WavPack

WavPack is a completely open audio compression format providing lossless, high-quality lossy, and a unique hybrid compression mode. Although the technology is loosely ba...

Free • Open Source
Audio Codec

Mac
Windows
Linux

What is WavPack?

WavPack is a completely open audio compression format providing lossless, high-quality lossy, and a unique hybrid compression mode. Although the technology is loosely based on previous versions of WavPack, the new version 4 format has been designed from the ground up to offer unparalleled performance and functionality.

WavPack features include:

Compatible with virtually all PCM audio formats including 8, 16, 24, and 32-bit ints; 32-bit floats; mono, stereo, and multichannel; sampling rates from 6 to 192 kHz (and non-standard rates)
Multiplatform support including Windows, Linux, and OS X, plus a Flash decoder and Silverlight decoder that can work virtually anywhere, and now a web-based audio converter that can decode WavPack files online
Instantly seekable and streaming capable (and gapless)
ReplayGain (including WavPack file scanner and compatible plugins)
Uses ID3v1 and APEv2 tags for metadata (including ReplayGain)
Error-tolerant block format conducive to hardware decoding
Optional "asymmetrical" mode for improved compression
MD5 audio checksums for verification and identification
Unique hybrid mode (provides high quality lossy + "correction" file Dynamic noise shaping (dns) for optimum quality at lower hybrid bitrates
Hybrid mode now operates as low as 2.25 bits/sample (or 196 kbps for CD audio)
Free and open source with easy to use C library API and unrestrictive license (BSD)
Intuitive command line interface (with wildcards and destination directory)
Small, efficient executable (no large programs or dlls to install)
Special "low latency" version available for custom applications
Self-extracting archives with cuesheets (Windows only)
Java and C# decoders and encoders available
Fully backward compatible to WavPack 1.0
Complete piping support