Core Audio Format

Core Audio Format
Core Audio Format
Filename extension .caf
Internet media type audio/x-caf
Type code caff
Developed by Apple Inc.
Type of format media container
Container for digital audio
Website Apple Core Audio Format Specification 1.0

The Core Audio Format is a container for storing audio, developed by Apple Inc.. It is compatible with Mac OS X 10.4 and higher; Mac OS X 10.3 needs QuickTime 7 to be installed.

Core Audio Format is designed to overcome limitations of older digital audio formats, including AIFF and WAV. Just like the QuickTime .mov container, a .caf container can contain many different audio formats, metadata tracks, and much more data. Not limited to a 4 GB file size like older digital audio formats, a single .caf file can theoretically save hundreds of years of recorded audio due to its use of 64-bit file offsets.

Soundtrack Pro and Logic Studio use the .caf format extensively for their loop and sound effects library, particularly for surround-sound audio compressed with the Apple Lossless codec.

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