ABSTRACT
Containers specify the organization of the data within them, while codecs provide various ways of storing data so the digital information occupies less space. Codecs employ one of two compression methods, lossless or lossy. A discussion of the common file types employed for delivery (wav, aiff, flac, alac, mp3, aac, and vorbis) prepares readers for a consideration of the loudness parameters associated with recording and the tools engineers use to measure loudness. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has set standards for measuring loudness that have been adopted in many countries, and the historic practices of classical recordists coincide with the EBU’s recommendations quite well. Metering software by MeterPlugs and Nugen Audio are discussed.
