MP3

We offer our MP3 audio format in the highest bitrate available, 320kbps. MP3s are extremely widely used, so pretty much all music players and programs can play them.

The file size is relatively small, due to the compression of the file, so they are quicker to download and take up less memory, whilst offering near-CD quality sound). This also means they are cheaper. The sound is of a lower quality than FLAC audio.

MP3s are inherently unable to move seamlessly from track to track; this means that if you have a continuous work split into more than one MP3 track, you may be able to hear the "join" between one track and the next, regardless of what device or program you are using to play them.

FLACs

Our downloadable FLACs are at least equal in quality to CDs, at 16-bit 44.1kHz sampling resolution. We also offer 24 bit Studio Quality FLACs (Hi-Res at 96 kHz and Hi-Res+ at 192 kHz); these are higher-quality files (mostly with a bit depth of 24 bits, ie with each sample containing 24 bits of information as opposed to 16, and a sampling rate of 96kHz), which are superior in quality to CDs and are the closest quality to the master files used in the studio.

FLACs are a "lossless" audio format, meaning the sound quality is higher than it is in "lossy" formats such as MP3.

Despite being lossless, FLACs are nevertheless compressed - but in such a way that no audio data is lost. This means that you get some of the advantages of a compressed file - quicker transfer, smaller size - while losing none of the quality.

For customers who have ordered a FLAC file, they can now choose to download in uncompressed WAV format. This is only available at full resolution, and the audio will be the same.

Unlike MP3s, FLACs support perfectly seamless playback, though some audio playing programs nevertheless have difficulty moving seamlessly between FLAC tracks.

Because they are not as compressed as MP3s, FLACs are somewhat larger, and therefore more expensive as well as being slower to download. Studio Quality FLACs in particular are substantially larger than MP3s.

While very common, FLACs are not as ubiquitous as MP3s, and some media players and devices are unable to play them - in some cases you might need to download and install an extension.