Audio File Extensions

As with videos, audio files too have become increasingly diversified with the passage of time. And the PC Beginner may find it tough to remember all of them. So, here is a list of the common audio formats in use currently :

Audio Extension	Type of Format	Description
MP3	MPEG Layer-3	The standard audio extension which is used widely in music, having a high compression ratio
WAV	Waveform Audio	The basic uncompressed audio format.
WMA	Windows Media Audio	The audio format created for Windows by Microsoft.
MIDI / MID	Musical Instrument Digital Interface	The audio format used for musical instruments. It’s size is low as it does not contain the sound itself but just the information for the CPU about the sound to be played .
AMR	Adaptive Multi-Rate Narrow Band	The file format used by sound recorded in Nokia Mobile Phones
AAC	Advanced Audio Coding	The format that is used by Apple, Sony & Nintendo which is designed to be a successor to MP3.
RA	Real Audio	The audio format created by Real Networks.

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Video File Extensions

With the increasing storage spaces & the introduction of YouTube, Videos have become increasingly popular with the current generation. But, the extensions of videos have become increasingly diversified as well. It might be a bit tough for the PC Beginner to remember all the video extensions. So, here is a list of the common video formats used. To run some of these videos extensions., you will need a codec pack. For more information on codecs, visit Playing Videos - Part 1.

Video Extension	Type of Format
MPEG / MPG	Motion Pictures Exchange Group
MOV	QuickTime Video
RM	Real Media
DAT	VCD Format
VOB	DVD Video Format
WMV	Windows Media Audio/Video file
AVI	Audio Video Interleave
3GP	Third Generation Partnership Project
MP4	MPEG – 4 Part 14
GVI	Google Video File
SWF / FLV	Flash Video

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