WAV: Difference between revisions
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Note:Custom audio backends, such as MetaAudio or FMOD can extend the range of supported sample rates and bit depths.
Confirm:What about 
Source 2? It definitely supports 16-bit 44.1 KHz WAVs (mono and stereo), but does it support the other formats that 
and 
support?
It supposedly supports arbitrary sample rates for MP3s; is this the case for WAVs as well?
Bug:Files using the extended Broadcast Wave Format (BWF) have weird behavior in Source, and should be converted to regular WAV using FFmpeg or Audacity before use in-game. Some audio editors export as BWF automatically, such as Pro Tools and Logic Pro, and do not provide an option to export a standard WAV.
Warning:Although the WAV format specifications permit up to 32 channels in a single file, and supports surround sound, does not support WAV files with more than 2 channels!
Tip:Bitrate = Sample Rate * Bit Depth * Channel Count
Tip:(only in ) If lower file sizes are desired, MP3 files can also be used in some situations; see Compression (Source 1)#Audio Compression for comparisons.
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'''Waveform Audio File Format''' is an audio format with a {{code|.wav}} file extension, used by all of Valve's engines. It is required for [[Faceposer|lipsynced dialogue]] and [[Looping a Sound|looped sounds]] without a custom audio backend. | '''Waveform Audio File Format''' is an audio format with a {{code|.wav}} file extension, used by all of Valve's engines. It is required for [[Faceposer|lipsynced dialogue]] and [[Looping a Sound|looped sounds]] without a custom audio backend. | ||
{{gldsrc|4}} supports uncompressed 8-bit or 16-bit PCM, although lip-synched audio must be 8-bit. It supports sample rates of 11025 Hz or 22050 Hz; other sample rates can sometimes be used, but they will be resampled to 22050 Hz before playback | {{gldsrc|4}} supports uncompressed 8-bit or 16-bit PCM, although lip-synched audio must be 8-bit. It supports sample rates of 11025 Hz or 22050 Hz; other sample rates can sometimes be used, but they will be resampled to 22050 Hz before playback, without any interpolation. | ||
{{src|4}} supports uncompressed 8-bit and 16-bit PCM, as well as [[compression|compressed]] 4-bit Microsoft ADPCM. It supports sample rates at 11025 Hz, 22050 Hz, and 44100 Hz; files at other sample rates, such as 32000 Hz and 48000 Hz, will not play. | {{src|4}} supports uncompressed 8-bit and 16-bit PCM, as well as [[compression|compressed]] 4-bit Microsoft ADPCM (not IMA). It supports sample rates at 11025 Hz, 22050 Hz, and 44100 Hz; files at other sample rates, such as 32000 Hz and 48000 Hz, will not play. | ||
{{note|Custom audio backends, such as [https://pastebin.com/L5BTxMVW MetaAudio] or [[FMOD]] can extend the range of supported sample rates and bit depths.}} | |||
{{ModernConfirm|What about {{src2|4}}? It definitely supports 16-bit 44.1 KHz WAVs (mono and stereo), but does it support the other formats that {{src}} and {{gldsrc}} support?<br>It supposedly supports arbitrary sample rates for MP3s; is this the case for WAVs as well?}} | {{ModernConfirm|What about {{src2|4}}? It definitely supports 16-bit 44.1 KHz WAVs (mono and stereo), but does it support the other formats that {{src}} and {{gldsrc}} support?<br>It supposedly supports arbitrary sample rates for MP3s; is this the case for WAVs as well?}} | ||
{{bug|Files using the extended [[Wikipedia:Broadcast Wave Format|Broadcast Wave Format (BWF)]] have weird behavior in Source, and should be converted to regular WAV using | {{bug|hidetested=1|Files using the extended [[Wikipedia:Broadcast Wave Format|Broadcast Wave Format (BWF)]] have weird behavior in Source, and should be converted to regular WAV using FFmpeg or Audacity before use in-game. Some audio editors export as BWF automatically, such as Pro Tools and Logic Pro, and do not provide an option to export a standard WAV.}} | ||
{{warning|Although the WAV format specifications permit up to 32 channels in a single file, and {{src}} supports surround sound, {{src}} does '''''not''''' support WAV files with more than 2 channels!}} | {{warning|Although the WAV format specifications permit up to 32 channels in a single file, and {{src}} supports surround sound, {{src}} does '''''not''''' support WAV files with more than 2 channels!}} | ||
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Some games (particularly third-party ones) may support additional sample rates and bit depths, but the above sample rates are supported by all {{src|1}} games. | |||
{{tip|{{only|{{src}}{{src2}}}} If lower file sizes are desired, [[MP3]] files can also be used in some situations; see [[Compression (Source 1)#Audio Compression]] for comparisons.}} | {{tip|{{only|{{src}}{{src2}}}} If lower file sizes are desired, [[MP3]] files can also be used in some situations; see [[Compression (Source 1)#Audio Compression]] for comparisons.}} | ||
Latest revision as of 07:20, 20 May 2025
Waveform Audio File Format is an audio format with a .wav file extension, used by all of Valve's engines. It is required for lipsynced dialogue and looped sounds without a custom audio backend.
GoldSrc supports uncompressed 8-bit or 16-bit PCM, although lip-synched audio must be 8-bit. It supports sample rates of 11025 Hz or 22050 Hz; other sample rates can sometimes be used, but they will be resampled to 22050 Hz before playback, without any interpolation.
Source supports uncompressed 8-bit and 16-bit PCM, as well as compressed 4-bit Microsoft ADPCM (not IMA). It supports sample rates at 11025 Hz, 22050 Hz, and 44100 Hz; files at other sample rates, such as 32000 Hz and 48000 Hz, will not play.
Note:Custom audio backends, such as MetaAudio or FMOD can extend the range of supported sample rates and bit depths. Confirm:What about Source 2? It definitely supports 16-bit 44.1 KHz WAVs (mono and stereo), but does it support the other formats that and support?It supposedly supports arbitrary sample rates for MP3s; is this the case for WAVs as well?
Bug:Files using the extended Broadcast Wave Format (BWF) have weird behavior in Source, and should be converted to regular WAV using FFmpeg or Audacity before use in-game. Some audio editors export as BWF automatically, such as Pro Tools and Logic Pro, and do not provide an option to export a standard WAV.Warning:Although the WAV format specifications permit up to 32 channels in a single file, and supports surround sound, does not support WAV files with more than 2 channels!Bit rates
WAV files have a consistent bitrate depending upon their sample rate, bit depth, and channel count. The following tables indicate what bitrates files will be at supported sample rates.
Tip:Bitrate = Sample Rate * Bit Depth * Channel CountMono sounds (1 channel)
| Sample Rate | 16-bit PCM | 8-bit PCM | 4-bit ADPCM | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11025 Hz | 176.4 kbps | 88.2 kbps | 44.1 kbps | AM radio; used by most  sound effects
|
| 22050 Hz | 352.8 kbps | 176.4 kbps | 88.2 kbps | Max sample rate of sound effects
|
| 44100 Hz | 705.6 kbps | 352.8 kbps | 176.4 kbps | CD quality |
Stereo sounds (2 channels) (not in )
| Sample Rate | 16-bit PCM | 8-bit PCM | 4-bit ADPCM | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11025 Hz | 352.8 kbps | 176.4 kbps | 88.2 kbps | AM radio |
| 22050 Hz | 705.6 kbps | 352.8 kbps | 176.4 kbps | |
| 44100 Hz | 1411.2 kbps | 705.6 kbps | 352.8 kbps | CD quality |
Some games (particularly third-party ones) may support additional sample rates and bit depths, but the above sample rates are supported by all Source games.
Tip:(only in ) If lower file sizes are desired, MP3 files can also be used in some situations; see Compression (Source 1)#Audio Compression for comparisons.