Audio file quality
The quality of your audio files has a direct impact on how good your music sounds through speakers, especially in live or high-volume environments. Low-quality files can sound flat, muddy, or harsh, no matter how good your mixer or sound system is.
Why file quality matters
When a music file is compressed (especially at lower bitrates), data is removed to reduce its size. This compression can introduce unwanted artifacts, reduce dynamic range, and strip away fine details like reverb tails, stereo width, or subtle textures—elements that are often critical in electronic and bass-heavy genres.
In small speakers or casual headphones, these details might not be as noticeable. But in a club or on a professional PA system, poor audio quality becomes obvious, especially at higher volumes.
Recommended formats and bitrates
For best sounding results:
- Use MP3 files at 320kbps stereo or lossless formats like WAV or AIFF.
- Avoid anything under 192kbps—these files tend to sound thin and dull.
AAC (M4A/MP4) files may have a lower bitrate than MP3 but often sound comparable due to more efficient compression algorithms.