Sustainability of Digital Formats: Planning for Library of Congress Collections

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RealAudio, Lossless Codec

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Format Description Properties Explanation of format description terms

Identification and description Explanation of format description terms

Full name RealAudio, Lossless Codec
Description Audio compression codec recommended by RealMedia for use by "professional and archiving services." The codec creator report that the compression algorithm generally cuts` file sizes in half.
Production phase Generally a middle-state format, suitable for use in asset management and archiving.
Relationship to other formats
    Used by RealAudio_10, RealAudio, Version 10

Local use Explanation of format description terms

LC experience or existing holdings See RealAudio_10
LC preference See RealAudio_10

Sustainability factors Explanation of format description terms

Disclosure See RealAudio_10
    Documentation See RealAudio_10
Adoption See RealAudio_10
    Licensing and patents See RealAudio_10
Transparency See RealAudio_10
Self-documentation See RealAudio_10
External dependencies See RealAudio_10
Technical protection considerations See RealAudio_10

Quality and functionality factors Explanation of format description terms

Sound
Normal rendering Good support
Fidelity (high audio resolution) Excellent, although the application may be limited to CD-quality source material (44.1 kHz sampling, 16-bit words).
Multiple channels Not investigated

File type signifiers and format identifiers Explanation of format description terms

Tag Value Note
Filename extension Not applicable. 

See RealAudio_10

Internet Media Type Not applicable. 

See RealAudio_10

Magic numbers Not applicable. 

See RealAudio_10

Microsoft FOURCC ralf
For the lossless codec (RealAudio 10), this fourcc code will appear in the RealAudio_10 file wrapper.
Pronom PUID See note.  PRONOM has no corresponding entry as of July 2022.
Wikidata Title ID Q4048055
See https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4048055

Notes Explanation of format description terms

General  
History  

Format specifications Explanation of format description terms


Useful references

URLs


Last Updated: 07/01/2022