File Type

Broadcast WAVE

The Broadcast WAVE format (extension .WAV) was developed by the European Broadcasting Union in order to add specific metadata to the existing WAVE audio file format.  Broadcast WAVE files are typically compatible in applications which use the WAVE format.  The Broadcast WAVE format is limited in file size to 4GB.

WAVE

Originally developed by Microsoft, the WAVE format (extension .WAV) is a popular audio file format that can be read by many audio applications.  WAVE files can store uncompressed or compressed audio data.  The WAVE format is limited in file size to 4GB.

WAVE-64

The WAVE-64 file format (extension .W64) was originally developed by Sonic Foundry, which was later acquired by Sony.  It is a 64-bit file format as opposed to the 32-bit format used by WAVE and Broadcast WAVE formats.  The WAVE-64 format is able to store multichannel audio and the file size can exceed 4GB.

CAF

CAF, or Core Audio Format (extension .CAF) is an audio file format developed by Apple.  It is used by Apple's Soundtrack Pro and Logic Studio applications.  CAF is a 64-bit file format that can store any number of audio channels, can contain metadata, and theoretically has no practical file size limitation.  It is compatible with Apple OS X 10.4 and higher.  It can be used in OS X 10.3, but requires Quicktime 7 to be installed.