Editing Windows Media Audio (section)

===Windows Media Audio Lossless===
[[File:5 1 channels (surround sound) label.svg|thumb|Label for 5.1 surround sound, the maximum channels supported in the format.]]

As part of the Windows Media 9 series, Microsoft introduced '''Windows Media Audio Lossless''' in early 2003, a [[Data compression#Audio|lossless]] audio format sharing the .wma file extension as its lossy counterparts. It is designed to store a digital audio stream (such as a [[Compact Disc Digital Audio|CD-Audio]] track) at some fraction of the original. Each sample in a channel can be encoded at up to 24 bits, at a rate of 96 KHz, with up to 6 discrete channels (for [[5.1 surround sound]]). The container is also said to have dynamic range compression control. Like WMA Pro, the WMA Lossless decoder can perform downmixing when capable audio hardware is not present.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} While the details of the format have never been publicly documented, it has been reverse-engineered for use on non-Microsoft platforms by the open source [[FFmpeg]] project. Only 16-bit WMA files are supported as of 2012.{{needs update|date=May 2025}}

Designed for archival purposes,<ref name="Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless">{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/codecs/audio.aspx#WindowsMediaAudio9Lossless |title=Windows Media Audio Codecs: Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=2007-08-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901193343/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/forpros/codecs/audio.aspx#WindowsMediaAudio9Lossless |archive-date=2007-09-01 }}</ref> it competed with [[ATRAC]] Advanced Lossless, [[Dolby TrueHD]], [[DTS-HD Master Audio]], [[Shorten (file format)|Shorten]], [[Monkey's Audio]], [[FLAC]], [[Apple Lossless]], and [[WavPack]]. Since late 2011,<ref name=Apache-license>{{cite web|url=http://alac.macosforge.org|title=Welcome to the Apple Lossless Audio Codec Project|work=Apple Lossless Audio Codec|publisher=MacOS Forge|date=October 27, 2011|access-date=October 29, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20160615225151/http://alac.macosforge.org/|archive-date=June 15, 2016}}</ref><ref name=Apache-ars>{{cite web|last=Foresman|first=Chris|title=After seven years, Apple open sources its Apple Lossless Audio Codec|url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/10/after-seven-years-apple-open-sources-its-apple-lossless-audio-codec.ars|website=Ars Technica|date=October 28, 2011|access-date=October 29, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111029123807/http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2011/10/after-seven-years-apple-open-sources-its-apple-lossless-audio-codec.ars|archive-date=October 29, 2011}}</ref><ref name=Apache-3>{{cite web|url=http://h-online.com/-1368212|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515214941/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Apple-open-sources-its-ALAC-lossless-audio-codec-1368212.html |archive-date=15 May 2012|title=Apple open sources its ALAC lossless audio codec|first=Chris|last=von Eitzen|publisher=[[The H]]|date=October 28, 2011|access-date=October 29, 2011}}</ref> the last three have the advantage of having [[open source software|open source]] encoders, no licensing costs, and availability on nearly any [[operating system]]. The typical compression ratio for music varies between 1.7:1 and 3:1.<ref name="Windows Media Audio 9 Lossless"/><ref name="extremetech">{{cite web|url=http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1560783,00.asp|title=ExtremeTech Audio Codec Quality Shootout|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607190304/http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1560783,00.asp|archive-date=2011-06-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.home.nl/w.speek/comparison.htm |title=Comparison of lossless audio compressors |access-date=2010-11-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125045330/http://members.home.nl/w.speek/comparison.htm |archive-date=2010-11-25 }}</ref> It compresses an audio CD to a range of 206 to 411&nbsp;MB, at bit rates of 470 to 940&nbsp;kbit/s.

Like WMA Standard, WMA Lossless was adopted by a few online distribution stores in the mid-2000s.<ref name="businessweek">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2005/tc2005062_3663_tc024.htm|title=Is This Digital Music's Future|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715011626/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2005/tc2005062_3663_tc024.htm|archive-date=2007-07-15}}</ref><ref name="microsoftwmpstores">{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/stores.aspx|title=Online Stores in Windows Media Player|website=[[Microsoft]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070727062708/http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/stores.aspx|archive-date=2007-07-27}}</ref> Hardware support for the codec became available on the first-party [[Zune 4, 8, 16|Zune 4, 8]], [[Zune 30|30]], [[Zune 80|80, 120]] (with firmware version 2.2 or later), and [[Zune HD|HD]] portable media players and the [[Xbox 360]].<ref name="xboxfaq"/> Third-party support emerged in the Cowon A3,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcaption.com/what-is-windows-audio-endpoint-builder-service/ |title=What is Windows Audio Endpoint Builder service And How To Start/Stop It |website=techcaption.com |author=Tushar |date=July 2019}}</ref> Cowon S9, [[Bang & Olufsen]] Serenata,<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930231119/http://www.serenatamobile.com/ Article title]}}</ref> Sony Walkman NWZ-A and NWZ-S series, Toshiba Gigabeat S and V models, Toshiba T-400, the Meizu M3, and [[Best Buy]]-exclusive Insignia NS-DV, Pilot, and Sport music players. The Logitech Squeezebox Touch was also updated to support the format natively; previously it was added through transcoding. [[Windows Mobile]]-powered devices with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile,<ref name="winmobilefaq"/> and Windows Phone (version 8 and above) also included playback support for the format.