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.wav or mp3? What’s better for CD release?

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This is just a short article about the importance of .wav files and why mp3 files are not good for CD manufacturing.

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Once in a while we’re getting audio sent to us in mp3 format. Often times artists have no idea what this means and how it can affect their release.
So, let’s get some facts straight. Mp3 is a compressed file format to about 1:10 / 1:20 of the original recording quality. The reason for mp3 to exist is to take up less space on devices’ hard drives and ultimately easier to carry about when being mobile.  And that’s ok (ish).

CDs, however, have a different capacity and can accommodate high quality audio recording at (44/16hz 16bit). This is pretty much the highest possible audio quality in the physical world of audio. That’s how you record your music and this is how the CDs should be manufactured.

When your mastering engineer sends you mp3 files always request .wav files (high quality audio) for CD duplication/replication and your digital uploads (iTunes, Youtube etc).

To summarise  – always .wav  – never mp3.

If you have any questions by any means please feel free to message us and we’ll be more than happy to help.

Thanks,

Tom