WAV vs AIFF files

[MarkVukalcic]

I will be adding keys and sax on a studio project, recorded on a Mac, tracked to Digital Performer, 24 bit @ 48 kHz audio files. The engineer has offered to
download the tracks to either WAV/AIFF to my USB powered HD(G-Drive Q 2
500 GB). I will be adding new tracks, using Logic Pro 8. Is there any advantage to AIFF over WAV? Using Macbook OSX 10.5.8 2.4 GHz Core Duo
4 GB RAM. Thanks, Mark V

 

[salientstimulus]

I don't think it would really make a difference, but Logic uses AIF files, so that seems like a logical choice.

Edit: are you working at 48 kHz for a particular reason (i.e., for DVD audio)? If it's for CD/mp3, you might ask the engineer to give you 44.1/24 tracks.

 

[synth3tik]

Both AIFF and WAV files are the same as far as quality is concerned. I use AIFFs in my season as I use Logic (All Apple Loops need to be AIFF), however when sending tracks to other people I usually export them as WAV. More people are fimilar with WAVs, but really there is no difference. One thing I can say is that if your tracks are currently AIFF, if you can, I would leave them. The more convering you do can degrade the audio (more so converting A to D and vs versa).

AIFF = Audio Interlaced File Format
WAV = Windows Audio File.

 

[jodelli]

AIFF is the way to go with Mac software.
Both .wav and .aiff are uncompressed files using pulse code modulation. When burned to a CD audio format the resulting .cda tracks no longer use PCM.

 

[jackerin]

When burned to a CD audio format the resulting .cda tracks no longer use PCM.

Not related to the op's question, but isn't CD audio still PCM?

 

[jodelli]

Not related to the op's question, but isn't CD audio still PCM?

Yes, but the .cda file is only a pointer and doesn't contain any actual track data.

I shouldn't have bothered to mention it really except I've heard people ask what it was.

 

[ChrisA]

... if your tracks are currently AIFF, if you can, I would leave them. The more convering you do can degrade the audio (more so converting A to D and vs versa).

There is no loss in quality when converting between lossless formats. This is not so much an observation as it is a definition.