WavPack 4.50 is a Audio Converter product from wavpack.com, get 4 Stars SoftSea Rating, WavPack is a totally open audio compression format providing lossless, high-quality lossy, and a unique hybrid compression mode. Although the technology is loosely based on previous versions of WavPack, the new version 4 format has been designed from the ground up to offer unparalleled performance and functionality.
In the default lossless mode WavPack acts just like a WinZip compressor for audio files. However, 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 degradation. This makes lossless mode ideal for archiving audio material or any other situation where quality is paramount. 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.
WavPack features:
Compatible with virtually all PCM audio formats including 8, 16, 24, and 32-bit ints; 32-bit floats; mono, stereo, and multichannel; sampling rates from 6 to 192 kHz (and non-standard rates)
Multiplatform support including Windows, Linux, and OS X
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
Unique hybrid mode (provides high quality lossy + "correction" file
Dynamic noise shaping (dns) for optimum quality at lower hybrid bitrates
Hybrid mode now operates as low as 2.25 bits/sample (or 196 kbps for CD audio)
Free and open source with easy-to-use library interface and unrestrictive license (BSD)
Intuitive command line interface (with wildcards and destination directory)
Small, efficient executable (no large programs or dlls to install)
Special "low latency" version available for custom applications
Self-extracting archives with cuesheets (Windows only)
Fully backward compatible to WavPack 1.0
Java decoder now available
Complete piping support
WavPack has been tested and works well with the following quality Windows software:
Custom Windows Frontend (by Speek)
DirectShow filter to allow WavPack playback in WMP, MPC, etc.
WPMTSE Tag Support Extender allows WMP 9+ to use WavPack file tags
CheckWavpackFiles to batch verify WavPack files/folders (by gl.tter)
NullSoft Winamp (plugin available here, w/ ReplayGain & Media Library)
Foobar2000 Advanced Audio Player (official addon, w/ ReplayGain & Cuesheets)
Adobe Audition (and CoolEdit) (filter available here, w/ 32-bit floats & extra info save)
dBpowerAMP Music Converter / Audio Player / CD Writer (official addon)
Steinberg WaveLab 5/6 Audio Editor (using third-party plugin)
Apollo Audio Player (plugin available here, w/ ReplayGain)
Ahead Nero Burning Rom (plugin available here)
Reaper Multitrack Audio Recorder and Editor
Burrrn audio CD burning software
Mp3tag Universal Tag Editor
VUPlayer Audio Player
jetAudio Media Player
Easy CD-DA Extractor
EAC CD Ripper
WavPack is also making its way into Linux and MAC territory. Several Linux distributions now have pre-compiled WavPack packages available and there is a working GStreamer plugin and WavPack support has been added to the FFmpeg project and to xine-lib. In addition, these programs now support Wavpack:
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)
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 (beta version plugin available here)
EasyTAG - Tag Editor for both Linux and Windows (native WavPack support)
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) The license of this audio & mp3 software is Freeware, you can free download and free use this Audio & MP3 software.