Broadcast WAVE File Format, Version 1, with LPCM Audio

Sustainability of Digital Formats Planning for Library of Congress Collections

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Broadcast WAVE File Format, Version 1, with LPCM Audio

Table of Contents

Identification and description
Local use
Sustainability factors
Quality and functionality factors
File type signifiers
Notes
Format specifications
Useful references

Format Description Properties

ID: fdd000003
Short name: WAVE_BWF_LPCM_1
Content categories: sound
Format Category: file-format
Other facets: unitary, binary, sampled
Last significant update: 2012-10-25
Draft status: Full

Identification and description

Relationship to other formats
Full name	Broadcast WAVE file, version 1, with LPCM encoded audio.
Description	Broadcast WAVE file, version 1, with LPCM encoded audio.
Production phase	Used for content in initial, middle, and final states.
Subtype of	WAVE_BWF_1, Broadcast WAVE Audio File Format, Version 1
Contains	LPCM, Linear PCM

Local use

LC experience or existing holdings	When reformatting analog sound recordings, the Broadcast WAVE format (either version), wrapping LPCM, is used as the archival master format for mono and stereo audio at the Packard Campus for Audio-Visual Conservation and by the American Folklife Center.
LC preference	The Broadcast WAVE format (either version), wrapping LPCM, is preferred as the archival master format for mono and stereo audio when reformatting analog sound recordings. The Library is a participant in the Federal Agencies Audio-Visual Working Group that published a recommended specification for BWF bext metadata conforming to version 1 in 2009, with an update conforming to version 2 in 2012.

Sustainability factors

Disclosure	See WAVE_BWF_1 and LPCM.
Documentation	See WAVE_BWF_1 and LPCM.
Adoption	See WAVE_BWF_1 and LPCM.
Licensing and patents	See WAVE_BWF_1 and LPCM.
Transparency	See WAVE_BWF_1 and LPCM.
Self-documentation	See WAVE_BWF_1 and LPCM.
External dependencies	See WAVE_BWF_1 and LPCM.
Technical protection considerations

Quality and functionality factors

Sound
Normal rendering	Supported
Fidelity (high audio resolution)	See LPCM.
Multiple channels	See WAVE_BWF_1.
Support for user-defined sounds, samples, and patches	See WAVE_BWF_1.
Functionality beyond normal rendering	Not applicable.

File type signifiers

Tag	Value	Note
Filename extension	wav
Internet Media Type	See related format.	See WAVE.
Magic numbers	See related format.	See WAVE.

Notes

General
History

Format specifications

See Disclosure under Sustainability factors.

Useful references

Last Updated: 10/25/2012