wikipedia’s page here for an extensive look at the MP3 file. The MP3 audio file type is great for the internet, emails, and audio streaming due to its smaller file size. Compare this to a 4 minute WAV file that could range from 60-100 megabytes. The MP3 exporting process reduces file size by eliminating some auditory sound that your ears may not be able to recognize.Īn average 4 minute MP3 rendered at the highest quality would be close to 10 megabytes in file size. A bit of sound quality is lost during the exporting process compared to a WAV file. The MP3 acronym originates from the MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III name. You’ve probably heard an MP3 file before. You need to know the differences of each file type to gain a better understanding of when and why you should use them! A brief introduction to MP3 files MP3 files are the standard for the internet when it comes to music. Before we get to the export settings, I’m going to go a bit more in depth into the two file types we’ll be using. There are several major differences between MP3 and WAV files. Is your audio file intended for use in another musical project such as mixing or mastering? If so, you will definitely want to export your audio as a WAV file to achieve the highest quality output.Īre you distributing your music file to the internet? If so, an MP3 file is definitely your file type of choice. The major question is… Should I export to an MP3 file or a WAV file? You might wonder which settings to use to achieve the best quality sound. Skip the intro and jump to the settings » FL Studio has quite a variety of exporting options when you are ready to finalize your music project.Īt first, these settings can be quite overwhelming if you are not familiar with audio file types.
