What is WAV vs MP3?

WAV and MP3 are two common audio formats with very different characteristics. WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is an uncompressed format that stores audio exactly as it was recorded, preserving every detail of the original sound. This means WAV files maintain perfect audio quality, but they're also very large—a 60-minute podcast episode might be 600-700 MB as a WAV file. MP3, on the other hand, uses lossy compression to dramatically reduce file size (that same 60-minute episode might be 50-60 MB as an MP3) while maintaining audio quality that's virtually indistinguishable to most listeners. The compression works by removing audio frequencies that human ears typically can't hear or notice. For podcasting, MP3 is almost universally the standard because file size matters for downloads, streaming, and storage. Most podcast hosting platforms recommend MP3 files encoded at 128 kbps (kilobits per second) for speech-focused content, which provides excellent quality for voice while keeping files manageable. Some podcasters use 192 kbps for music-heavy shows. WAV files are typically only used during the recording and editing process, then exported as MP3 for final distribution. The key is encoding your MP3 properly—using a high enough bitrate (128-192 kbps) and ensuring your ID3 tags are set correctly.