Types of Formats
It is significant to distinguish among a file format and a codec. Although most audio file formats support merely one audio codec, a file format may assist multiple codecs, as AVI does.
Three main groups of audio file formats are:
- General formats, as WAV, AU and AIFF.
- formats along with lossless compression, like FLAC, WavPack, Shorten, Monkey's Audio (filename extension APE), TTA, lossless Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Apple Lossless
- formats along with lossy compression like Vorbis, MP3, lossy Windows Media Audio (WMA) and also AAC.