WAVcompatible

WAVcompatible refers to software, hardware, or workflows that can read, write, or otherwise process WAV files, the Waveform Audio File Format defined as part of the RIFF container by Microsoft and IBM. A WAV-compatible program can typically import and export audio data stored in the WAV format, preserving the integrity of the PCM data and supporting common metadata structures used in RIFF-based WAV files.

Technical basics include the RIFF/WAVE file structure, a fmt chunk that describes the audio format, and a data chunk that contains the raw audio samples. The most common encoding in WAV files is PCM (pulse-code modulation), but WAV can also carry other encodings such as IEEE 32-bit float or µ-law/a-law in some implementations. Typical sample rates range from 8 kHz to 192 kHz, and bit depths commonly span 8 to 32 bits, with 16-bit PCM being the most widely used standard for consumer audio. Some WAV implementations use the WAVE_FORMAT_EXTENSIBLE extension to specify detailed channel masks and non-PCM formats.

Compatibility considerations include cross-platform support across Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as compatibility with major audio editing suites and media players. The format is valued for lossless audio quality and straightforward editing but can result in large file sizes compared to compressed formats. In practice, WAV-compatible tools emphasize accurate import/export, preservation of sample data, and proper handling of RIFF chunks and metadata. Some environments address the 4 GB file-size limit with RF64 or other extensions while maintaining WAV compatibility.