Wave File Compression Codecs Compared

Audio Compression Manager

This is a reference to compare the audio quality and compression bitrates of the different wave compression codecs available for ".wav" and ".dct" files using the audio compression manager including PCM, GSM, ADPCM, CELP, SBC, TrueSpeech and MPEG Layer-3. Note: The Audio Compression Manager (ACM) is used for recording to .wav (wave) or .dct (dictation) files. For other file formats, please start with the Sound File Formats page.

The ACM is used by:

WavePad Sound Editing Software Express Dictate - Dictation Recorder Switch Audio File Format Converter Pocket Dictate - Voice Recorder for Pocket PC AudioTime - Programmable Audio Recorder and Player VRS Recording Software MSRS Court and Conference Recorder RecordPad Sound Recorder Software SoundTap Streaming Audio Recorder and many other of our Sound Programs

The audio file compression formats listed on this page are low bitrate speech formats. Higher bitrate music and broadcast voice formats are not listed.

You can listen to samples of each audio format by clicking on the "Sample" link.

Format

Bitrate

1 min =

Sample

11,025Hz 16bit PCM 176.4kbs 1292k 11k16bitpcm.wav

8000Hz 16bit PCM 128kbs 937.5k 8k16bitpcm.wav

11,025Hz 8bit PCM 88.2kbs 646k 11k8bitpcm.wav

11,025Hz u-Law 88.2kbs 646k 11kulaw.wav

8,000Hz 8bit PCM 64kbs 468.8k 8k8bitpcm.wav

8,000Hz u-Law
* toll quality telephone 64kbs 468.8k 8kulaw.wav

11,025Hz 4bit ADPCM 44.1kbs 323k 11kadpcm.wav

8000Hz 4bit ADPCM 32kbs 234.4k 8kadpcm.wav

11,025Hz GSM6.10 18kbs 131.8k 11kgsm.wav

8000Hz Mp3 16k 16kbs 117k 8kmp316.wav

8,000Hz GSM6.10
* cell phone quality 13kbs 102.5k 8kgsm.wav

8000Hz Lernout & Hauspie SBC 12k 12.0kbs 87.9k 8ksbc12.wav

8,000Hz DSP Group TrueSpeech 9kbs 65.9k 8ktruespeech.wav

8000Hz Mp3 8k 8kbs 60k 8kmp38.wav

8,000Hz Lernout & Hauspie CELP 4.8kbs 35k 8kcelp.wav

Comments

The above are wave files - even if they have the mp3 codec they will have the ".wav" or ".dct" extension. For a broader overview of other file formats, please see the Sound File Formats page.

Recommended Codec

NCH Swift Sound currently recommends GSM6.10 8000Hz for voice recording.

Problem Formats

The ACM codec shipped with Windows 2000/XP called "Microsoft G.723.1" has a bug which means it cannot be used for encoding / recording. Please do not attempt to use this format.

Discussion Forum

If you have any questions in ACM codecs or are generally interested please see the Sound Formats Discussion Forum.

Software that Support ACM

A number of the NCH Swift Sound professional audio software applications include the Audio Compression Manager:

VRS Multiple Channel Recorder Express Dictate - Computer Dictaphone MSRS Court and Conference Recorder DialDictate - Dictate by Telephone Express Scribe - Foot pedal transcription player IVM Telephone Answering Attendant Pocket Dictate - Dictation recorder for Pocket PCs WavePad - Sound Editing Software Switch - Sound File Format Converter

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