Format

Purpose

Notes

WAV or AIFF

Archival storage

Uncompressed

WAV – from Microsoft; AIFF – from Apple.

Check if your device will provide either format.  General rule of thumb: record at the highest quality your device will allow, and plan in advance that you have enough memory to store your interview.

MP3

Derivative / web-ready

Compressed

If you provide a WAV or AIFF file, the digital library will make an mp3 file for you; there is no need to supply this.

OGG

Derivative / web-ready

Compressed

The OGG format is an open-source standard.   Less popular than MP3.

Other formats

Derivative

Compressed

Audio recorders may capture sound in a variety of formats.  It is best to try to capture via WAV, AIFF, or MP3 whenever possible.  Formats such as M4A, MP4, etc. can be made available to download in the digital library, but will not be playable on the site.