WAV SOUND FILES
Just like the familiar cassette tape recording, WAV files are sounds, recorded by a computer, and, similar to cassette tapes, by adding a microphone or other inputs, you can record absolutely any sounds you want with a WAV Editor. Using the right leads or inputs connected to your sound card, you can record talking, singing, music, CD's & more.
A NOTE TO CLARIFY THAT WAV IS THE BEST FORMAT FOR PROFESSIONALS
Through-out this section I've neglected to mention that WAV recording is the only real choice for professionals or anyone wanting to seriously record their own music on their PC. A wav-file recorder can achieve much clearer sounds than other file-types with bitrates of up to 320kbps instead of the usual CD quality 128kbps. This high-quality audio file can then be used as a "master" file and copies downgraded to achieve your desired end-format or file-type whenever they are required. To record this high-quality file onto a CD, the master file should be recorded as a Data-CD instead of the usual Audio-CD. -thanks Clay Loomis for reminding me to clarify that.
DOWNLOADING .WAV SOUND FILES
Downloadable WAV Sound effects are usually short, lesser quality audio which can be downloaded within seconds and used in WAV editors and everyday programs like Microsoft Windows. Complete songs in CD quality WAV format are simply too big to download considering the alternatives (Mp3). Not only is it difficult finding space to store more than a few complete songs on your hard disk but most CD quality songs are around 40-80MB each in size and every song could take from 6-8 hours downloading from the Internet with a standard dial-up connection. Nowadays, most people who store their music on their PC use the more popular Mp3 format which allows CD quality audio at one twelth the file size of a WAV file. When recording music to CD, a .WAV file can be played on an ordinary CD player as this is the standard format for AUDIO CD's but an Mp3 file will require an Mp3 player to play the music. |
WHERE DO I GET THEM
Although you might not be aware of it, all of those annoying beeps and groans, bells and whistles that your computer belts out everytime you use it, is actually a collection of WAV files that are already stored on your computer. They often run for no more than 5 seconds when played. By downloading new WAV files you can change your sounds to your own taste or requirements. Many people set up complete sound themes of their own helping to give their computer its own personality. |
