Hybrid Lossless Audio Compression

About

WavPack is a completely open audio compression format providing lossless, high-quality lossy, and a unique hybrid compression mode. For version 5.0.0, several new file formats and lossless DSD audio compression were added, making WavPack a universal audio archiving solution.

In the default lossless mode WavPack acts just like a 7-Zip compressor for audio files, including the preservation of all the headers and metadata, so the restored files are identical to the original. Unlike MP3 or WMA encoding which can affect the sound quality, not a single bit of the original information is lost, so there's no chance of audible degradation. The compression ratio depends on the source material, but generally is between 30% and 70%.

The hybrid mode provides all the advantages of lossless compression with an additional bonus. Instead of creating a single file, this mode creates both a relatively small, high-quality lossy file that can be used all by itself, and a "correction" file that (when combined with the lossy file) provides full lossless restoration. For some users this means never having to choose between lossless and lossy compression!

WavPack employs only well known, public domain techniques (i.e., linear prediction with LMS adaptation, Elias and Golomb codes) in its implementation. Methods and algorithms that have ever been patented (e.g., arithmetic coding, LZW compression) are specifically avoided. This ensures that WavPack encoders and decoders will remain open and royalty-free.

Features

• Compatible with virtually all audio data formats including 8, 16, 24, and 32-bit integer PCM; 32-bit float PCM; DSD audio; mono, stereo, and multichannel (up to at least 256 channels); and integer sampling rates up to 1 GHz
• Handles all modern audio file formats including Microsoft WAV/BWF/RF64, Apple AIFF & CAF, Sony Wave64, Philips DSDIFF, and Sony DSF (all with no size limitations)
• Multiplatform support including Windows, Linux, macOS, and Android
• Ability to utilize multicore CPUs for greatly improved performance (5.7.0)
• Web file playback with a WebAssembly decoder (supported browsers)
• Easily reëncode WavPack files with a single command (including tag copy)
• Support for easy drag and drop on Windows including multiple files and custom options
• DirectShow filters for Windows, plus full Unicode support on the Windows command-line
• Unique hybrid mode (provides high quality lossy + "correction" file)
• Option to automatically verify every WavPack file when created
• Assembly language optimizations for x86, x64, and ARM
• 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
• Hybrid mode operates as low as 2.25 bits/sample (or 196 kbps for CD audio)
• Dynamic noise shaping (dns) for optimum quality at lower hybrid bitrates
• 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)
• Java and C# decoders and encoders available
• Complete piping support

Software

• Custom Windows Frontend (by Speek)
• DirectShow filter to allow WavPack playback in WMP, MPC, etc.
• WMP Tag Plus allows WMP 11+ to read and write WavPack file tags
• CheckWavpackFiles to batch verify WavPack files/folders (by gl.tter)
• Audacity (audio editor) (**new**, w/ 32-bit floats & metadata tag support)
• NullSoft Winamp (plugin available here, w/ ReplayGain & Media Library & DSD)
• JRiver MediaCenter (complete native support for reading and writing, including DSD)
• Foobar2000 Advanced Audio Player (native support w/ ReplayGain & Cuesheets & DSD)
• Adobe Audition (and CoolEdit) (filter available here, w/ 32-bit floats & extra info save)
• Resonic Audio Player & Sample Manager (full support including native DSD)
• dBpowerAMP Music Converter / Audio Player / CD Writer (official addon)
• Steinberg WaveLab Audio Editor (native support since 8.5)
• Ahead Nero Burning Rom (plugin available here)
• Reaper Multitrack Audio Recorder and Editor
• FL Studio Music Production Software
• Mp3tag Universal Tag Editor
• VLC VideoLAN Media Player
• JavaTunes Audio Player
• SoX - Sound eXchange
• jetAudio Media Player
• Musique Audio Player
• EZ CD Audio Converter
• EAC CD Ripper

WavPack is also well supported on Linux and MAC. Most Linux distributions (including Ubuntu) now support WavPack right out of the box (via GStreamer) and WavPack support is part of FFmpeg and avconv. In addition, these programs now support Wavpack:

• abcde - A Better CD Encoder (ripper) for Linux (native WavPack support)
• DeaDBeeF - Ultimate Music Player for GNU/Linux (native WavPack support including DSD)
• MPD - Media Player Daemon for Linux and Windows (native WavPack support including DSD)
• Asunder - A graphical Audio CD ripper and encoder with CDDB tagging (native WavPack support)
• Aqualung - A gapless music player that has an XML-based music DB (native WavPack support)
• Audacious Media Player - A new player based on BMP (native WavPack support)
• Traverso - an audio recording and editing tool with an innovative interface (native WavPack support)
• Quod Libet - A GTK+-based audio player written in Python (using the GStreamer plugin)
• LAMIP - Linux Audio Multiple Interface Player (using an official plugin)
• XMMS - Established Linux Audio Player (plugin available here)
• EasyTAG - Tag Editor for both Linux and Windows (native WavPack support)
• X Lossless Decoder - Mac OS X program to decode/convert/play lossless audio
• Cog - Audio Player for Mac OS X (native WavPack support)
• Max - Audio Format Converter for Mac OS X (native WavPack support)
• Tag - Metadata editor for Mac OS X (native WavPack support)
• Decibel - Audio Player for Mac OS X (native WavPack support)
• JavaTunes and Musique - Multiplatform Java-based Audio Players

Hardware

• Rockbox is an open-source replacement firmware that runs on many past and current model portable music players including many Apple iPod models; the Cowon iAudio X5, X5V, X5L, M5, M5L, M3 and M3L models; the iRiver H100, H300 and H10 series; the Olympus M:Robe 100; the SanDisk Sansa c200, e200 and e200R series (and the Fuze unofficially); and the Toshiba Gigabeat X and F series. With Rockbox installed on these players you can play all current WavPack files in all modes (although the very high mode is not recommended) and models that allow it can even record to lossless WavPack! My favorite supported player is the iRiver H120 which has the unique feature of optical SPDIF I/O which I use to record from an HD radio for 10 hours straight on a single charge! Click on the banner below to go to the Rockbox site:

• Cowon was the first company to offer a PMP with native support for WavPack. It was the A3, and Cowon followed that up with the O2PMP. These models have both been discontinued, but currently all of the high-end Cowon Plenue models (except the low-cost D) support WavPack playback, like this gorgeous gold Plenue 1 (pic). Click the banner to see more about the Plenue 1, which was selected by CNET.com as the best MP3 player of 2017:

• Another high-end portable music player that supports WavPack is the Luxury & Precision L5 PRO. This is another great looking player (pic) than even comes with a leather case (pic). The L5 PRO also plays DSD files (although not WavPack DSD files yet) and has an S/PDIF optical output. Click the banner below to see more about the L5 PRO:

• Moving into the home, Dune HD makes a complete line of media players including the high-end Duo 4K (pic) and several less expensive, but fully functional, media players. I have not tried any of these because they're not commonly sold in the US, but they all claim to have WavPack support. Hopefully they are available in your country...click the banner to find out!

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