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Windows Media Audio

In 2000, Microsoft Corporation released the latest version (7.0) of the normally boring, Windows Media Player 7. It included capability to play back a brand new audio format called Windows Media Audio (*.wma). To everyone's surprise, this is a fantastic upgrade. Microsoft must have thrown some big money into this project. In one fell swoop, WMA might make both RealAudio and MP3 files obsolete. Most information on this page are excerpted from the October 2000 issue of Electronic Musician (EM) magazine.

Microsoft claims WMA offers the same audio quality at half the file size of comparable MP3 and RealAudio G2 files. While most people know we must take Microsoft claims "with a grain of salt", there apparently is some truth in their marketing hype. Electronic Musician tested these claims by encoding music in all 3 formats: RealAudio G2, MP3, and WMA, and at varying sample rates. 

Comparison to RealAudio

RealAudio has been the definitive  standard for "streaming" audio since almost the beginning of the World Wide Web. "Streaming" means that when a link is clicked, a player starts playback almost immediately; as opposed to downloading an entire file first before playback can begin. Each RealAudio update over the years have taken the audio quality from "AM radio with static" to sound that could almost be called "near-CD quality". RealAudio has enjoyed near 100% market share in streaming audio formats.

Windows Media Audio also streams audio, and does offer better sound quality when compared to RealAudio G2 at the same bit rate. EM tests revealed that "while WMA failed to match G2 at half the bit rate, it did sound clearly better at the same bit rate".  Recorded at the low bit rates of 22 Kbps (kilobits per second) or 32 Kbps, WMA exhibited clearly superior playback when compared to RealAudio G2 at the same bit rate. Files encoded at 22 Kbps are 1/67th the sizes of the original audio file. That's some serious data squishing.

Comparison to MP3 Files

Microsoft's claim that (WMA) "produces files that are half the size of equivalent-quality MP3 files" appears to be very close to the truth. EM states "the comparison to MP3 is hard to argue with, especially when listening through typical computer speakers. At 64Kbps, WMA matches the reasonably smooth character of MP3 at 128 Mbps."

"Most people listening through common car stereos, boom boxes, or portable headphones would find it hard to distinguish audio encoded at this bit rate from the original source. At 128 Kbps (Mp3's 10:0 data compression ratio), this is impressive enough, but at 64 Kbps. WMA manages a better than a 20:1 compression."

Other WMA Advantages and Considerations

Aside from the significantly improved audio quality offered at similar bit rates when compared to both RealAudio G2 and MP3, WMA offers these advantages:

  • Only one file format required for both streaming-quality and CD-quality music

  • Windows Media Player 7.0 plays back both MP3 and WMA without plug-ins

  • SDMI* encryption capable for copy protection (see below)

  • Live broadcast capable

  • Current and future versions of Windows automatically configured for WMA

  • Next-generation MP3 Portable Player Support (Diamond, Sony, RCA, Creative Labs)

  • Support for e-commerce and pay-per-view

*Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) support for file encryption enables authors to track and license playback. Music composers & publishers can sell files with built-in copy protection so files cannot be swapped on places like Napster. 

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