WAV (WAVE) is the best-known file format for storing audio. In DTM it is widely used for recorded material, track exports, mixing, and the data you pass on to mastering. WAV is the container format, and what audio data goes inside it is something you confirm in the settings.
What WAV stores
WAV is an audio file format based on RIFF that can hold chunks of information alongside the audio. In typical music production it usually means a WAV containing uncompressed PCM audio, used as the reference file for re-editing and handover.
WAV alone does not determine quality
Choosing WAV does not by itself decide the sound quality. The sample rate, bit depth, channel count, and the internal encoding determine the actual data size and the range you can work with. Match these to the destination or to your production project.
Why it is easy to work with in production
Because PCM WAV goes through no lossy compression, it suits production stages involving editing, processing, and re-exporting. It is also widely supported by DAWs, video editors, and studio-to-studio handover. In exchange, files get large with long songs, high sample rates and bit depths, or many channels.
Keep it separate from sharing files
Because WAV files are large, MP3 or AAC can be more appropriate for email attachments, listening on a phone, or public downloads. As long as you keep the WAV as the source, you can create other formats later. Converting an MP3 to WAV does not bring back what was lost, so it is important never to make an already-compressed file your master.
What to check when exporting
When bouncing, confirm the sample rate, bit depth, stereo or mono, and the start and end points the destination specifies. When in doubt, do not convert on your own initiative but ask what they want. When you want to make a light MP3 for sharing from a WAV, you can use the WAV to MP3 converter.
