AudioClip

An audioclip is a short segment of audio, either extracted from a longer recording or created as a standalone piece. It is commonly used as a sound effect, a promotional snippet, a sample in music production, or a component in multimedia projects. Audioclips vary in duration from fractions of a second to several seconds, and they can be monophonic or stereo.

Technical characteristics and formats vary by application. Typical sampling rates include 44100 Hz or 48000 Hz, with bit depths of 16 or 24 bits. Common file formats for audioclips include MP3, WAV, AAC, and OGG, with sizes determined by duration and bitrate. In software and game development, an AudioClip may refer to a data object that stores audio sample data and interfaces with an audio engine to control playback, looping, and effects.

Creation and editing often involve recording or synthesizing sounds, followed by trimming, normalization, and processing in a digital audio workstation or other editing tools. Clips can be edited for timing, volume, and fidelity, and may be prepared for looping or seamless transition between segments.

Licensing and rights are important considerations. Audioclips can be original works or sourced from libraries, stock media, or collaborators. Rights may include ownership, royalty arrangements, attribution requirements, and restrictions on commercial use or redistribution. Creative Commons licenses and royalty-free libraries are common pathways for obtaining legally usable clips.

Applications span film, television, podcasts, video games, advertising, and mobile apps. Metadata, including title, creator, duration, license, and tags, aids cataloging and search in digital libraries.