About the Aiff file format
- Name
- Audio Interchange File Format
- Extension
- .aiff
- Format
- Binary
- Category
- Audio
- Developer
- Apple
- Description
- High-quality audio file created using the (AIFF) file format; contains CD-quality audio stored in a non-compressed, lossless format, similar .WAV files; commonly used to burn audio CDs.
- MIME Type
- audio/aiff
- Sample
- sample.aiff
- Wikipedia
- .aiff on Wikipedia
Audio Interchange File Format (AIIF) is an audio file format used to store Sound data for electronic devices like the PC, among others. Apple Inc developed the file format in 1988, and it is commonly used on Apple Macintosh computer systems. It’s based on Electronic Arts Interchange File Format, often referred to as the Amiga systems. The SGI, Silicon Graphics Incorporated, also uses the AIIF.
AIIF stores most of its audio data in uncompressed lossless Pulse code modulation (PCM) form. For this reason, they take a lot of storage space compared to the lossy MP3 files. It is very similar to a WAV file with a 16-bits depth and 44.1 kHz sample bitrate.
The file is inclusive of Loop point data and a Sample musical note which is used by both hardware samplers and vocal applications. The file uses the .aiff extension, and the compressed few files use .aifc extension.
The file is divide into chunks with each chunk having a chunk ID. The Metadata stored in these files includes; comments, author, annotation, name, and Copyright chunks. The format is considered the standard form of professional levels for audio and video applications.
Most multimedia format players like VLC, Apple iTunes, Quick Time, Windows Media Players, and media player classics play the AIFF files.
