WMA and WAV explained
WMA is Microsoft's audio format from the Windows Media era. It is functionally obsolete and some older files carry DRM that prevents conversion.
WAV stores uncompressed PCM audio — the raw samples, exactly as captured. A stereo CD-quality minute is roughly 10 MB, which is the price of having no compression whatsoever.
- Where WMA files come from
- Music ripped on Windows in the 2000s.
- Where WAV is used
- Recording sessions, sample libraries and audio editing.