Core Audio Format
| Filename extension | .caf |
|---|---|
| Internet media type | audio/x-caf |
| Type code | caff |
| Uniform Type Identifier (UTI) | com.apple.coreaudio-format |
| Developed by | Apple Inc. |
| Initial release | 2005 |
| 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 (ALAC) codec.
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