What is WavPack?
WavPack is a completely open audio compression format that provides lossless, high-quality lossy, and a unique hybrid compression mode. It serves as a universal audio archiving solution, supporting various audio data formats including 8, 16, 24, and 32-bit integer PCM, 32-bit float PCM, and DSD audio, with compatibility for mono, stereo, and multichannel setups up to at least 256 channels. The format handles modern audio file formats such as Microsoft WAV/BWF/RF64, Apple AIFF & CAF, Sony Wave64, Philips DSDIFF, and Sony DSF without size limitations.
In lossless mode, WavPack preserves all headers and metadata, ensuring restored files are identical to the original without any audible degradation. The hybrid mode creates both a small, high-quality lossy file and a correction file for full lossless restoration, eliminating the need to choose between lossless and lossy compression. WavPack employs public domain techniques like linear prediction with LMS adaptation and Elias and Golomb codes, avoiding patented methods to remain open and royalty-free. It supports multiplatform use on Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android, with features like multicore CPU utilization, WebAssembly decoder for web playback, and easy re-encoding with a single command.
Features
- Hybrid Compression Mode: Provides both lossy and lossless files with correction for full restoration
- Lossless Audio Preservation: Maintains all original bits and metadata without degradation
- Multiplatform Support: Works on Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android
- DSD Audio Compression: Supports lossless DSD audio for high-quality archiving
- Open Source and Royalty-Free: Uses public domain techniques with a BSD license
Use Cases
- Audio archiving and preservation for music libraries
- High-quality audio compression for professional audio editing
- Lossless audio storage for audiophiles and collectors
- Hybrid compression for balancing file size and quality in media players
- Universal audio format support in software and hardware devices
