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Supported Formats
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Common Formats
MPEG-1 Audio Layer III - the most universal audio format worldwide, using lossy compression to reduce file sizes by 90% while maintaining excellent perceived quality. Perfect for music libraries, podcasts, portable devices, and any scenario requiring broad compatibility. Supports bitrates from 32-320kbps. Standard for digital music since 1993, playable on virtually every device and platform.
Waveform Audio File Format - uncompressed PCM audio providing perfect quality preservation. Standard Windows audio format with universal compatibility. Large file sizes (10MB per minute of stereo CD-quality). Perfect for audio production, professional recording, mastering, and situations requiring zero quality loss. Supports various bit depths (16, 24, 32-bit) and sample rates. Industry standard for professional audio work.
Ogg Vorbis - open-source lossy audio codec offering quality comparable to MP3/AAC at similar bitrates. Free from patents and licensing restrictions. Smaller file sizes than MP3 at equivalent quality. Used in gaming, open-source software, and streaming. Supports variable bitrate (VBR) for optimal quality. Perfect for applications requiring free codecs and good quality. Growing support in media players and platforms.
Advanced Audio Coding - successor to MP3 offering better quality at same bitrate (or same quality at lower bitrate). Standard audio codec for Apple devices, YouTube, and many streaming services. Supports up to 48 channels and 96kHz sample rate. Improved frequency response and handling of complex audio. Perfect for iTunes, iOS devices, video streaming, and modern audio applications. Part of MPEG-4 standard widely supported across platforms.
Free Lossless Audio Codec - compresses audio 40-60% without any quality loss. Perfect bit-for-bit preservation of original audio. Open-source format with no patents or licensing fees. Supports high-resolution audio (192kHz/24-bit). Perfect for archiving music collections, audiophile listening, and scenarios where quality is paramount. Widely supported by media players and streaming services. Ideal balance between quality and file size.
MPEG-4 Audio - AAC or ALAC audio in MP4 container. Standard audio format for Apple ecosystem (iTunes, iPhone, iPad). Supports both lossy (AAC) and lossless (ALAC) compression. Better quality than MP3 at same file size. Includes metadata support for artwork, lyrics, and rich tags. Perfect for iTunes library, iOS devices, and Apple software. Widely compatible across platforms despite Apple association. Common format for purchased music and audiobooks.
Windows Media Audio - Microsoft's proprietary audio codec with good compression and quality. Standard Windows audio format with native OS support. Supports DRM for protected content. Various profiles (WMA Standard, WMA Pro, WMA Lossless). Comparable quality to AAC at similar bitrates. Perfect for Windows ecosystem and legacy Windows Media Player. Being superseded by AAC and other formats. Still encountered in Windows-centric environments and older audio collections.
Lossless Formats
Apple Lossless Audio Codec - Apple's lossless compression reducing file size 40-60% with zero quality loss. Perfect preservation of original audio like FLAC but in Apple ecosystem. Standard lossless format for iTunes and iOS. Supports high-resolution audio up to 384kHz/32-bit. Smaller than uncompressed but larger than lossy formats. Perfect for iTunes library, audiophile iOS listening, and maintaining perfect quality in Apple ecosystem. Comparable to FLAC but with better Apple integration.
Monkey's Audio - high-efficiency lossless compression achieving better ratios than FLAC (typically 55-60% of original). Perfect quality preservation with zero loss. Free format with open specification. Slower compression/decompression than FLAC. Popular in audiophile communities. Limited player support compared to FLAC. Perfect for archiving when maximum space savings desired while maintaining perfect quality. Best for scenarios where storage space is critical and processing speed is not.
WavPack - hybrid lossless/lossy audio codec with unique correction file feature. Can create lossy file with separate correction file for lossless reconstruction. Excellent compression efficiency. Perfect for flexible audio archiving. Less common than FLAC. Supports high-resolution audio and DSD. Convert to FLAC for universal compatibility.
True Audio - lossless audio compression with fast encoding/decoding. Similar compression to FLAC with simpler algorithm. Open-source and free format. Perfect quality preservation. Less common than FLAC with limited player support. Perfect for audio archiving when FLAC compatibility not required. Convert to FLAC for broader compatibility.
Audio Interchange File Format - Apple's uncompressed audio format, equivalent to WAV but for Mac. Stores PCM audio with perfect quality. Standard audio format for macOS and professional Mac audio applications. Supports metadata tags better than WAV. Large file sizes like WAV (10MB per minute). Perfect for Mac-based audio production, professional recording, and scenarios requiring uncompressed audio on Apple platforms. Interchangeable with WAV for most purposes.
Modern Formats
Opus Audio Codec - modern open-source codec (2012) offering best quality at all bitrates from 6kbps to 510kbps. Excels at both speech and music. Lowest latency of modern codecs making it perfect for VoIP and real-time communication. Superior to MP3, AAC, and Vorbis at equivalent bitrates. Used by WhatsApp, Discord, and WebRTC. Ideal for streaming, voice calls, podcasts, and music. Becoming the universal audio codec for internet audio.
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Matroska Audio - audio-only Matroska container supporting any audio codec. Flexible format with metadata support. Can contain multiple audio tracks. Perfect for audio albums with chapters and metadata. Part of Matroska multimedia framework. Used for audiobooks and multi-track audio. Convert to FLAC or MP3 for universal compatibility.
Legacy Formats
MPEG-1 Audio Layer II - predecessor to MP3 used in broadcasting and DVDs. Better quality than MP3 at high bitrates. Standard audio codec for DVB (digital TV) and DVD-Video. Lower compression efficiency than MP3. Perfect for broadcast applications and DVD authoring. Legacy format being replaced by AAC in modern broadcasting. Still encountered in digital TV and video production workflows.
Dolby Digital (AC-3) - surround sound audio codec for DVD, Blu-ray, and digital broadcasting. Supports up to 5.1 channels. Standard audio format for DVDs and HDTV. Good compression with multichannel support. Perfect for home theater and video production. Used in cinema and broadcast. Requires Dolby license for encoding.
Adaptive Multi-Rate - speech codec optimized for mobile voice calls. Excellent voice quality at very low bitrates (4.75-12.2 kbps). Standard for GSM and 3G phone calls. Designed specifically for speech, not music. Perfect for voice recordings, voicemail, and speech applications. Used in WhatsApp voice messages and mobile voice recording. Efficient for voice but inadequate for music.
Sun/NeXT Audio - simple audio format from Sun Microsystems and NeXT Computer. Uncompressed or μ-law/A-law compressed audio. Common on Unix systems. Simple header with audio data. Perfect for Unix audio applications and legacy system compatibility. Found in system sounds and Unix audio files. Convert to WAV or MP3 for modern use.
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RealAudio - legacy streaming audio format from RealNetworks (1990s-2000s). Pioneered internet audio streaming with low-bitrate compression. Obsolete format replaced by modern streaming technologies. Poor quality by today's standards. Convert to MP3 or AAC for modern use. Historical importance in early internet audio streaming.
Specialized Formats
DTS Coherent Acoustics - surround sound codec competing with Dolby Digital. Higher bitrates than AC-3 with potentially better quality. Used in DVD, Blu-ray, and cinema. Supports up to 7.1 channels and object-based audio. Perfect for high-quality home theater. Premium audio format for video distribution. Convert to AC-3 or AAC for broader compatibility.
Core Audio Format - Apple's container for audio data on iOS and macOS. Supports any audio codec and unlimited file sizes. Modern replacement for AIFF on Apple platforms. Perfect for iOS app development and professional Mac audio. No size limitations (unlike WAV). Can store multiple audio streams. Convert to M4A or MP3 for broader compatibility outside Apple ecosystem.
VOC (Creative Voice File) - audio format from Creative Labs Sound Blaster cards. Popular in DOS era (1989-1995) for games and multimedia. Supports multiple compression formats and blocks. Legacy PC audio format. Common in retro gaming. Convert to WAV or MP3 for modern use. Important for DOS game audio preservation.
Speex - open-source speech codec designed for VoIP and internet audio streaming. Variable bitrate from 2-44 kbps. Optimized for speech with low latency. Better than MP3 for voice at low bitrates. Being superseded by Opus. Perfect for voice chat, VoIP, and speech podcasts. Legacy format replaced by Opus in modern applications.
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How to Convert Files
Upload your files, select output format, and download converted files instantly. Our converter supports batch conversion and maintains high quality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TTA (True Audio) and why was it created?
TTA (True Audio) is a lossless audio compression format developed by Alexander Djourik in 1999. It was created as a free alternative to proprietary lossless codecs, focusing on simplicity and compression efficiency. TTA offers similar compression to FLAC (about 50-60% of WAV size) with perfect audio quality preservation. It's completely free and open-source.
TTA's design philosophy: simple algorithm for easy implementation, real-time compression/decompression even on slow hardware, competitive compression ratios, and free licensing. In late 1990s when TTA was created, FLAC didn't exist yet and other lossless options were proprietary. TTA filled an important gap at the time.
Should I convert TTA to FLAC?
Strong reasons to convert TTA to FLAC:
Better Software Support
FLAC works everywhere - phones, computers, cars. TTA requires specialized players. FLAC is universal lossless standard.
Active Development
FLAC is maintained by Xiph.Org with ongoing improvements. TTA development essentially stopped. Choose living formats.
Error Handling
FLAC has robust error detection and recovery. TTA's error handling is basic. Better long-term archival with FLAC.
Hardware Support
Some devices have hardware FLAC decoders. TTA is software-only. FLAC is more efficient on mobile devices.
Converting TTA to FLAC is completely lossless - zero quality loss. Files might be slightly larger (5-10%) but compatibility gains are huge. Do it!
Does converting TTA to FLAC lose quality?
TTA to FLAC conversion quality facts:
Perfect Conversion
Both are lossless. TTA decompresses to PCM, FLAC compresses same PCM. Bit-perfect result. Audio is mathematically identical.
File Size Change
FLAC files typically 5-10% larger than TTA. Both compress to ~50-60% of WAV. Minor size difference, huge compatibility gain.
Metadata Preserved
TTA's limited metadata converts to FLAC's Vorbis Comments. Tags, artwork transfer. No information lost.
Verification Available
Use audio fingerprinting or waveform analysis to verify conversion. Checksums prove bit-perfect lossless conversion.
No Generation Loss
Lossless to lossless preserves everything. Can convert back and forth without quality degradation. Mathematical perfection.
Sample Rate/Bit Depth Unchanged
TTA's specs transfer exactly. 44.1kHz/16-bit stays 44.1kHz/16-bit. High-res audio preserved perfectly.
Compression Difference Only
Only difference is compression algorithm efficiency. Audio content is 100% identical. FLAC just uses different math.
TTA to FLAC conversion is perfectly safe. The only 'loss' is TTA's slightly better compression - quality remains perfect.
Why didn't TTA become popular like FLAC?
Timing and development: FLAC launched in 2001, just 2 years after TTA, but had massive institutional support (Xiph.Org Foundation). FLAC got better promotion, more developer resources, and faster software ecosystem growth. By 2003-2004, FLAC was winning the lossless format war and TTA couldn't catch up.
Feature differences: FLAC included better error recovery mechanisms, more flexible metadata support, and streaming capability from the start. TTA was simpler but this simplicity meant fewer features. FLAC's technical advantages and active development made it the professional choice.
Community and ecosystem: Open-source communities rallied around FLAC. Hardware manufacturers added FLAC support. Linux distributions bundled FLAC libraries. TTA remained niche format with small user base. Network effects and momentum matter - FLAC got critical mass, TTA didn't.
Can I play TTA files on my phone or computer?
Desktop: VLC plays TTA on Windows/Mac/Linux. foobar2000 (Windows) supports TTA. Deadbeef (Linux) supports TTA. Audacity can import TTA for editing. But many players don't bother supporting TTA - FLAC is standard and TTA users are rare. Limited but functional desktop support.
Mobile: iOS doesn't support TTA natively - you'd need specialized apps. Android doesn't have native TTA support either. Some third-party music players might add TTA via plugins but it's not guaranteed. Mobile support is essentially non-existent.
Reality check: Don't rely on TTA playback. Convert to FLAC for universal compatibility. Trying to maintain TTA library means constantly fighting software support issues. One-time conversion solves the problem permanently. FLAC works everywhere TTA works, plus everywhere TTA doesn't.
Is TTA compression better than FLAC?
TTA achieves slightly better compression than FLAC in some cases - files can be 5-10% smaller. This was TTA's main selling point. However, the difference is marginal and doesn't matter with modern storage capacities. Saving 5MB per album doesn't justify using obsolete format with poor software support.
Compression vs features trade-off: TTA's simpler algorithm allows better compression but lacks FLAC's error recovery, streaming support, and flexible metadata. FLAC's slightly worse compression (by tiny margin) is worth it for robustness and features. Professional archivists choose reliability over marginal space savings.
Modern perspective: With terabyte drives costing $50, arguing about 5-10% compression difference is pointless. FLAC's 'good enough' compression with excellent compatibility and active development beats TTA's 'slightly better' compression with no ecosystem. Choose tools with futures, not dead formats.
What are TTA's technical specifications?
TTA is lossless compression format using predictive filtering and entropy coding. It supports sample rates from 8kHz to 96kHz, bit depths of 8, 16, and 24 bits, and both mono and stereo channels. Compression is typically 50-65% of original WAV size depending on audio content.
TTA features: real-time compression and decompression (works on old hardware), error detection via CRC checksums, simple file structure for easy implementation, and royalty-free licensing. However, it lacks FLAC's advanced features like seekable streaming, embedded CUE sheets, and robust error recovery.
Performance: TTA encoding and decoding are fast - competitive with FLAC on compression speed. CPU usage is low enough for real-time operation on modest hardware. For basic lossless compression, TTA works fine. It just lacks ecosystem support and advanced features needed for professional use.
What software can convert TTA files?
TTA conversion software options:
FFmpeg (Best)
Command line tool with TTA support. `ffmpeg -i input.tta -codec:a flac output.flac` converts to FLAC. Powerful, reliable.
foobar2000 (Windows)
Free audio player/converter. Supports TTA natively. Batch convert to FLAC/ALAC/MP3. Easy GUI.
Audacity (Editing)
Import TTA, edit audio, export as FLAC/WAV/MP3. Cross-platform. Good for single file conversion with editing.
dBpoweramp (Paid)
Professional converter with TTA codec. Batch processing, metadata preservation. Windows/Mac. High quality.
Online Converters
Our converter and others support TTA. Upload, convert, download. Easy for occasional conversions.
For large TTA libraries, use FFmpeg or foobar2000 for batch conversion. Convert everything to FLAC once and forget about TTA forever.
Should I keep TTA files or convert to modern formats?
Convert to FLAC! TTA offers no advantages over FLAC except marginal compression (5-10% smaller files - irrelevant today). FLAC has vastly superior software support, hardware compatibility, active development, and professional adoption. The tiny storage savings from TTA don't justify compatibility headaches.
Future-proofing: TTA development is essentially dead. In 10 years, software support might disappear completely. FLAC is actively maintained by Xiph.Org and has institutional backing. It's the safe bet for long-term archival. Converting TTA to FLAC today ensures your music remains accessible decades from now.
One-time effort: Converting your TTA library to FLAC is a few hours of processing time (depending on library size) for permanent compatibility gains. Do it now while TTA decoders are still available. Don't wait until TTA becomes truly orphaned format requiring archaeological software recovery.
When was TTA actually useful?
TTA's historical relevance:
Late 1990s - Early 2000s
Before FLAC (2001), TTA was free lossless option. Alternatives were proprietary (Monkey's Audio, WavPack) or non-existent.
Storage-Constrained Era
When hard drives were $1/GB, TTA's 5-10% better compression mattered. Saved hundreds of MB per collection.
Simple Implementation Needs
TTA's simple algorithm made it easy to implement in software. Some developers preferred it over complex FLAC initially.
FLAC Competition (2001-2005)
TTA competed with early FLAC. Some users preferred TTA's compression. Format wars were real back then.
Decline: Mid-2000s
By 2005-2006, FLAC clearly won. Better software, hardware adoption, community support. TTA became legacy format.
Never Mainstream
TTA was always niche. Used by audiophile communities and Eastern European users. Never achieved broad adoption.
Today: Obsolete
TTA exists only in old archives and stubborn users' collections. No reason to use it for new projects.
Still Works
TTA isn't broken - it still compresses perfectly. Just irrelevant compared to FLAC. Like VHS vs streaming.
Educational Value
Interesting for audio codec history. Shows how timing and ecosystem matter more than pure technical merit.
Convert and Move On
If you have TTA files, they're artifacts of early 2000s lossless codec competition. Convert to FLAC and join present.
Can TTA files have metadata and album art?
TTA has limited metadata support using ID3v1/ID3v2 tags (borrowed from MP3 standards). You can store basic information like artist, album, title, year, genre. Album art embedding is theoretically possible via ID3v2 but support is inconsistent across software. Many TTA players don't read metadata properly.
This is another disadvantage vs FLAC: FLAC's Vorbis Comments are more flexible, better-supported, and handle Unicode better. FLAC also has standardized album art embedding that works reliably. If you care about metadata and artwork (and you should for music libraries), FLAC is vastly superior.
Converting TTA to FLAC preserves metadata through tag conversion tools. Mp3tag, foobar2000, and FFmpeg handle tag migration. You might need to re-embed artwork after conversion as TTA's artwork support is non-standard. Worth the effort for properly tagged library.
Why is TTA still used in some regions?
TTA had stronger adoption in Eastern Europe and Russia in early 2000s. Some Russian music forums and sharing communities standardized on TTA before FLAC became dominant. Cultural inertia kept TTA usage alive in these regions longer than elsewhere. Old archives and established workflows perpetuate TTA usage.
Also, some users genuinely prefer TTA's marginal compression advantage - if you're archiving thousands of albums on limited storage, every MB matters. In regions where internet bandwidth is expensive or limited, smaller file sizes have practical value. TTA's slight edge in compression keeps small user base.
But even in these niches, FLAC is taking over: better modern software support outweighs compression savings, cheaper storage makes size differences irrelevant, and mainstream adoption of FLAC makes it the practical choice. TTA usage is declining everywhere - it's matter of time.
How do I batch convert my TTA library to FLAC?
Best method - FFmpeg: Create script to batch convert. Windows: `for %f in (*.tta) do ffmpeg -i "%f" -codec:a flac "%~nf.flac"`. Linux/Mac: `for f in *.tta; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -codec:a flac "${f%.tta}.flac"; done`. Processes entire folder, preserves filenames.
GUI alternative - foobar2000 (Windows): Add TTA folder to library, select all files, right-click > Convert, choose FLAC output format, set compression level (5-8 recommended), configure output folder structure, click Convert. Excellent for batch conversion with metadata preservation and folder organization.
Tips: Verify a few conversions before processing entire library. Back up original TTA files until you confirm FLAC conversions are successful. Use FLAC compression level 5-8 (good balance). For huge libraries (thousands of files), process in batches of 500-1000 albums to avoid crashes. Conversion can take hours - be patient!
What happened to TTA development?
TTA development essentially stopped in mid-2000s. Last significant update was TTA version 3.0 in 2008. The format works and specifications are stable, but there's no active development - no new features, no improvements, no ongoing maintenance. Creator moved on and community never materialized around TTA.
Compare to FLAC: FLAC has regular updates, ongoing optimization, bug fixes, and new features. Xiph.Org Foundation actively maintains FLAC. This difference matters for long-term format viability. Active projects survive, abandoned projects fade. TTA is the latter.
Lesson: Open-source formats need communities, not just code. TTA had open code but failed to build ecosystem. FLAC succeeded because it had organization (Xiph.Org), community involvement, and continuous development. For archival formats, choose ones with institutional backing and active development.
TTA vs FLAC vs ALAC - which lossless format should I use?
Use FLAC for everything except Apple-only workflows. FLAC is the universal lossless standard - works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, most hardware players. Open-source, actively developed, excellent software support, robust error handling. It's the professional choice and safe bet for music archival.
Use ALAC if you're entirely Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPhone, iPad, HomePod) and want native support. ALAC has tight iTunes/Music app integration. But even Apple users often choose FLAC for its wider compatibility and better long-term format safety.
Don't use TTA. It offers nothing over FLAC except marginal compression (irrelevant with cheap storage) and has terrible software support, no active development, and uncertain future. If you have TTA files, convert to FLAC immediately. TTA is computing history, not current technology. Choose formats with futures.