Thursday, March 25, 2010

Audio Formats

There is so much more to audio than sound. Being that all we need is a basic understanding of audio file formats for whatever use we need it for, I feel as though we (especially my generation) take it for granted. Even the way we manage and handle audio files has come so far and we just take it for it is and accept. I remember when CD's were really starting to phase out tapes. I remember the FIRST CD I bought in 3rd grade (possibly '97 or '98). TODAY, only ten years later, CD's can be considered irrelevant with the abundance of digital MP3 file usage. It's crazy. The speed that technology is moving at is scary, as we already discussed. I can't even imagine the advances that my children will deal with. They will probably be advancing on a YEARLY basis a compared to out decade changes. I wonder what my parent's think about this as they can remember as far back as records and ATRAC's.

Understanding audio and its file formats can be very important in my field. Whether you're a designer, director or manager, I'm sure you would have to have at least basic knowledge of it. Audio is used in commercials, presentations, sound bites and many other instances in the Advertising field. As a graphic designer, I primarily work with print and Web material. In my office, we create videos as well and at times, I may have to assist with that. Audio is almost always included.

Sometimes, audio files don't come in file types that are ideal for projects. There is plenty of free software out there than can fix this problem. Switch Sound file converter does that. This easy to use program only takes MP3 and WAV files as input BUT it can output these files to 21 other file types for whatever your needs may be. I definitely could see myself using this one day.

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