Windows Media Audio
| Windows Media Audio | |
|---|---|
| Filename extension |
.wma |
| Internet media type | audio/x-ms-wma |
| Developed by | Microsoft |
| Initial release | August 17, 1999[1] |
| Type of format | Audio |
| Open format? | No |
| Free format? | No |
| Website | microsoft.com/windowsmedia at the Wayback Machine (archived 2008-02-11) |
Windows Media Audio (WMA) is a series of audio codecs and their corresponding audio coding formats developed by Microsoft. It is a proprietary technology that forms part of the Windows Media framework. Audio encoded in WMA is stored in a digital container format called Advanced Systems Format (ASF).
WMA consists of four distinct codecs. The original WMA codec, known simply as WMA, was conceived as a competitor to the popular MP3 and RealAudio codecs.[2][3] WMA Pro, a newer and more advanced codec, supports multichannel and high-resolution audio.[4] A lossless codec, WMA Lossless, compresses audio data without loss of audio fidelity (the regular WMA format is lossy).[4] WMA Voice, targeted at voice content, applies compression using a range of low bit rates.[4]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
wmt4-releasewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Smith, Tony (1999-03-12). "Microsoft readies MP3-killer digital music format". The Register. Archived from the original on 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
- ^ "Analysis of the Microsoft Audio Codec". RealNetworks. Archived from the original on 2007-08-18. Retrieved 2007-08-16.
- ^ a b c "Windows Media 9 Series Capabilities and Benefits Overview". International Narcotics Control Board. Archived from the original (DOC) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-16.