Here's a cheat sheet..
Code:
AIFF - Apple's Container format similar to microsofts WAV format
RIFF WAV - can store compressed and uncompressed data not allowed on what.cd
FLAC - A codec for lossless audiocompression. Similar to MP3 but lossless - no loss in quality
unless lossy to lossless
APE - main competitor FLAC - combination of traditional lossless compression tactics
linear prediction and channel coupling and a simple neural network
Lossy is a type of compression used to reduce file size but by discarding unneeded info good for
low file storage
Bitrate bits get transfered in certain amount of time usually expressed in bp/s
minium constant bitrate is 192kbps on what.cd
LAME what.cd recommended encoder - recommended settings
best quality -b 320 strongest for mp3 with lowest risk of aritfacts
highquality hifi, home or quiet listening -vo (245kbps -v1 225kbps -v2 190kbps also not allowed
-v3 (175 kbps but not allowed
transcoding - converting a file from one encoding method to another
lossless to lossless - no decrease in quality
lossless to lossy - cuts off quality saves space good for mobile devices
v0 preset bitrate ~245kbps variable bitrate will fluctuate throughtout the song,
v2
average bitrate still fluctuates,
lossy to lossy - quality decreases after each encode
lossy to lossless - quality isn't gained file size just increased
Pulse code modulation - recordin sound as digital data - sampled at regular
sampling rate and quantized with a fix bit depth