Introduction

What’s Wma Standard?

Windows Media Audio (WMA) is a proprietary lossy audio file format developed by Microsoft in the late 90’s. It was initially a competitor to Mp3, but quickly failed due to the facts that:
 it’s proprietary
 it’s playable on Microsoft’s operating systems only
 it has a limited software support
 it’s heavily patented
 it supports Digital Rights Management (DRM), a system preventing users to play back their own files
 it has a very poor quality with bitrates >=128Kbps, even worst than the old Mp3 format
 it is unable to achieve transparency
 and much more...

However it can be helpful in some combination of conditions, where you have no alternative choice but using Wma files AND you need very low bitrates (eg. 64Kbps). For instance, I wrote the encoder to use with my Mp3 player, which play Mp3 and Wma files and has a 128MB capacity. Given I don’t need a high level of quality while on the go (poor quality headset, outside noise, etc.), Wma files at 64Kbps are the most optimal solution I found to fit a maximum of correctly sounding files.

If you’re looking for a format to rip your CDs for using with the Winamp library, Wma isn’t a good choice (as a matter of fact, it’s the worst possible choice!). Go for the Ogg-Vorbis format for lossy compression, or Flac for lossless compression.

What does my encoder do?

My encoder allows to use the Winamp integrated CDs ripping engine to create your own Wma standard files.

My WMA Standard CD ripping encoder artwork

It follows the Winamp encoders interface, and as a matter of fact is perfectly integrated within Winamp 5. It allows to create Wma files by simply specifying the bitrate you want.

The encoder doesn’t make use of any DRM system, and I don’t plan to add such support.

Moreover, new Microsoft’s codecs (pro, lossless, speech) are not supported: I’m offering better alternatives with Ogg-Vorbis and Flac.

How is it made?

My encoder is written in the C++ language, using the Microsoft’s COM hell. It makes use of the Winamp 5 SDK, Windows Media Technologies SDK as well as the Win32 API.