Why does converting a m4a/wma to wav result in a ridiculously high bitrate file?











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If I use the simple command ffmpeg -i file.m4a file.wav, the resulting file invariably seems to have a bitrate of around 750kbit/s (resulting in a 500mb file from a 100mb one my case).



I've already tried this answer (tldr: ffmpeg -i song.mp3 -acodec pcm_u8 -ar 22050 song.wav), among others, but the bitrate always turns out to be ridiculously large.



I like my files to be in wav format so that I can easily burn a CD from the file.










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    If I use the simple command ffmpeg -i file.m4a file.wav, the resulting file invariably seems to have a bitrate of around 750kbit/s (resulting in a 500mb file from a 100mb one my case).



    I've already tried this answer (tldr: ffmpeg -i song.mp3 -acodec pcm_u8 -ar 22050 song.wav), among others, but the bitrate always turns out to be ridiculously large.



    I like my files to be in wav format so that I can easily burn a CD from the file.










    share|improve this question


























      up vote
      -1
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      -1
      down vote

      favorite











      If I use the simple command ffmpeg -i file.m4a file.wav, the resulting file invariably seems to have a bitrate of around 750kbit/s (resulting in a 500mb file from a 100mb one my case).



      I've already tried this answer (tldr: ffmpeg -i song.mp3 -acodec pcm_u8 -ar 22050 song.wav), among others, but the bitrate always turns out to be ridiculously large.



      I like my files to be in wav format so that I can easily burn a CD from the file.










      share|improve this question















      If I use the simple command ffmpeg -i file.m4a file.wav, the resulting file invariably seems to have a bitrate of around 750kbit/s (resulting in a 500mb file from a 100mb one my case).



      I've already tried this answer (tldr: ffmpeg -i song.mp3 -acodec pcm_u8 -ar 22050 song.wav), among others, but the bitrate always turns out to be ridiculously large.



      I like my files to be in wav format so that I can easily burn a CD from the file.







      audio ffmpeg conversion bitrate






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      edited Nov 25 at 18:59

























      asked Nov 25 at 18:30









      Matt M.

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      1034






















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          wav is simply uncompressed audio. Its bitrate is simply the size that audio would be without some smart algorithm reducing the size using psychoacoustic modelling.



          Your files are probably 16-bit 44.1kHz audio. that will end up at 16-bit (2 bytes) x dual channel (2) x 44.1kHz which will give a bitrate of about 1.44Mbit/s. Single channel audio would be half that at 720kBit/s, and similarly reducing 44.1kHz to 22.05kHz keeping 16 bit sampling will again be 720kBit/s.



          Without knowing what your goal is, then I'd suggest you leave the files in their original format, or use an actual compressed output such as flac.






          share|improve this answer




























            up vote
            1
            down vote













            WAVs have uncompressed audio, so the file size is a linear function of duration, irrespective of content.



            Formula is sample depth x sampling rate x channel count x duration (in seconds).






            share|improve this answer





















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              2 Answers
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              active

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              2 Answers
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              active

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              active

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              up vote
              3
              down vote



              accepted










              wav is simply uncompressed audio. Its bitrate is simply the size that audio would be without some smart algorithm reducing the size using psychoacoustic modelling.



              Your files are probably 16-bit 44.1kHz audio. that will end up at 16-bit (2 bytes) x dual channel (2) x 44.1kHz which will give a bitrate of about 1.44Mbit/s. Single channel audio would be half that at 720kBit/s, and similarly reducing 44.1kHz to 22.05kHz keeping 16 bit sampling will again be 720kBit/s.



              Without knowing what your goal is, then I'd suggest you leave the files in their original format, or use an actual compressed output such as flac.






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                3
                down vote



                accepted










                wav is simply uncompressed audio. Its bitrate is simply the size that audio would be without some smart algorithm reducing the size using psychoacoustic modelling.



                Your files are probably 16-bit 44.1kHz audio. that will end up at 16-bit (2 bytes) x dual channel (2) x 44.1kHz which will give a bitrate of about 1.44Mbit/s. Single channel audio would be half that at 720kBit/s, and similarly reducing 44.1kHz to 22.05kHz keeping 16 bit sampling will again be 720kBit/s.



                Without knowing what your goal is, then I'd suggest you leave the files in their original format, or use an actual compressed output such as flac.






                share|improve this answer























                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote



                  accepted







                  up vote
                  3
                  down vote



                  accepted






                  wav is simply uncompressed audio. Its bitrate is simply the size that audio would be without some smart algorithm reducing the size using psychoacoustic modelling.



                  Your files are probably 16-bit 44.1kHz audio. that will end up at 16-bit (2 bytes) x dual channel (2) x 44.1kHz which will give a bitrate of about 1.44Mbit/s. Single channel audio would be half that at 720kBit/s, and similarly reducing 44.1kHz to 22.05kHz keeping 16 bit sampling will again be 720kBit/s.



                  Without knowing what your goal is, then I'd suggest you leave the files in their original format, or use an actual compressed output such as flac.






                  share|improve this answer












                  wav is simply uncompressed audio. Its bitrate is simply the size that audio would be without some smart algorithm reducing the size using psychoacoustic modelling.



                  Your files are probably 16-bit 44.1kHz audio. that will end up at 16-bit (2 bytes) x dual channel (2) x 44.1kHz which will give a bitrate of about 1.44Mbit/s. Single channel audio would be half that at 720kBit/s, and similarly reducing 44.1kHz to 22.05kHz keeping 16 bit sampling will again be 720kBit/s.



                  Without knowing what your goal is, then I'd suggest you leave the files in their original format, or use an actual compressed output such as flac.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Nov 25 at 18:48









                  Mokubai

                  56k16131150




                  56k16131150
























                      up vote
                      1
                      down vote













                      WAVs have uncompressed audio, so the file size is a linear function of duration, irrespective of content.



                      Formula is sample depth x sampling rate x channel count x duration (in seconds).






                      share|improve this answer

























                        up vote
                        1
                        down vote













                        WAVs have uncompressed audio, so the file size is a linear function of duration, irrespective of content.



                        Formula is sample depth x sampling rate x channel count x duration (in seconds).






                        share|improve this answer























                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          1
                          down vote









                          WAVs have uncompressed audio, so the file size is a linear function of duration, irrespective of content.



                          Formula is sample depth x sampling rate x channel count x duration (in seconds).






                          share|improve this answer












                          WAVs have uncompressed audio, so the file size is a linear function of duration, irrespective of content.



                          Formula is sample depth x sampling rate x channel count x duration (in seconds).







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered Nov 25 at 18:43









                          Gyan

                          14k21641




                          14k21641






























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