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Audio bitrate

Bitrate is a key factor in determining the quality and size of an audio file.

What is bitrate?

It refers to the amount of data used per second of audio. The higher the bitrate, the more data is used to represent the sound, which generally results in better quality, but also larger file sizes.

Bitrate levels

Bitrate typically ranges from 64 kbps to 320 kbps. Here's what each range generally means:

  • Low Bitrate (64 kbps - 128 kbps): Best for speech or low-quality audio. Common in podcasts, audiobooks, or low-bandwidth streaming.
  • Medium Bitrate (128 kbps - 192 kbps): Offers a good balance of audio quality and file size. Suitable for casual music listening and streaming.
  • High Bitrate (256 kbps - 320 kbps): Provides excellent audio quality, often indistinguishable from the original. Ideal for high-quality music listening or archiving.

How to choose bitrate

The right bitrate depends on your needs. For casual listening or online streaming, a lower bitrate may be sufficient. For critical listening or music collections, a higher bitrate ensures the best sound quality. If you're working with storage limitations or bandwidth concerns, you may opt for a lower bitrate to reduce file size.