For longevity, is it best to store audio information on a CD-R as a .wav file or as an .mp3 file?
It is best to record your audio files as a .wav file. An .mp3 file is a .wav file in which some data has been discarded in order to reduce the file size. The computer chooses which data to discard based on what the listener will least notice. You might be able to “compress” an eroding.wav file into .mp3 format later on and end up with a reasonably good .mp3. However, because the .wav file has already lost so much when it was converted to .mp3, a further loss from the aging of an .mp3 might be catastrophic. If given the choice between recording, onto a CD-R, a .wav file into the audio CD format (the same format as the audio CDs you purchase) or recording it as a data file (like any other file you would save), choose the data file. When audio CD format files lose data, the player attempts to either insert data from previous and following data, or to mute the audio for a moment if there are too many consecutive errors. Loss of data may translate into clicks and pops when the CD is being p
