Audio and Music

Electronic Formats concerned with audio and musical data, including sound recording, instrument control, musical notation, etc.

For additional multimedia formats that may contain audio, see Video.

Introduction

 * For an excellent introduction to the issues around audio and video formats, see A Primer on Codecs for Moving Image and Sound Archives - and 10 Recommendations for Codec Selection & Management PDF version
 * Basics of streaming protocols

Album formats
(files containing entire music albums, with some track structure)
 * Connected Media Experience (CME, CMX)
 * iTunes LP

Audio and sequencer software

 * Ableton
 * Ableton Live
 * Adobe Audition
 * Cool Edit / Audition Multi Track Session file (.ses)
 * Audition (.sesx)
 * Aldrin
 * Creative Commons Module (.ccm)
 * Audacity Project Format (.aup)
 * Audacity AU (.au)
 * Cakewalk
 * Cakewalk Bundle (BUN) (.bun)
 * Cakewalk Bundle (CWB) (.cwb)
 * Cakewalk Dump Request Macro (.drm)
 * Cakewalk Instrument Definition File (.ins)
 * Cakewalk Project (CWP) (.cwp)
 * Cakewalk Project (WRK) (.wrk)
 * Cakewalk Sample Definition File (.sfz)
 * CPS project (.cps)
 * DeLuxe Music Score
 * Digital Performer
 * Dynamic Studio Professional module
 * FruityLoops / FL Studio
 * BeatCreator/BeatSlicer Grid File (.zgr)
 * DrumSynth Preset (.ds)
 * FL Studio Score File (.fsc)
 * FL Studio State File (.fst)
 * Humanize Preset (.fpr)
 * Raw FL Studio Project (.flp)
 * SimSynth Preset (.syn)
 * Speech Preset (.speech)
 * GarageBand (Mac)
 * GarageBand project (.band, .gbproj)
 * Magic GarageBand template (.wand)
 * GarageBand MagicMentor template (.mwand)
 * Hydrogen (.h2song, .h2pattern)
 * iZotope RX (.rxdoc)
 * Jeskola Buzz
 * Jeskola Buzz machine (.dll)
 * Jeskola Buzz machine preset (.prs, .prs.xml)
 * Jeskola Buzz song (.bmx, .bmw)
 * LMMS (Linux MultiMedia Studio) (.mmp, .mmpz)
 * Logic Pro / Logic / Notator Logic
 * Logic Pro project file (.logic, .logicx)
 * Maestro (RISC OS)
 * Make-A-Melody (Big Blue Disk #42) (.mus)
 * Nero SoundTrax (.npf)
 * Nero WaveEditor (.nwf)
 * Piston Collage / PxTone
 * Piston Collage noise (.ptnoise)
 * Piston Collage song (.ptcop, .pttune)
 * Piston Collage voice (.ptvoice)
 * Pro Tools
 * Pro Tools (Mac) (.pt5, .p24, .pt4, .pt3)
 * PTS (Pro Tools 5.1-6.9)
 * PTF (Pro Tools 7-9)
 * PTX (Pro Tools 10)
 * Propellerhead (Reason, ReCycle)
 * Propellerhead Reason NN-XT Patch File (.sx2)
 * Propellerhead Reason Project File / song file (.reason, .rns, others)
 * Propellerhead Reason ReFill Sound Bank (.rfl)
 * Propellerhead ReCycle Loop File (.rex)
 * Reason Studios REX2 Audio File (.rx2)
 * Reaper Project (.rpp)
 * Renoise
 * Renoise song (.xrns)
 * Renoise instrument (.xrni)
 * Renoise DSP device-chain (.xrnt)
 * Roxio
 * DMSE (Sound Editor project)
 * DMSA (Music Disc Creator project)
 * SeaTone / PixTone
 * PXT (.pxt)
 * Sonic Foundry Acid (.acd)
 * SoundDesigner II (.sd2)
 * Soundtrack Pro (.stmp)
 * Steinberg
 * Cubase
 * ALL - A Steinberg Cubase VST file for saving songs (pre 2002).
 * ARR - A Steinberg Cubase VST file for saving arrangements (pre 2002).
 * CPR - A Steinberg Cubase SX file for saving projects (2002 - ).
 * Nuendo
 * NPR - A Steinberg Nuendo file for saving arrangements (2002 - ).
 * WaveLab
 * MON (Audio montage)
 * (Super) Studio Session song (.sss)
 * Waveburner (.wb3)

Audio recording and sound waves

 * Lossless compression
 * ATRAC Advanced Lossless (.aal)
 * ADA (Advanced Digital Audio)
 * ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec)
 * APAC (Marian's A-pac)
 * Dakx Wav
 * Dolby TrueHD
 * DTS-HD (Lossless variant of DTS- DTS-HD Master Audio)
 * FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)
 * Kexis (.kxs)
 * LA (Lossless Audio)
 * LiteWave
 * LPAC (Lossless Predictive Audio Coding)
 * MKW
 * MLP (Meridian Lossless Packing Audio)
 * Monkey's Audio (.ape)
 * MPEG-4 ALS (MPEG-4 Audio Lossless Coding)
 * MPEG-4 SLS (MPEG-4 Scalable lossless coding mode)
 * MQA (Master Quality Authenticated)
 * OptimFROG (.ofr, .ofs)
 * Perfect Clarity Audio (.pca)
 * RALF (Real Lossless Audio Codec)
 * RK Audio (.rka)
 * Shorten (.shn)
 * Sonarc
 * Split2000
 * TAK (.tak)
 * True Audio (.tta)
 * VocPack
 * WavArc
 * WavPack (.wv)
 * WMA Lossless (Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless)
 * Lossy compression
 * AAC (Advanced Audio Coding)
 * Adaptive differential pulse-code modulation
 * ACT
 * ADPCM-A (Yamaha)
 * ADPCM-B (Yamaha)
 * VOX
 * Adaptive Multi-Rate WideBand Audio
 * Adaptive Multi-Rate Audio (.amr)
 * Archimedes VIDC audio
 * ATRAC or Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding (.aa3, .oma, .at3)
 * Audible Audiobook (.aa, .aax)
 * Audition Loop (.cel)
 * CELT (.ogg)
 * Digital Theater Systems (.dts)
 * Dolby Digital (AC-3 or ATSC A/52)
 * GSM (GSM 6.10 RPE-LTP)
 * M4B (iTunes Audio Book)
 * M4P (Fairplay DRM Encrypted M4A)
 * MP1: See MPEG Audio Layer I
 * MP2: See MPEG Audio Layer II
 * MP3 (MPEG-1 / MPEG-2 Audio Layer III)
 * packMP3
 * MPA (MPEG Audio): See MPEG Audio Layer II
 * MP+ (MPEGplus Audio): See Musepack Audio
 * MPEG-4 Audio: Can refer to various formats connected with MPEG-4, including AAC. (.m4a, .m4b, .m4p, .m4r, .mp4, .aac)
 * MPEG Audio Layer I (MP1)
 * MPEG Audio Layer II (MP2; MPEG-1 Audio Layer II)
 * Musepack Audio (.mpc)
 * Opus (.opus)
 * Quite OK Audio (.qoa)
 * RealAudio (.ra)
 * Speex (.spx)
 * SWA
 * Vorbis (.logg, .oga, .ogg)
 * WMA (Windows Media Audio)
 * Proprietary
 * DCT (Dictation format by NCH Software)
 * Digital Speech Standard (.dss)
 * Digital Voice File (.dvf)
 * IC Sound (.ics)
 * iKlax (iKlax Media)
 * Memory Stick Voice (.msv)
 * Panasonic VM1 (.vm1)
 * Pono
 * PXD
 * Separated parts of tracks
 * Stems
 * Uncompressed audio
 * AIF / AIFF (Audio Interchange File Format)
 * Berkeley/IRCAM/Carl Sound Format (.sf)
 * BWF (Broadcast Wave Format; variant of WAV)
 * DSD (Direct Stream Digital) (.dsf)
 * RAW (.raw, .pcm)
 * RF64 (extended variant of BWF)
 * Sony Wave64 (.w64)
 * WAV (Waveform Audio File Format)
 * Various encodings
 * AIFC (AIFF Compressed)
 * AU (Sun Microsystems audio format)
 * Computerized Speech Lab NSP (.nsp)
 * DiamondWare Digitized (.dwd)
 * Bonk (lossy/lossless audio compression)
 * INRS-Telecom file (.aud)
 * SIFF (.son)
 * SPPACK (.d)
 * WVE (Psion)

Chiptune

 * SAM Coupé song (.cop, .sng)

Configuration files

 * X2A (Yamaha S70xs/S90xs keyboard workstations)

Container formats

 * AAF (Advanced Authoring Format)
 * ASF (Advanced Systems Format)
 * Core Audio Format (.caf)
 * Extensible Music Format (.xmf)
 * IFF
 * Matroska Audio (.mka)
 * MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14 media container)
 * Ogg (.ogg, .oga, .ogx, .spx, .opus)
 * OMF Interchange (Open Media Framework Interchange format)
 * Qualcomm QCP (Purevoice)
 * Rich Music Format (.rmf)
 * RealMedia (.rm)
 * WAV
 * WebM (.webm) (also used for video)

Converters

 * Konvertor

Emulated music

 * 2SF (Nintendo DS PSF)
 * 3G2 (3GPP, also a video format)
 * 3GP (3GPP, also a video format)
 * Atari SoundHeader (SNDH)
 * AY (Amstrad CPC / ZX Spectrum / ZXAYEMUL)
 * AZX (ZX Spectrum)
 * Custom Amiga Module (CUST)
 * DSF (Dreamcast PSF)
 * EPSGMOD (.epsgmod, Mod2PSG)
 * Fuxoft AY Language (.fmx)
 * Game Boy Sound (.gbs)
 * GBR (Game Boy Sound)
 * Gens Sound Record (GSR)
 * GSF (Game Boy Advance PSF)
 * HES (Hudson Entertainment System)
 * KSS (MSX)
 * KSSX (Possible expansion of KSS)
 * MDX (Sharp X68000 / MXDRV)
 * NES Sound Format (.nsf)
 * NES Sound Format Extended (.nsfe)
 * NSD
 * PSF (Portable Sound Format)
 * PSF1 (Playstation PSF)
 * PSF2 (Playstation 2 PSF)
 * QSF (Capcom Q-Sound PSF)
 * SC68 (Atari ST / Atari STE / Amiga)
 * SGC (Sega Master System / Game Gear / Colecovision)
 * SID (Commodore 64)
 * SPC (Super Nintendo SPC700)
 * SSF (Sega Saturn PSF)
 * USF (Nintendo 64 PSF)
 * YM (Amstrad CPC / Spectrum ZX / Atari ST)

Game audio and music
(see also Game data files)


 * 4X IMA ADPCM
 * Accolade
 * Accolade MIDI File Format
 * Adept Software
 * God of Thunder Music Format
 * AFC (AFX Audio File) -- used in Mass Effect 2
 * Apogee
 * Crystal Caves Sound format
 * Atari
 * Slight Atari Player (Atari POKEY)
 * BAF (Blur ADPCM)
 * BAKA (PCM 16 bit)
 * Bandai
 * WSR (WonderSwan / WonderSwan Color)
 * BH2PCM
 * BNSF (G.722.1)
 * Cave Story
 * Organya
 * Commodore Amiga
 * A.M. Composer v1.2 (.amc)
 * AC1D-DC1A Packer (.ac1d)
 * Actionamics Sound Tool (.ast)
 * AMOS Music Bank (.abk)
 * AMOS Samples Bank (.abk)
 * Art & Magic (.aam)
 * Audio Sculpture (.as)
 * Beathoven Synthesiser (.bss)
 * Ben Daglish (.bd)
 * Ben Daglish SID (.bds)
 * Ben Replay (.ben)
 * Channel Players (.chan)
 * Cinemaware (.cin)
 * Core Design (.core)
 * CustomMade (.cm)
 * Darius Zendeh (.dz)
 * Dave Lowe (.dl)
 * Dave Lowe New (.dln)
 * David Hanney (.dh)
 * David Whittaker (.dw)
 * Desire (.dsr)
 * Digital Illusions (.di)
 * Digital Sonix & Chrome (.dsc)
 * Digital Sound Creations (.han)
 * Dirk Bialluch (.tpu)
 * Dynamic Synthesizer (.dns)
 * Editeur Musical Sequentiel (.ems)
 * Follin Player II (.tf)
 * Fred Editor (.fred)
 * Fred Gray (.fg)
 * Future Player (.fp)
 * FWMP (.fw)
 * Game Music Creator (.gmc)
 * Gnu Player (.gp)
 * Hippel (.hip)
 * Hippel-COSO (.hipc)
 * Hornet Packer (.hrt)
 * Howie Davies (.hd)
 * IFF-MAUD
 * Images Music System (.ims)
 * Infogrames INS (.ins)
 * Janko Mrsic-Flogel (.jmf)
 * Jason Brooke (.jcb)
 * Jason Page (.jp)
 * Jeroen Tel (.jt)
 * Jesper Olsen (.jo)
 * Jochen Hippel (.hip)
 * Kefrens Sound Machine (.ksm)
 * Kris Hatlelid (.kh)
 * Leggless Music Editor (.lme)
 * Magnetic Fields Packer (.mfp)
 * Maniacs of Noise (.mon, .jt)
 * Mark Cooksey (.mc)
 * Mark II Sound-System (.mii, .mk2, .mkii)
 * Martin Walker (.mw)
 * MaxTrax (.mxtx)
 * Mike Davies (.md)
 * MMDC (Module packer)
 * Mugician (.mug)
 * Mugician II (.mug2)
 * NoiseRunner (.nr)
 * NovoTrade Packer (.ntp)
 * Pierre Adane Packer (.pap)
 * Power Music (.pm)
 * Professional Sound Artists (.psa)
 * Promizer 0.1 (.pm01)
 * Promizer 1.0c (.pm10)
 * Promizer 1.8a (.pm18)
 * Promizer 2.0 (.pm20)
 * Promizer 4.0 (.pm40)
 * ProPacker 1.0 (.pp10)
 * ProPacker 2.1 (.pp21)
 * ProPacker 3.0 (.pp30)
 * Prorunner (.prun1, .prun2)
 * Richard Joseph or Vectordean (.rjp)
 * Rob Hubbard (.rh, .rho)
 * Ron Klaren (.rk)
 * Sean Connolly (.scn)
 * Sean Conran (.scr)
 * Sidmon (.sid, .sid2)
 * Silmarils (.mok)
 * SKYT Packer (.skyt)
 * Sonic Arranger (.sa)
 * Sound Images (.tw)
 * Sound Master (.sm)
 * Sound Programming Language (.spl)
 * Soundcontrol (.sct)
 * Soundfactory (.psf)
 * SoundPlayer (.sjs)
 * Special FX (.jd)
 * Speedy System (.ss)
 * Steve Barrett (.sb)
 * Steve Turner (.jpo)
 * Star Trekker Packer (.stpk)
 * Synth Dream (.sdr)
 * Synth Pack (.osp)
 * The Musical Enlightenment (.tme)
 * The Player (.p22a, .p30a, .p40a, .p40b, .p50a, .p60a, .p61a)
 * Titanics Player (.ttp)
 * Tracker Packer 1 (.tp1)
 * Tracker Packer 2 (.tp2)
 * Tracker Packer 3 (.tp3)
 * Thomas Hermann (.thm)
 * Wally Beben (.wb)
 * Wanton Packer (.wn)
 * XANN Packer (.xann)
 * Zen Packer (.zen)
 * CRI Middleware
 * ADX
 * AFS (container format for ADX / AHX (CRI))
 * AHX (CRI)
 * AIX
 * DCS (ADPCM)
 * Death Rally Archive (.bpa)
 * DMSG (PCM 16 bit)
 * EACS IMA ADPCM (.kcey)
 * Electronic Arts
 * 8-Bit Sampled Voice (.8svx, .iff)
 * Asylum Music Format (.amf, used in Crusader: No Remorse / Crusader: No Regret)
 * Electronic Arts AS4 / ASF Music (.as4, .asf)
 * Electronic Arts KSF Music (.ksf)
 * Electronic Arts MUS (.mus)
 * Electronic Arts SCxl
 * Electronic Arts Sound Effects (.bnk, .crd)
 * Electronic Arts Sound / Speech Files (.eas, .sph)
 * IFF (Amiga 8SVX)
 * IFF-MAUD
 * Sonix Music Driver (.smus)
 * EMFF (ADPCM)
 * Epic Megagames
 * Epic Megagames MASI (.masi, .psm)
 * Final Fantasy XI Music file (.bgw)
 * FMOD Sample Bank (.fsb)
 * Funcom ISS
 * Galaxy Music System
 * Galaxy Music System v4.0
 * Galaxy Music System v5.0 (.j2b)
 * GCW (PCM 16 bit)
 * Generic Header (.genh, Generic Header Creator)
 * Herad Music System
 * Herad Music System AGD (.agd)
 * Herad Music System SDB (.sdb)
 * Herad Music System SQX (.sqx)
 * HIS (PCM 8 bit)
 * id Software
 * Doom MUS
 * id Software DNF (.dnf)
 * id Software Music Format (.imf)
 * id Software WLF (.wlf)
 * IMA ADPCM (.bar, .dvi, .hwas, .idvi, .ivaud, .myspd, .stma, .strm)
 * Interplay ACM (.acm)
 * Inverse Frequency Sound format
 * iXMF (Interactive Extensible Music Format)
 * Ken Silverman
 * Ken's Adlib Music (.ksm)
 * Ken's Digital Music (.kdm)
 * SM (Ken Silverman) (.sm)
 * SND (Ken Silverman) (.snd)
 * LOUDNESS Sound System (.lds)
 * LucasArts
 * LucasArts Adlib Audio (.laa)
 * SCUMM (SCUMM)
 * Martin Fernandez (.adlib)
 * Microsoft
 * 0x0069 (Xbox ADPCM)
 * 2DX
 * 2DX9 (ADPCM)
 * DE2 (ADPCM)
 * Xbox IMA ADPCM (.matx, .wavm, .wvs, .xmu, .xvas, .xwav)
 * Mojang AB (Minecraft)
 * Minecraft sounds.json
 * Nintendo
 * Advanced Mario Sequencer file (.mss)
 * BRSTMPSM (Super Paper Mario)
 * Donkey Konga 2 DSP (Donkey Konga 2)
 * Mario Paint Composer (MPC)
 * Mario Sequencer file (.msq)
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii AAAP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii ADP (Nintendo Gamecube) (.adp)
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii AFC (Nintendo Gamecube)
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii AGSC (.agsc)
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii AMTS
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii ASN (Nintendo Gamecube)
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii ASR (Nintendo Wii)
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii AST (Nintendo Wii sound format)
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii BNS
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii BO2
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii BRSTM (Nintendo Wii streaming format)
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii CAPDSP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii CFN
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii DDSP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii DSP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii GCA (Nintendo Wii)
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii GCM
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii GSP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii HPS
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii IDSP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii ISD
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii ISH
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii KRAW (Nintendo Wii)
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii LPS
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii MPDS
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii MPDSP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii MSS
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii MUS
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii PDT
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii SDT
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii SMP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii SNS
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii SPD
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii SPT
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii SSM
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii STM
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii STR
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii STS
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii SWD
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii THP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii TYDSP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii VJDSP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii WAS
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii WSD
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii WSI
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii YDSP
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii YMF
 * Nintendo GameCube / Wii ZWDSP
 * SHI (ShroomTool Instrument, used for Mario Paint instruments)
 * SHO (ShroomTool, used for Mario Paint sounds)
 * Origin Software
 * Ultima 6 Music (.m)
 * PC-98 and PC-88
 * Professional Music Driver PMD (.m, .m2)
 * Pixel
 * PMD (Pixel)
 * Pixel Painters (.fmf)
 * Ragnarok Online 2 RMP
 * Shadowlands (.cal)
 * Sierra
 * Sierra AGI (Sierra AGI)
 * Sierra SCI (Used in Sierra PC games)
 * Sony
 * Sony Playstation ADS (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation ASS (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation AST
 * Sony Playstation BG00
 * Sony Playstation BMDX
 * Sony Playstation CCC (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation CNK
 * Sony Playstation DXH (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation ENTH
 * Sony Playstation FAG (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation FILP
 * Sony Playstation FSB (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation GCM
 * Sony Playstation GMS (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation HGC1
 * Sony Playstation I100 (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation I400 (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation I80 (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation IKM
 * Sony Playstation ILD (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation IVB
 * Sony Playstation JOE
 * Sony Playstation KCES (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation KHV (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation LEG (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation MCG
 * Sony Playstation MI4 (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation MIB (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation MIC (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation MIH
 * Sony Playstation MIHB (merged MIB & MIH)
 * Sony Playstation MSA
 * Sony Playstation MSVP
 * Sony Playstation MUSC
 * Sony Playstation NPSF
 * Sony Playstation PNB
 * Sony Playstation PSH
 * Sony Playstation RKV
 * Sony Playstation RND
 * Sony Playstation RSTM
 * Sony Playstation RWS
 * Sony Playstation SFS
 * Sony Playstation SIR
 * Sony Playstation SL3
 * Sony Playstation SMPL
 * Sony Playstation SND
 * Sony Playstation SPU (Sony Playstation)
 * Sony Playstation STER
 * Sony Playstation STH
 * Sony Playstation STR
 * Sony Playstation STS
 * Sony Playstation SVAG
 * Sony Playstation SVS
 * Sony Playstation TEC
 * Sony Playstation TK5
 * Sony Playstation VAS
 * Sony Playstation VAG
 * Sony Playstation VB2 (Playstation / PS2)
 * Sony Playstation VGS
 * Sony Playstation VIG
 * Sony Playstation VPK
 * Sony Playstation VS
 * Sony Playstation VSF
 * Sony Playstation WP2
 * Sony Playstation XA2
 * Sony Playstation XA30
 * Sony Playstation 2 MI2 (Sony Playstation 2)
 * Sound Images Generation 2 (.sig)
 * Sound Interface System (.lem)
 * STOS memory bank (.mbk)
 * Unreal Music Format (.umx)
 * Union Logic Software Publishing
 * Vinyl Goddess From Mars Instrument Format
 * Vinyl Goddess From Mars Music Format
 * Unique Development Studios (.uds)
 * Video Game Music (.vgm, .vgz)
 * Westwood Studios
 * Westwood Studios ADL (.adl)
 * Westwood Studios AUD (.aud)
 * Whacky Wheels (.klm)
 * XMP Game Module (.j2b)

Identifiers of musical works, recordings, artists, etc.

 * International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC)
 * International Standard Recording Code (ISRC)
 * MusicBrainz Identifier

Metadata formats and related data

 * APE tag
 * Argoknot
 * Cue Sheet - See CUE and BIN
 * ELAN Annotation Format
 * Exif
 * ID3
 * MDZ - strictly not itself a music format, but a metadata file for other music files used by Open Cubic Player. See http://www.cubic.org/player/doc/node72.htm
 * Monkey's Audio metadata (.apl)
 * Vorbis comment

Music trackers
(For more on this subject, listen to Jason Scott Talks His Way Out Of It: The Music Tracker Episode.)


 * 1tracker module (.1tm)
 * AHX (Abyss) (Abyss Highest eXperience)
 * Aley's Module (.alm)
 * All Sound Tracker module (.ast)
 * Amiga Module (.mod)
 * AProSys module (.aps)
 * Archimedes Tracker module (.musx)
 * Arkos Tracker (.aks)
 * Art of Noise module (.aon)
 * ASC Sound Master module (.asc)
 * B's Pro Tracker module (.bpm, .bps)
 * Beepola song (.bbsong)
 * BeRoTracker module (.br)
 * BoyScout Tracker module (.bsf)
 * Brian Postma SoundMon
 * Brian Postma SoundMon v1.x module (.bp)
 * Brian Postma SoundMon v2.x & v3.x module (.bp3)
 * BS
 * Buzzic
 * Buzzic v1.x (.buz)
 * Buzzic v2.0 (.buz2)
 * Chaos Music Composer
 * CM3 (CMC "3/4")
 * CMC (Chaos Music Composer)
 * CMR (CMC "Rzog")
 * CMS (Stereo Double CMC)
 * DMC (Double ChaosMusicComposer)
 * Chuck Biscuits/Black Artist module (.cba)
 * Coconizer module
 * Composer 669 module (.669)
 * craptracker ii module (.ct2)
 * Custom Amiga Module (.cus. .custom)
 * CyberTracker
 * CyberTracker instrument (.ci)
 * CyberTracker module (.ct)
 * DeliTracker custom (.cust)
 * DeltaMusic module (.dta)
 * Delta Music Composer
 * Delta Music Composer module (.dlt)
 * Delta Music 2.0 module (.dl2)
 * Desktop Tracker module (.dtt)
 * DigiBooster / DigiBooster PRO
 * DigiBooster v1.x module (.digi)
 * DigiBooster PRO v2.x / DigiBooster 3 module (.dbm)
 * Digital Symphony module (.dsym)
 * Digitrakker
 * Digitrakker instrument (.ist)
 * Digitrakker module (.mdl)
 * Digitrakker sample (.spl)
 * DigiTrekker module (.dtm)
 * Digital Tracker module (.dtm)
 * DisorderTracker 2 module (.plm)
 * Dual Module Player DSMI (.amf)
 * Eureka Packer module (.eu)
 * Extended MOD (.emd)
 * Extreme's Tracker module (.ams)
 * FAC Soundtracker (MSX, extension unknown)
 * Face The Music module (.ftm)
 * Famitracker
 * FamiTracker module (.ftm)
 * FamiTracker instrument (.fti)
 * Farandole Composer
 * Farandole Form 2.0 (.f2r)
 * Farandole Composer module (.far)
 * Farandole Composer pattern (.fpt)
 * Farandole Composer sample (.fsm, .usm)
 * Fashion Tracker module (.ex)
 * FastTracker / FastTracker 2
 * FastTracker module (.ft, .ftc)
 * Extended instrument (.xi)
 * Extended Module (.xm)
 * FC-M Packer module (.fcm)
 * Flash Tracker module (.fls)
 * Flex Tracker module (.flx)
 * Fuchs Tracker (.fchs)
 * FunkTracker module (.fnk)
 * Future Composer
 * Future Composer v1.x module (.fc)
 * Future Composer v1.3 module (.fc13)
 * Future Composer v1.4 module (.fc14)
 * Future Composer (BSI)
 * Future Composer (BSI) module
 * Fuzzac Packer module (.fuzz)
 * General Digital Music module (.gdm)
 * GoatTracker module (.sng)
 * Grave Composer module (.wow)
 * Graoumf Tracker
 * Graoumf Tracker module (.gtk)
 * Graoumf Tracker 2 module (.gt2)
 * Global Tracker v1.x module (.gtr)
 * HeatSeeker Module Cruncher v1.0 (.crb)
 * Hively Tracker module (.hvl)
 * Ice Tracker module
 * Imago Orpheus module (.imf)
 * Impulse Tracker
 * Impulse Tracker module (.it, .itbz, .itgz, .itr, .itz)
 * Impulse Tracker sample (.its)
 * JAMCracker Pro module (.jam)
 * jacker-tracker
 * Jacker song
 * klystrack
 * klystrack instrument (.ki)
 * klystrack module (.kt)
 * KRIS Packer / ChipTracker module (.kris)
 * Liquid Tracker
 * Liquid Digitized Sample (.lds)
 * Liquid Tracker module (.liq)
 * MadTracker 2
 * MadTracker 2 envelope (.mte)
 * MadTracker 2 extension (.mtx)
 * MadTracker 2 instrument (.mti)
 * MadTracker 2 module (.mt2)
 * MadTracker 2 pattern (.mtp)
 * MadTracker 2 sample (.mts)
 * maxYMiser
 * maxYMiser instrument (.myi)
 * maxYMiser module (.snd)
 * Megatracker module (.mgt)
 * MO3 (MP3 / Vorbis compressed module)
 * MOD Edit sample (.sam)
 * Module Protector + noID (.mp)
 * Microdeal Quartet
 * 4V
 * Moonblaster (MSX)
 * Moonblaster music (.mbm)
 * Moonblaster sample kit (.mbk)
 * Multi Track Module (.mtm)
 * Muse Tracker / Pornotracker
 * Musetracker / Pornotracker instrument (.poi)
 * Musetracker / Pornotracker module (.pom)
 * Music Pro Tracker
 * Music Pro Tracker DoublePlay (.mpd)
 * Music Pro Tracker module (MD1) (.md1)
 * Music Pro Tracker module (MD2) (.md2)
 * Music Pro Tracker module (MPT) (.mpt)
 * Music Studio, The (Activision / Audio Light) (.sng, .song, .mss, .snd, .sound)
 * Nerdtracker II module (.ned)
 * NesTracker module (.nest)
 * NoisePacker
 * NoisePacker 2.x (.np2)
 * NoisePacker 3.x (.np3)
 * NoiseTracker module (.mod)
 * Noisetrekker module (.ntk)
 * OctaMED
 * OctaMED module (MED) (.med)
 * OctaMED module (MMD1) (.mmd1)
 * OctaMED v2.00 module (.med3)
 * OctaMED v2.10 module (MED4) (.med4)
 * OctaMED v2.10 module (MMD0) (.mmd0)
 * OctaMED v5 module (.mmd2)
 * OctaMED SS module (.mmd3)
 * MED Packer (.mmdc)
 * Oktalyzer
 * Oktalyzer module (.okt, .okta)
 * Onyx Music File (.omf)
 * Open MODPlug Tracker module (.mptm)
 * Oracle module (.orc)
 * Pha Packer (.pha)
 * PlayerPRO
 * Extended PlayerPRO module (.madx)
 * PlayerPRO module (.mad)
 * Polly Tracker module
 * Pro Sound Creator v1.xx (.psc, ZX Spectrum)
 * Pro Sound Maker (.psm)
 * Pro Tracker
 * Pro Tracker v1.xx module (.pt1)
 * Pro Tracker v2.xx module (.pt2)
 * Pro Tracker v3.xx module (.pt3)
 * Pro Tracker (MSX) (MSX-Music, extension unknown)
 * Poly Tracker module (.ptm)
 * Pumatracker module (.puma)
 * Quadra Composer module (.emod)
 * RASTER Music Tracker module (.rmt)
 * Real Tracker
 * Real Tracker instrument (.rti)
 * Real Tracker module (.rtm)
 * Real Tracker sample (.rts)
 * Renoise
 * Renoise song (XRNS) (.xrns)
 * Renoise instrument (XRNS) (.xrni)
 * Renoise effect chain (XRNT) (.xrnt)
 * Renoise Song (NTK) (.ntk)
 * Renoise Song (PTK) (.ptk)
 * Renoise Song (RNS) (.rns)
 * SBStudio module (.pac, .son, .sou)
 * SCC Blaffer NT
 * SCC Blaffer NT music (.sbm, MSX)
 * SCC Blaffer NT instrument kit (.sbk)
 * Scream Tracker
 * Scream Tracker Music Interface Kit module
 * Scream Tracker 1 & 2 module (.stm)
 * Scream Tracker 3 Adlib module (.as3m)
 * Scream Tracker 3 module (.s3m)
 * Scream Tracker 3 / DigiTracker sample (.s31)
 * Scream Tracker 3 / DigiTracker sample (.smp)
 * SMUS
 * SoundFX module (.sfx, .sfx2)
 * Sound Tracker
 * Soundtracker v2.6 / Ice Tracker module (.mtn)
 * SoundTracker v2.6 module (.st26)
 * Sound Tracker / Super Sonic module (.stc)
 * Sound Tracker Pro module (.stp)
 * SoundSmith module (.mtp)
 * Soundtrakker
 * Soundtrakker 128 instrument (.ins)
 * Soundtrakker 128 module (.128)
 * Soundtrakker v1.x instrument (.ins)
 * Soundtrakker v1.x module (.sng)
 * SQ-Tracker module (.sqt)
 * Starkos Tracker module (.sks)
 * StarTrekker / Star Tracker module (.mod, .nt, .flt4)
 * SunVox module (.sunvox)
 * TFMX
 * TFMX pattern data (.mdat)
 * TFMX 7V pattern data (.mdat)
 * TFMX Pro pattern data (.mdat)
 * TFMX sample data (.smpl)
 * Theta Music Composer
 * Theta Music Composer 8-channel stereo module (.tm8)
 * Theta Music Composer v1.x module (.tmc)
 * Theta Music Composer v2.x module (.tm2)
 * Trackerpacker 3 module (.tp3)
 * Unic Tracker 1.0 (.unic1)
 * Unic Tracker 2.0 (.unic2)
 * Ultra Tracker (.ult)
 * Velvet_Studio (.ams)
 * VIC-TRACKER module (.vt)
 * Vortex Tracker module (.vtx)
 * X-Tracker
 * D-Lusion Music File (.dmf)
 * D-Lusion Sound File (.dms)

Musical instrument control

 * ELECTONE - For Yamaha Electone Range Electronic Organs
 * BOO - Part of the ELECTONE format.
 * EVT - Part of the ELECTONE format.
 * MIDI & Clones
 * Compact MIDI
 * GMD (MIDI clone)
 * Gravis Ultrasound patch (used by MIDI synthesizers)
 * HMI (MIDI clone)
 * HMP (MIDI clone)
 * HMZ (Compressed MIDI)
 * KAR (MIDI Audio)
 * MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)
 * MIDI Instrument Definition File
 * MIDS (MIDI clone)
 * MIZ (Compressed MIDI)
 * MSS (MIDI Clone)
 * RIFF MIDI
 * RIFF MIDS
 * Sample Vision (.smp)
 * Scalable Polyphony MIDI
 * SFARK (SoundFont archive compressed file)
 * SoundFont 1.0 (.sbk)
 * SoundFont 2.0 (.sf2)
 * Synthetic Music Application Format
 * XMI (Extended MIDI)
 * ZIPI (proposed MIDI replacement)
 * Hardware specific
 * AdLib Sound Cards
 * AdLib instrument (.ins)
 * AdLib instrument bank (.bnk)
 * AdLib MSCplay (.msc)
 * AdLib music (.mus)
 * Adlib Tracker
 * Adlib Tracker instrument (.ins)
 * Adlib Tracker module (.sng)
 * Adlib Tracker II instrument (.a2i)
 * Adlib Tracker II instrument with fm-register macro (.a2f)
 * Adlib Tracker II instrument bank (.a2b)
 * Adlib Tracker II instrument bank with macros (.a2w)
 * Adlib Tracker II module (.a2m)
 * Adlib Tracker II pattern (.a2p)
 * Adlib Tracker II tiny module (.a2t)
 * AdLib Visual Composer / Roland Synthesizer song (.rol)
 * AMusic
 * AMusic module (.amd)
 * AMusic XMS (.xms)
 * Beni Tracker module (.pis)
 * Bob's Adlib Music (.bam)
 * Boom Tracker v4.0
 * Boom Tracker v4.0 instrument (.cif)
 * Boom Tracker v4.0 module (.cff)
 * DeFy Adlib Tracker module (.dtm)
 * Digital FM module (.dfm)
 * Drum Traker module (.dtl)
 * EdLib packed module (.d00)
 * Exotic AdLib module (.xad)
 * Extra Simple Music (.xsm)
 * Faust Music Creator module (.sng)
 * FM Tracker module (.fmt)
 * FM-Kingtracker
 * FM-Kingtracker bank (.fib)
 * FM-Kingtracker instrument (.fin)
 * FM-Kingtracker module (.fmk)
 * HSC AdLib Composer / HSC-Tracker
 * HSC AdLib Composer / HSC-Tracker module (.hsc)
 * HSC AdLib Composer / HSC-Tracker packed module (.hsp)
 * JBM Adlib Music (.jbl)
 * JCH
 * JCH-D00 (.d00)
 * JCH-D01 (.d01)
 * Johannes Bjerregård module (.jbm)
 * Master Tracker module (.mtr)
 * MK-Jamz audio (.mkj)
 * Mlat Adlib Tracker module (.mad)
 * MPU-401 Trakker module (.mtk)
 * Palladix module (.plx)
 * RAW (AdLib Sound Card)
 * Reality AdLib Tracker module (.rad)
 * SNG Player module (.sng)
 * Surprise! Adlib Tracker
 * Surprise! AdLib Tracker v1, 5, 6 module (.sat)
 * Surprise! Adlib Tracker v2.0 (.sa2)
 * Twin TrackPlayer module (.dmo)
 * Vibrants module (.vib)
 * XMS-Tracker module (.xms)
 * Akai
 * Akai S-series MESA multi file (.mlt)
 * Akai S-series MESA I program (.prg)
 * Akai S-series MESA II program (.s3p)
 * Codisk Audio File
 * Creative Labs
 * Creative Music Format (.cmf)
 * Creative Voice File
 * Sound Blaster Instrument (.sbi)
 * Disney Sound Source
 * DOSBox Raw OPL (.dro)
 * Downloadable Sounds Banks (.dls)
 * Ensoniq Concert Wavetable (.ecw)
 * Gravis Ultrasound
 * UltraSound GF1 patch (.pat)
 * Instrument Bank (Instrument Bank)
 * Software Music Synthesis System (for 8080/Z-80 systems with S-100 bus)
 * TRS-80 Orchestra-90 (.orc)
 * Voice Sequence (.vsq)
 * Yamaha sound chips
 * Callus OPL Register Log (YM2151, .cym)
 * GYM (YM2612 / Sega Genesis)
 * Software Synthesizers
 * Farbrausch BR404 music (.bmf)
 * iZotope iDrum (.idrum)
 * Native Instruments
 * Native Instruments Reaktor ensemble (.ens)
 * Steinberg VST Presets
 * FXB (Bank of presets)
 * FXP (single preset)
 * E-Seq Yamaha (.fil, .esq)

Musical notation

 * Drum tablature
 * Guitar tablatures
 * ASCII tab (.tab, .btab, .txt)
 * Guitar Pro (.gtp)
 * Guitar Pro 3 (.gp3)
 * Guitar Pro 4 (.gp4)
 * Guitar Pro 5 (.gp5)
 * Guitar Pro 6 (.gp6)
 * KGuitar (.kg)
 * Power Tab (.ptb)
 * Progression
 * Rich MIDI Tablature Format (.rmtf)
 * TablEdit (.tef)
 * VexTab


 * Musical notation
 * ABC (musical notation)
 * ANSI Music
 * Capella
 * CAP
 * CapXML (.capx)
 * ChordML
 * ConcertWare
 * Copyist
 * CP4
 * CP6
 * Encore (.enc)
 * Extended Notation Format (.enf)
 * Extensible Music Notation Markup Language
 * Finale (.etf, .mus, .musx)
 * Forte (.fnf)
 * Guido
 * GUIDO
 * GUIDO XML
 * JMSL
 * JMSL
 * JMSL Score
 * JScoreML
 * LilyPond
 * MEI
 * MHTML
 * MidiXML
 * minimusic
 * MPEG4-SMR
 * Mup
 * MuseScore
 * MSC -(old file format)
 * MSCX - XML file format
 * MSCZ - GZIP compressed MSCX
 * Music Description Language
 * Music Markup Language
 * Music Time (.mus)
 * Music Time Pro (.mts)
 * Musical Notation Markup Language
 * MusicML
 * MusicWrite (.mwk)
 * MusicXML
 * MusicXML compressed (.mxl)
 * Musink (.musink)
 * MusiqueXML
 * MusiXML
 * Myriad Software (.msf)
 * NeumesXML
 * Neuratron Photoscore Format (.opt)
 * Notation Interchange File Format
 * NoteAbility Pro
 * Noteworthy Composer and Music Publisher (.nwc)
 * NoteWriter
 * Notion
 * NtEd
 * Overture (.ove)
 * PriMus
 * Rhapsody Notation Program File (.rhp)
 * Rhapsody 2/3 (RISC OS. Unrelated to the above "Rhapsody Notation Program File")
 * Rhapsody 4 (RISC OS, .c00)
 * Rosegarden (.rg)
 * QuickScore Elite (.qsd)
 * SCORE (.mus)
 * Score Perfect (.spp)
 * ScoreML
 * ScoreWriter (.scw)
 * Sibelius
 * SMDL
 * SongWrite
 * Studio Session Song (.sss)
 * Theta
 * Tilia
 * VexTab
 * Virtual Musician Markup Language
 * WEDELMUSIC
 * XMF
 * XMusic
 * XScore (eXtensible Score Language)

Playlists, music libraries, music store downloaders

 * Amazon downloader file (.amz)
 * B4S (Winamp 3 playlist)
 * FPL (foobar2000 playlist)
 * iTunes Music Library
 * Kapsule (Kazaa XML Manifest)
 * KPL (Kazaa Playlist Format)
 * M3U (Multimedia Playlist Format)
 * MAGMA (Magnet URI)
 * MOD4WIN Module List (.mol)
 * MusicBee Library (.mbl)
 * PLS (Multimedia Playlist)
 * RAM (RealAudio)
 * SMIL (W3C open standard)
 * Windows Media Metafile (.asx, .wax, .wxv)
 * Windows Media Playlist (.wpl)
 * XML Sharable Playlist

Programming languages and APIs (audio/music-specific)

 * ChucK (.ck)
 * Csound (.csd, .orc, .sco)
 * Cycling 74 Max (.maxpat, .max)
 * FAUST (.dsp)
 * Music Macro Language
 * Native Instruments Reaktor (.rkplr)
 * Pure Data (.pd)
 * Scala (music software) (.kbm, .scl, .cmd)
 * SuperCollider (.scd, .sc)
 * WaveGL
 * Web Audio API

Ringtones

 * i Melody
 * M4R (Apple iPhone Ringtones - see M4A)
 * Polyphonic ringtone
 * RTTTL

Signal processing
These aren't specific file formats, but generic mathematical methods used by other file formats.


 * A-law
 * ADPCM
 * DPCM
 * LPCM
 * Pulse code modulation
 * µ-law (u-law)

Sound card related formats

 * CMS (Creative Music System)

Speech synthesis

 * Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML)
 * TextGrid
 * VoiceDescription (OS X)

Unclassified (need to move to other categories)

 * ACM (Audio Compression Manager)
 * ADM (ADM Audio File)
 * Audfprint fingerprint file (.afpk)
 * AVR
 * B1S
 * BDSP (BotDetect Sound Package)
 * BVG
 * CBD2
 * CLF
 * Common Loudspeaker Format
 * Common Instrument Format
 * DeskMate Music (.sng)
 * DeskMate Sound (.snd)
 * DSM (DSIK Internal)
 * DSPW
 * DTK
 * EUPHONY (FM Towns computer system)
 * FFW
 * First Rate Music Hall (.pck, MSX-Music song editor using Music Macro Language)
 * GBTS
 * GCUB
 * GSB
 * HLWAV
 * IAB
 * IADP
 * INT (RAW File)
 * ISWS
 * JSTM
 * KOVS
 * MA (Music Assembler)
 * MNSTR
 * MSF
 * MTAF
 * S98 (NEC PC-98)
 * SD (ESPS sampled data file)
 * SGI (Sound Generator 3.0 instrument)
 * SNG (SCC Musixx)
 * Sound Effect Editor (.see, MSX)
 * SoundHelix XML
 * TFMX (TFMX)
 * Vivaldi (RISC OS)
 * Zsound Music

See the Open Cubic Player homepage for a list of demo formats: http://www.cubic.org/player/features.html

See also Piano Rolls (which is under the Physical File Formats).

Links

 * Kickstarting free, open recordings of Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1"
 * MPC-HC: media player for Windows handling just about all video/audio formats
 * How Music Works
 * Some discussion of "advanced music formats" from 1994
 * FAQ on audio file formats (1992-07-09)
 * Chiptune version of Talking Heads song
 * Beatles 3000: humorous video of how the future might misunderstand 20th century pop culture if artifacts decay as happened in the past
 * The Music Written on This Dude's Butt
 * "Eye of the tiger" played on a modified dot matrix printer
 * A Short History of Hardcore Chipmusic
 * You Need to Hear This Extremely Rare Recording
 * Library of Congress Recommended Format Specifications: Audio Works
 * In a bid for more emotional snacking, Frito-Lay patents culinary theme songs
 * Scientists reconstruct speech through soundproof glass by watching a bag of potato chips
 * Apple releases tool to remove free U2 album (which they gave you whether you wanted it or not)
 * Excel sheet that plays video and audio
 * Web Audio API (W3C)
 * Why Collecting Matters: Citizen Archivists and the Battle for Future Pasts
 * MediaInfo: software that shows metadata for audio/video files
 * Save our Sounds
 * David Systems tools: includes online loudness analysis of sound files
 * The next Web standard could be music notation
 * How Oldschool Sound/Music worked (video)
 * Understanding surround sound formats
 * Reverse engineering the 76477 "Space Invaders" sound effect chip from die photos